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Construction vehicles working on a double lane highway

Mountain section of Highway 3 twinning still without a timeline

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Alberta’s transportation minister says the province is still working through the most challenging stretch of the Highway 3 twinning project — the section between the Crowsnest Pass and Piikani Nation — and cannot yet say when construction will move forward.

Speaking at an Aug. 11 rural media roundtable, Devin Dreeshen said the complex mountain section remains in the design phase. He was also questioned about wildlife crossings and other transportation issues.

Pressed on when planning for twinning the Crowsnest-to-Piikani section will finish and when construction tenders might follow, he said the province is still deciding the best route through the mountain pass.

“You can’t design and engineer forever,” he said, adding a decision on alignment will eventually need to be made.

The Treasury Board requires projects to be fully shovel-ready before construction money is approved. Dreeshen promised more details on timelines later.

The 47-kilometre twinned section between Taber and Burdett is now complete, while the remaining segments are in various stages of planning, design and engineering.

Dreeshen said the province divided the overall Highway 3 twinning project into eight sections so work could begin on the less complicated stretches first. The mountain sections near the British Columbia border are more complicated, while the connection near Medicine Hat still requires design work.

Dreeshen described Highway 3 as the next step in supporting southern Alberta’s growing economy. He linked the project to the province’s investment in irrigation infrastructure, saying expanded irrigation is expected to increase agricultural production and attract new agri-food investment, which would mean more commercial traffic along the corridor.

As work continues in Alberta, he said, the province is also discussing Highway 3 improvements with British Columbia. He acknowledged concerns that twinning the highway to the Alberta border could simply shift congestion west if similar upgrades are not completed in B.C.

Alberta will continue talks with the B.C. government about extending twinning on the B.C. side of the border, he said, adding the province wants Highway 3 to function as an economic corridor that extends beyond Alberta’s border.

Wildlife crossings called a success

Dreeshen said wildlife overpasses, underpasses and fencing have proven successful in reducing collisions between vehicles and animals.

“I think we should be telling that story better,” he said.

He noted that other jurisdictions, including Montana, have shown interest in Alberta’s wildlife crossing program.

Following the roundtable, a department spokesperson from the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors told Shootin’ the Breeze that the proposed Island Ridge Wildlife Overpass remains in the design phase. It is planned for the north side of Highway 3 near the Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area, west of Crowsnest Pass.

The Iron Ridge Wildlife Underpass is also in the design phase. It is planned for the Jim Prentice Wildlife Corridor, about five kilometres along Highway 3 between Coleman and Crowsnest Lake.

Other wildlife crossing projects along Highway 3 are in preliminary design.

The Rock Creek Wildlife Underpass, which runs along Highway 3 between Lundbreck and Burmis along with a short distance north up Highway 22, was completed in December 2025.

Construction on the $10.7-million underpass and wildlife fencing project began in June 2024.

The underpass provides a safe crossing for wildlife such as deer and elk through an area with a high number of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Camera monitoring recorded an estimated 76 animals using the underpass during its first month of operation, with mule deer accounting for most of the recorded crossings.

Post-construction data collected in 2026 is expected to be released through Alberta’s open data portal in early 2027.

The ministry also pointed to Reconnecting the Rockies, a scientific initiative led by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas in partnership with researchers and non-profit organizations. The project is studying how wildlife move through the landscape before, during and after wildlife crossing infrastructure is built.

Reconnecting the Rockies aims to create a connected system of wildlife crossings and fencing along 80 kilometres of Highway 3 between Hosmer, B.C., and Lundbreck. It is designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions while restoring movement for species including grizzly bears, elk, deer, sheep and wolverines across one of the most important wildlife corridors in the Canadian Rockies.

Other issues

Dreeshen also addressed transportation issues elsewhere in Alberta, including regional air service, photo radar and truck enforcement.

He said the province is reviewing expressions of interest from airlines interested in providing regional air service to communities such as Medicine Hat, after WestJet ended service earlier this year. Alberta is also examining models used in other provinces, including Saskatchewan, where governments subsidize a certain number of seats on regional routes.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

Dreeshen defended the province’s restrictions on photo radar, saying Alberta relied on the technology more than most jurisdictions without seeing better traffic safety results. Municipalities can still apply for exemptions if they can demonstrate a need for photo radar outside school, playground or construction zones.

On truck safety, Dreeshen said Alberta has shut down 20 trucking companies and five fraudulent driver-training schools since October as part of an ongoing enforcement campaign. While it is too early to measure the long-term impact, he said removing unsafe carriers should improve safety over time.

Highway 3 Twinning, Wildlife Crossings

Gavel rests on sounding block on a table.

Water Not Coal asks court to overturn petition ruling

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

The fight over coal mining near the headwaters of the Oldman River is headed to court. Corb Lund‘s Water Not Coal campaign has asked a judge to overturn Elections Alberta‘s decision that its petition, signed by more than 200,000 Albertans, fell just short of forcing a referendum.

One of the two projects the petition targeted is Northback Holdings’ Grassy Mountain, near the Oldman headwaters in the Crowsnest Pass. The other is Valory Resources’ Blackstone project in Clearwater County, near the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River.

The campaign filed its application for judicial review July 29 in the Alberta Court of King’s Bench, on behalf of initiative proponent Lund. It argues Elections Alberta applied verification standards stricter than the Citizen Initiative Act requires, wrongly excluding thousands of valid signatures.

