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The Alberta NDP is promising to herald everlasting protections of the Jap Slopes from coal mining, if elected.
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Calgary-Mountain View MLA Kathleen Ganley made the announcement alongside Banff-Kananaskis NDP candidate Sarah Elmeligi and Livingstone-Macleod NDP candidate Kevin Van Tighem.
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Ganley stated a authorities led by Rachel Notley would convey within the Jap Slopes Safety Act, which might completely ban coal mining within the delicate space and shut any loopholes.
“An Alberta NDP authorities will shield the japanese slopes of the Rocky Mountains and our province and our province’s headwaters by banning coal mining in these delicate areas,” stated Ganley.
Postmedia reached out to the province for a response to the NDP’s announcement however didn’t obtain a response.
In Could 2020, the UCP authorities repealed a 1976 coal coverage, which opened the door to coal mining within the Jap Slopes.
The transfer obtained instant criticism, together with from ranchers and residents within the space. Issues have been raised over safety of delicate habitats and river catchments, which give water to the remainder of Alberta.
In March of final 12 months, the province reinstated the 1976 coverage.
“What we heard very clearly is how a lot Albertans care in regards to the panorama, particularly the Jap Slopes,” stated then-energy minister Sonya Savage on the time the coverage was reinstated. “What we’ve accomplished, we’ve truly strengthened the 1976 coal coverage, we reinstated it totally, and we’ve hard-wired the restrictions into place.”
Nonetheless, the transfer did permit seven present coal mines and their exploration and growth to proceed. 4 functions that had already gone to regulators for approval have been allowed to proceed that course of.
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One firm that had been working in the direction of a brand new mine within the space sued the province after its about-face.
Van Tighem stated extra protections are nonetheless wanted.
“So long as the UCP are in cost, we threat shedding the pure magnificence and good thing about our Jap Slopes,” he stated. “We threat compromising the cultural heritage and lifeways of Indigenous communities. We threat compromising tourism and power industries. We threat degrading our treasured and irreplaceable water assets, water that’s much more vital to our financial system and our future than coal mining might ever be.”
— With information from Josh Aldrich and Kevin Martin
brthomas@postmedia.comTwitter: @brodie_thomas
