Corb Lund Delivers Anti-Coal Petition to Alberta's Elections Office

📅 4 days ago

Country musician Corb Lund has successfully delivered an anti-coal mining petition in Alberta, aiming to halt two specific coal projects. The petition's fate now rests with Elections Alberta, which has 21 days to verify the signatures.

EDMONTON — Country musician Corb Lund has taken a significant step in his campaign against coal mining in Alberta by delivering his anti-coal petition to the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton. On a rainy Wednesday, Lund was flanked by supporters as he transported the petition, which he claims contains more than enough signatures to meet the required threshold. "A broad segment of the Alberta public has expressed a strong opposition to irresponsible foreign coal mining in the headwaters of our rivers located in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains," Lund stated during the event. If Elections Alberta confirms the validity of the 178,000 signatures, Premier Danielle Smith’s government will be compelled to either consider enacting a law to prohibit new coal mining or put the issue to a province-wide referendum. Lund expressed skepticism regarding Smith’s administration's commitment to enacting effective legislation, despite her previous statements supporting direct democracy. Premier Smith has pointed to Lund’s petition as a demonstration of her government's responsiveness to the public, paralleling her decision to hold a referendum in October on whether Alberta should remain a part of Canada or initiate a second referendum on independence. She has indicated that should the petition's signatures be verified, Lund's question will be included in the ballot on October 19. The petition specifically targets two coal projects: Northback Holdings’ Grassy Mountain project and Valory Resource’s Blackstone mine, urging provincial regulators to deny them any approvals. Lund has made it clear that he expects the government to use the precise wording of the petition in any potential referendum, insisting that no alterations should be made to the question. "We’re watching them like hawks," he remarked. In response, Northback Holdings asserted that there is considerable support for the Grassy Mountain project, citing a recent non-binding referendum in Crowsnest Pass where 72% of local residents favored the project. The company claims that if approved, the Grassy Mountain project will yield high-quality steelmaking coal for international markets, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefits and numerous jobs while adhering to stringent environmental standards. Valory Resource’s CEO, Ian Slater, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the company’s commitment to responsible development in line with Alberta's regulatory frameworks. He argued that the project will create jobs, bolster local communities, and ensure the protection of land and water resources. However, Lund remains unconvinced by the promises made by coal companies regarding job creation, particularly in the context of increasing automation in the industry. He argued that the Crowsnest Pass referendum was limited in scope, comprising residents who may not face the direct impacts of mining operations. "They cherry-picked a group of people who want the jobs but who will not suffer the effects of the mine," Lund stated. Elections Alberta is expected to take 21 days to verify the signatures on Lund’s petition. When approached for comments about the next steps in the process, Justice Minister Mickey Amery’s office indicated that the government will await the final signature count from Elections Alberta before proceeding further.

Related Posts