The Alberta government has quietly ended its moratorium on new coal exploration and development in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, a move critics say signals a shift back toward open coal mining in the region. Energy Minister Brian Jean justified the decision in a letter to the Alberta Energy Regulator, stating that lifting the 2022 ban would “reduce regulatory confusion.”
Jean also instructed the regulator to consider the government’s new coal policy framework, announced in December but not yet fully developed. The framework promises measures to prevent selenium pollution in watersheds, although conservationists say the lack of specifics opens the door to premature exploration and development.
The decision comes as Alberta faces lawsuits from five coal companies seeking a combined $15 billion in damages over halted exploration plans. Legal experts, such as Nigel Bankes from the University of Calgary, suggest the government’s latest move may undermine the basis of those claims, though he criticized the decision-making that led to the lawsuits.
Conservation groups and opposition critics argue the move undermines trust and environmental protections. The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society warned that over 1,880 square kilometers of land could soon be opened for coal activities, with exploration permits already reactivated. Meanwhile, projects like the Grassy Mountain development, previously stalled, may now proceed with fewer regulatory obstacles.
Critics, including the Alberta Wilderness Association, have expressed alarm over the government’s reversal, emphasizing the risks to communities downstream from potential projects. Sarah Elmeligi, the NDP’s environment critic, accused the United Conservative Party of breaking promises to protect the eastern slopes, saying the government is creating confusion and uncertainty while favoring coal companies over Albertans.
Source: Times Colonist
