Documents released under Alberta Freedom of Information laws confirm the United Conservative Party government was talking with the coal industry about relaxing a policy that protected the Rocky Mountains from open-pit mines long before making those plans public.
The documents also show the province was talking about opening those landscapes to the potential of more coal development for at least seven months before letting Albertans in on its plans.
The Canadian Press has seen material released to a group of southern Alberta ranchers, who have waged a four-year battle against Alberta Energy to understand why the province rescinded a decades-old policy protecting the Rockies from coal mines.
That decision sparked a rush of coal exploration interest on thousands of hectares. It was eventually rescinded after a huge public outcry from citizens who didn’t want open-pit coal mines on some of the province’s most beloved landscapes.
A judge last week stymied government attempts to block further document releases concerning the decision, and the ranchers are now waiting for thousands more pages.
During question period Tuesday, Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley called for an apology from the UCP for forcing the ranchers to go to court to get the documents.
Premier Danielle Smith said the government will make sure everyone gets the required documents, which were generated under former premier Jason Kenney.
“We will abide by the decision of the court,” Smith said. “We obviously have had a change in leadership in this file, and we will make whatever documents available that the court requires.”
Energy Minister Brian Jean said the government has already released much information on the coal policy.
“The (judge’s) decision is under review to determine if an appeal should be filed,” he said Tuesday in a statement. “We recognize that there is public interest related to coal production in Alberta.”
The records already obtained refer repeatedly to meetings and communications with industry over the policy well before it was rescinded in May 2020.
