Thread by @BCKOR

After the gov got caught trying to remove park’s protective status and sell off our parks, they used our tax dollars to create a website that told us we didn’t see what we saw... now they’re doing the same thing with coal mining.

Albertans are smarter than this!

Our concern has never been with Category 1 land that has duplicate protective status. Our concern is with Category 2 land that was protected from Strip Mining under Lougheed’s Coal Policy.

Removing the Coal Policy removed a blanket ban where only limited exploration under strict control was allowed, and strip mining would not normally be considered on cat 2 land. It also banned exploration or development activities in local areas of high environmental sensitivity.

Out of 60,000 abandoned mines in Australia, only a handful have been reclaimed.

Coal mines cover massive amounts of land (Teck Mines = close to the size of Calgary). The land is completely stripped of all life. They remain this way for decades and never return to what they were

Yes, coal development continues to be regulated but the Coal Policy banned strip mining and restricted exploration in Cat 2 land, regardless of whether the mines met the regulations or not.

Now leases in Cat 2 can apply to use mountain top removal mining in sensitive lands.

Out of 60,000 abandoned mines in Australia, only a handful have been reclaimed.

Coal mines cover massive amounts of land (Teck Mines = close to the size of Calgary). The land is completely stripped of all life. They remain this way for decades and never return to what they were

Yes, coal development continues to be regulated BUT the Coal Policy banned strip mining and restricted exploration in Cat 2 land, REGARDLESS of whether the mines met the regulations or not

Now, leases in Cat 2 can apply to use mountain top removal mining in sensitive Cat 2 lands

While a coal mine is often years in the making, exploration has been given same day approval.

1 of 3 coal companies operating in Cabin Ridge has cut 66 km of new roads and built 500 drilling pads, just for exploration.

The mine in Nordegg is planning to start production in 2023

Despite millions spent on preventing Selenium pollution, Teck Mines operating under BC’s more stringent environmental controls, continues to leach Selenium into the water killing more than an estimated 18,000 fish annually in the Elk River and its tributaries.

Strip mining causes Selenium poisoning in the watershed.

The Coal Policy banned strip mining in the headwaters where Alberta’s water supply originates.

1+1=2

The 11 cancelled leases in Cat 2 land represent a fraction of 1% of leases in Cat 2 lands.

Half a year before the UCP rescinded the Coal Policy, they sent letters of support to Valory Mines planning a 16,000-hectare open-pit mine near Bighorn Wilderness, in Cat 2 land.

Let the government know that Albertans aren’t stupid.

Send a letter telling them the #CoalHardTruth that their #OurParksWillGoon campaign didn’t work and neither will #CoalHardFalseFacts

If the Gov wants a chance at getting reinstated, they need to reinstate the Coal Policy NOW

Email/phone your MLA.

Personal letters are best and this link will find your MLA's contact.
assembly.ab.ca/members/member…

please CC
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
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If you don’t have time to write a personal letter and want to send a pre-made form letter, you can do so here: action.cpaws.org/page/65675/act…

Tell the government to reinstate Conservative Premier Lougheed’s Coal Policy now!

Sorry, the link to find your MLA was as hidden as most of our MLA’s are... here’s an updated one: assembly.ab.ca/members/member…