Crowsnest Pass launches vote on Coal Extraction

The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass has announced a non-binding vote, set for November 25, aimed at gauging local support for coal extraction in response to growing public interest. Mayor Blair Painter explained that the initiative is designed to capture the perspectives of full-time residents on an issue that has generated both support and opposition within the community.

“Our residents have been reaching out to our council regarding ethical coal extraction in our municipality,” Painter said, “It’s really hard to gauge what percentage is in favour and what percentage is opposed.”

Painter noted that the municipality is adhering to the Alberta Elections Act for the vote, stating that legal guidelines restrict eligibility to Crowsnest Pass residents with a primary residence in the area. This measure excludes secondary property owners from participating, including those with vacation homes.

“We want to know how our permanent residents feel,” Painter added, clarifying that the municipality’s focus is on local opinions. He explained that opening up the vote to people outside the area could influence decisions that primarily affect those living in Crowsnest Pass.

“We do not have an option to ‘open’ up the vote,” Painter continued, explaining the constraints of the Alberta Elections Act. “While we value all property owners and visitors in our community, this vote is ultimately polling our residents, and not those who are fortunate enough to be investors with a second or third home.”

Meanwhile, the Crowsnest Conservation Society (CCS) has voiced significant concerns regarding the proposed Grassy Mountain coal project, citing possible long-term impacts on local water quality, wildlife, and community sustainability. Society president Brenda Davison detailed these issues in an interview ahead of the vote and the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) hearings scheduled for Dec. 3 and 4.

Davison also commented on the council’s decision to exclude part-time residents from the consultation, noting that they account for about 30 per cent of the municipality’s tax base. She expressed disappointment, suggesting that these property owners should also have a say.

“The Council has said they support Grassy Mountain as a transition to the next economy,” Davison said, “But the board of CCS feels that we are already well into that transition,” emphasizing the society’s call for a sustainable long-term plan instead of what she described as the “boom and bust” cycles tied to resource industries.

Davison highlighted AER’s past assessments, which suggest potential contamination risks to local water sources. She warned of possible pollutants, such as selenium and sulfate, that could affect streams for decades after mining operations cease, placing the burden of long-term water quality on Alberta taxpayers. 

“Monitoring and treatment would likely be necessary for decades,” she said.

Davison further raised concerns for the West Slope cutthroat trout, a threatened species under both provincial and federal law, stating that selenium runoff from the mine could pose additional risks to this fish species.

Addressing community concerns, Painter clarified the nature of the upcoming vote, stressing that even a positive response from residents would not obligate the provincial government to advance a mining project.

“This is an information-gathering process only and holds absolutely no weight in any of the provincial decisions moving forward,” Painter said, underscoring the vote’s advisory purpose.

He acknowledged past council support for coal mining, highlighting Crowsnest Pass’s historical connection to coal extraction. Previous councils actively promoted coal industry development as a core part of the area’s heritage.

Additionally, Painter mentioned a water diversion agreement that the municipality entered with Riversdale, now Northback, aimed at preserving an expiring water license. This arrangement allows Northback to lease water if the company needs it for future development, a measure Painter described as necessary to prevent the license’s cancellation.

In contrast to the anticipated economic benefits, Davison expressed skepticism, referring to AER’s assessment, which she claims shows that Benga Mining Ltd. “overestimated the financial gains and underestimated the environmental costs.” She highlighted concerns over potential harm to biodiversity, including impacts on old-growth forests and rare plant communities.

At an open house held September 12 at the Crowsnest Community Hall, Northback’s Manager of Communications, Rina Blacklaws, told residents the new application would be “drastically different” from the previous submission.

“We’re completely changing the application,” Blacklaws said, “We’re looking at everything, and that could even include making it a significantly smaller project for less environmental concerns.”

Despite the society’s firm stance against the project, Davison emphasized that CCS’s position is not intended to create a divide with mine supporters. “We’re a Conservation Society, and they’re looking at the economics,” she said. “But we’re not sure they understand what they have to lose, which could be quite significant environmentally.”

She encouraged residents to review the AER’s executive summary on Grassy Mountain, suggesting that it provides a detailed perspective on the project’s possible long-term environmental and economic costs.

The municipality’s involvement in the Joint Review Panel for Grassy Mountain was also addressed, with Painter asserting that potential impacts on the Crowsnest Pass community justified their participation in the review process.

“Even though the Grassy Mountain project is not within our municipality, it will have a great effect on us,” he stated, “and therefore we feel that we need to be involved in all aspects of the process.”

Northback CEO Mike Young, speaking at a volunteer night on October 16, highlighted the importance of the upcoming vote.

“It’s time the Pass had their say, and I think Council has been brave in making sure this happens,” said Young.

More information on the voting process is available on the municipal website at crowsnestpass.com/municipal-government/municipal-elections/2024-vote-on-a-question.