Thread by @EmmaLGraney

On a call now with Energy Minister Sonya Savage. The province is halting the exploration for coal for all Category 2 lands, as the committee consults on new coal policy. #ableg

The ban on this will be from now until - at a minimum - after all consultations are complete, Savage says. They want to public engagement process to be engaged "in good faith," she says. More than 25,000 Albertans filled out that coal survey in just three weeks. #ableg

Albertans did not shy away from this survey, Savage says. She says nobody will be restricted from sharing their thoughts during the coal engagement, including on water and environment #ableg

Committee chair Ron Wallace asks all Albertans to please continue to work with the committee and give their thoughts on the coal policy. Says there is "an overwhelming interest" on this issues, adds he appreciates the passion. #ableg

Wallace says the coal committee intends to expand its consultations, including with Indigenous communities. #ableg

As for the coal survey, initial results indicate the majority of respondents feel the management of the
province’s coal resources affect them, and picked environmental impacts and if/where coal development takes place as the most important issues #ableg

Calling for a halt to exploration on Category 2 lands will ensure the consultations are effective and credible, Wallace says #ableg

I asked how they make these consultations more credible. Wallace says there has been "sensational soundbites" about the terms of reference for the coal committee, but "Albertans deserve better." They will hear ALL concerns, he says #ableg

Savage adds that there is absolutely no pre-ordained outcome here with the coal consultations, and the committee is "fiercely independent" #ableg

Savage says this was an *initial* survey. It was not the consultation - it was to figure out what the consultations should look like. The reason they've paused Cat 2 exploration is b/c of some feedback from that preliminary survey. "Engagement is just beginning" #ableg

Will the committee report on ALL concerns brought forward by Albertans? Committee chair Ron Wallace says any and all concerns voiced by Albertans with regard to impacts of coal "will be heard respectfully, considered carefully and reported to the minister" #ableg

Savage says she has already spoken with some First Nations about coal. On the broader consultations, "You can't tell an Albertan what they can and can't talk about," she says, but adds this is about coal, not other land/water plans, tho that might flow from the consults #ableg

Savage says there has been a month of political stunts by the NDP on this to distract from their own record on coal, when a bunch of coal approvals were granted when they were in government. "Let's move forward," she says. #ableg

"Please participate in this process," Savage says in closing #ableg