City resolution asks for coal mining ban in Eastern Slopes
By Tim Kalinowski on June 3, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDtkalinowski@lethbridgeherald.com City council unanimously passed a resolution to encourage the province to ban all future coal exploration in the Eastern Slopes, and to reclaim all lands disturbed by coal exploration this past year, (before the Feb. 8, 2021 moratorium brought in by the province), by no later than Dec. 31, 2025. Mayor Chris Spearman brought the motion before council during Tuesday’s public meeting. “This is our opportunity to have input into the Alberta Coal Policy Committee as many other municipalities are currently doing (by) submitting letters,” stated Spearman. “If we submit a letter, it will be part of the consideration by the Coal Policy Committee before they bring out their findings.” The resolution also called for a new coal policy which no longer distinguished any categories which would allow coal mining in the Eastern Slopes, and instead protects them as one category en masse known as the “Eastern Slopes.” Spearman was gratified, but unsurprised, by the unanimous support from his council colleagues. “Our city, our agriculture and food production economy, tourism, recreation, human health and animal health may all be at significant risk due to coal mining activity,” said Spearman in a statement released to the media after the vote. “The headwaters and landscapes of the Eastern Slopes are essential to the future of Southwest Alberta and the City of Lethbridge.” Follow @TimKalHerald on Twitter Follow @TimKalHerald on Twitter 10-9
