Local canvassers have started their push for signatures on the Water No Coal citizen-led petition started by Corb Lund, looking to obtain support from 177,732 Albertans by June.--CP FILE PHOTO
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Local organizers are taking to the petition tables, collecting signatures in an effort to protect southern Alberta’s watershed from coal mining.
Water Not Coal, started by Corb Lund last month, seeks to collect signatures for a citizen initiative petition which would call on the Government of Alberta to “prohibit through legislation all coal exploration and mining activities within the Eastern Slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, other than mines that are in actual production as of January 1, 2026,” according to the official website of the petition.
This prohibition would include Northback Holdings’ Grassy Mountain Project and Valory Resources’ Blackstone Project, as well as any projects to expand any producing mines.
Canvasser Anna Hansen says coal mining in this area puts water the entirety of southern Alberta relies on at risk, as any minerals or chemicals that escape from the mining operation inevitably enter the waterways used by farmers and residents.
“When they start the coal mine, they have to take all the cap rock off to get at the coal underneath. And it’s this cap rock that has things like the selenium, which gets into the water,” said Hansen. “Even the government has said, yes, it will get into the water, but they have mitigation measures. But currently the science is not there to actually remove selenium from the water. That’s what we’re fighting for, for this to just stay a watershed.”
Hansen suggested that while there may be resources in the slopes, organizers feel these resources may need to stay unutilized for the health of everyone in the region.
She and her fellow canvassers will collect signatures through to June in a variety of locations. Those seeking to sign can find a location by visiting waternotcoal.ca, or reaching out to WNCMedicineHat@gmail.com, as the petition must be signed in person.
The petition requires a total of 177,732 signatures to be considered successful.
In addition, applicant Corb Lund will be in Medicine Hat on April 5, meeting with residents from noon to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the old Medicine Hat Arena located at 155 Ash Ave.
