In a significant grassroots effort, Corb Lund, the renowned country music artist and rancher from southern Alberta, has announced that his campaign, “Water Not Coal,” has gathered sufficient support to prompt the provincial government to reconsider coal mining activities on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Lund’s team is set to present the signatures they have collected to Elections Alberta for verification, with the final count being submitted on Wednesday, the last day of the petition campaign.
A Call to Action
Although Lund refrained from disclosing the exact number of signatures collected, the campaign required nearly 178,000 signatures in accordance with Alberta’s citizen initiative petition guidelines. Lund expressed pride in reaching this milestone, stating, “Reaching this threshold proves what we’ve known all along — people care deeply about protecting our headwaters, our Rocky Mountains and our way of life.” The petition calls for a halt to coal mining on the eastern slopes, citing concerns over potential environmental degradation, particularly regarding water safety.
The eastern slopes are critical to Alberta’s hydrology, feeding major river systems such as the Athabasca, Oldman, South Saskatchewan, North Saskatchewan, Peace, and Red Deer rivers. Lund’s campaign has been active for the past four months, featuring various events, including a horseback ride from Longview, south of Calgary, to Edmonton, which brought attention to their cause. Over 3,000 volunteers have rallied to support the initiative.
The Political Landscape
Should the petition succeed, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government will be compelled to consider legislation that could either ban coal mining in the region or refer the matter to a province-wide vote. Last month, Lund expressed scepticism regarding whether the government would act upon the petition, regardless of the number of signatures obtained.
Laura Laing, a rancher and spokesperson for Water Not Coal, highlighted the importance of the initiative, emphasising the need for permanent safeguards for water sources, agricultural land, and the mountainous region. “This is what democracy looks like when citizens lead,” she remarked, reinforcing the campaign’s grassroots nature.
Government Response
The UCP government has maintained that any coal mining activities will adhere to stringent environmental protections while simultaneously providing employment opportunities and essential resources. Premier Smith has previously indicated her support for direct democracy and referenced Lund’s petition as an example of her administration listening to the voices of Albertans.
In a recent statement, Smith noted, “I’ll be waiting to see whether or not Lund and supporters have the required signatures.” However, her office did not respond to inquiries about the petition’s progression in a timely manner. If the signatures are validated, the province’s legislation mandates that the proposal be reviewed by a committee of lawmakers, who will then recommend an appropriate course of action to the government. Notably, the Alberta legislature is scheduled to reconvene on October 27.
The History of Coal Mining Policy in Alberta
This is not Lund’s first foray into the citizen initiative process; he previously initiated a similar petition in December 2020. However, legislative changes under Premier Smith’s government led to the cancellation of that effort, forcing Lund to restart his campaign. The new petition was approved in late January, and since then, supporters have been actively collecting signatures across the province.
The contentious issue of coal mining in Alberta has a complex history. In 2020, the UCP lifted long-standing protections that barred open-pit mining in the eastern slopes, resulting in the issuance of new leases. The backlash from the public was swift, leading the government to reinstate those protections and halt the sale of exploration leases. While there are plans to ban mountaintop removal and new open-pit mines, ongoing projects still face the approval process, with new regulations yet to be finalised.
Why it Matters
The outcome of the “Water Not Coal” campaign could have far-reaching implications for the future of Alberta’s environmental policies and resource management. As citizens increasingly engage in the political process to safeguard their land and water, the actions taken by the provincial government in response to this petition will be critical in determining the balance between resource extraction and environmental conservation. With public sentiment clearly leaning towards protection, the decision to uphold or dismantle coal mining operations in such ecologically sensitive areas could set a precedent for future governance in Alberta and beyond.
