MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - With vocal opposition continuing toward possible coal mining along the Eastern Slopes, including west of Sundre and Cremona, area MLA Jason Nixon says the provincial regulator deciding on future approvals should be free of political interference.
During a July 27 press conference, Nixon rejected official Opposition calls for the government to support the recently introduced Eastern Slopes Protection Act (ESPA).
“Our process inside the province is that the government does not politically interfere with the regulator,” said Nixon, who is also Alberta’s minister of Environment and Parks. “We won’t be heading down the road with political interference with the regulator. We trust the regulator to do the job.”
Opponents, including environmental watchdog groups, say future coal mining should not be approved along the Eastern Slopes as it could create unreasonable environmental risks.
The ESPA was introduced by the NDP last spring and calls for a halt to all mining and exploration activity in Category 3 and 4 lands pending the outcome of a regional planning process informed by consultation.
“Albertans are deeply distrustful of the UCP government’s intentions on this file as they continue to push ahead with attempts to strip mine our Rockies,” NDP environment critic Marlin Schmidt said in a July 27 open letter to Nixon.
“This risks destroying our beautiful landscape, drinking water, and jobs in downstream communities.”
Nixon says the province has strong environmental regulations to protect communities in the district, and that there have not been any applications made for coal mining projects in the region.
“My job is to make sure we have strong environmental policies, which we do,” said Nixon.
