News Release
ALBERTA NDP CALL ON UCP TO COMMIT TO PROTECTING THE EASTERN SLOPES BEFORE FALL SESSION
CANMORE – The Alberta NDP is calling on Premier Danielle Smith to commit to fully protecting the Eastern Slopes from coal mining.
“Despite Albertans being very vocal about their opposition to coal mining activity in the Rockies, Danielle Smith and the UCP have not guaranteed they will protect the Eastern Slopes and our head waters,” said Sarah Elmeligi, Alberta NDP Member-Elect for Banff-Kananaskis.
“The UCP have attempted to hide their pursuit of mining in the mountains for coal at every turn. You don’t sneak in drastic and destructive changes if you’re proud of your work.”
The UCP government was met with wide opposition when they rescinded the 1976 Lougheed Coal Policy in 2020 which resulted in a new coal policy being put in place that can still be removed by ministerial order.
Since then, Danielle Smith has not committed to enshrining protections for the Eastern Slopes against coal mining activity with law, and coal mining activity in these sensitive areas continues.
“Albertans are proud of the rich tapestry of land, water, and wildlife in our province,” Elmeligi said. “We cannot take for granted that these places will always be there and we need a government in Alberta that understands this.
“It says all you need to know about the UCP that until the people of Alberta stopped them, they were going to strip mine the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies for coal. Danielle Smith has done nothing to stop coal mining activity in these sensitive areas and protect the wilderness in our province, but has done much to erode both our park system and public access to it.”
Albertans were widely vocal in their opposition about a second attack by the UCP on the province’s natural spaces when the UCP government proposed to “delist” over 160 provincial parks with intention to sell the land or contract it out. Then, the UCP instituted a pass fee to access Kananaskis Country, making it more expensive for Albertans and visitors to access parks.
“Danielle Smith has not committed to protecting our land, our water, and making it accessible for recreational use,” Elmeligi said. “Albertans deserve better than this. I’m demanding action to protect the beautiful places in the constituency I’m proud to represent and to make them more accessible for all.”
Elmeligi offered to work with the new government to introduce and pass the Eastern Slopes Protection Act when the legislature resumes in fall. The act, first introduced by Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley, would ban all new coal-mining activity in the environmentally sensitive and world-renowned area.
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