The application asks the court to declare the initiative successful or, failing that, send it back to Elections Alberta for reconsideration.

“More than 200,000 Albertans signed this petition in good faith, and they deserve a fair and reasonable process,” Lund said in a statement.

“Thousands of Albertans were effectively shut out by verification processes that don’t make sense. This judicial review is about ensuring that citizens’ voices weren’t lost in technicalities.”

How the count fell short

Water Not Coal submitted 207,435 signatures to Elections Alberta on June 10. An initial count validated 196,088 — well above the 177,732 needed to force a referendum.

A second-stage verification, conducted from June 11 to July 2, dropped that number to 172,088, leaving the campaign 5,644 signatures short. It was the first citizen initiative petition verified with scrutineers present, a change introduced through Bill 23, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2026.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

What the application alleges

The judicial review application raises several concerns about how Elections Alberta carried out its verification.

On the legal standard, it points to sections 4 and 6 of the Citizen Initiative Act, arguing the chief electoral officer demanded more than the legislation sets out and undermined its purpose of encouraging public participation in direct democracy.

On the verification calls, the application says the process required electors to recall precise details from a petition they may have signed months earlier, with limited opportunity to clarify their answers.

It also says the calls did not display “Elections Alberta” in caller ID as previously indicated and questions whether the agency considered the recent electors-list data breach and its possible effect on response rates.

On the statistical side, the application challenges the five per cent margin of error and the sampling method, arguing the process failed to account for uncertainty in small sample sizes, applied the mid-point of a formula rather than its low-point, and replaced non-responding electors too quickly.

Together, the campaign says, those practices rejected too many signatures and accepted too few.

The petition and how it got here

The petition, formally titled No New Coal Mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, sought to prohibit new coal exploration and mining in the region, exempting mines already in active production as of Jan. 1, 2026.

The campaign began after Elections Alberta issued a notice of initiative petition Feb. 10. Signature collection ran until June 10, when Lund and supporters delivered 18 bins of petition sheets to Elections Alberta’s Edmonton office in a horse trailer.

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

Elections Alberta’s response

As of publication, Elections Alberta had not publicly responded to the judicial review application. In an earlier written response to Shootin’ the Breeze on the caller-ID concerns, however, the agency said caller ID displaying “Elections AB” was active during verification, and that testing confirmed it worked as intended.

Some recipients may not have seen the identification, the agency said. Individual telephone companies may not include caller ID in their registries and some recipients may have had spam-blocking or caller ID settings that hid it.

Electors selected for verification received a text message before a verification phone call, if they had provided a phone number, the agency said. If a call went unanswered, staff left a voice mail explaining its purpose, a callback number and the verification questions.

Electors who provided an email instead received a message asking them to verify their petition information.

“No signatures were deemed invalid or failed verification because an elector did not answer a phone call or respond to an email or voice mail,” the agency said.

Citizen Initiative Act, Citizen Initiative Petitions, Coal Mining, Eastern Slopes, Judicial Review, Petition Verification, Referendums, Water Protection

A hand holding a smartphone showing an incoming call screen with "Decline" and "Accept" buttons. Breakfast foods like croissants and cake are visible in the background.

Did Elections Alberta call you? Water Not Coal wants to know

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Water Not Coal is asking people contacted by Elections Alberta during petition signature verification to share their experiences, as the campaign weighs a legal challenge with a filing deadline of Aug. 2.

“We’re still gathering our information. We’ve put out a public call,” campaign proponent Corb Lund says. “We want to understand their experience and make sure that their experience matches with what we’re being told by Elections Alberta.”

Water Not Coal submitted 207,435 signatures on June 10, and an initial count validated 196,088 — well above the 177,732 needed to force a referendum on new coal mining in Alberta’s Eastern Slopes.

A second-stage verification, run from June 11 to July 2, dropped the estimate to 172,088, leaving the campaign 5,644 signatures short.

Caller ID use in question

Lund says the campaign is trying to determine whether Elections Alberta used caller ID during its verification calls, and whether it did so consistently.

He says the question matters, given the timing. The province’s voter list was breached in April, exposing the personal information of 2.9 million Albertans.

If people were called without proper identification, in the wake of the privacy breach, they may not have felt comfortable sharing their information, he says.

Some people have told the campaign they did not see Elections Alberta identified on their caller display, Lund says, while acknowledging it is too early to determine whether that was isolated or widespread.

Ace of spades card on ad for Chase the Ace at the Pincher Creek Legion

“We’re trying to find out if that was just a couple of anomalies or if it was systemic, and we’re not sure yet, honestly,” he says.

Elections Alberta responds

Elections Alberta says caller ID displaying “Elections AB” was active during the petition verification process and that testing confirmed it worked as intended.

However, the agency says some recipients may not have seen the identification because individual telephone companies may not include caller ID information in their registries or because of recipients’ own spam or caller ID settings.

“Testing indicates most major telephone companies and their discount carriers showed the caller ID and did not report the call as spam,” Elections Alberta says in a written statement to Shootin’ the Breeze.

The agency says electors selected for verification received a text message before a verification phone call if a phone number was provided on the petition. If the call was not answered, staff left a voicemail explaining the purpose of the call, providing a callback number and outlining the verification questions.

If an email address was provided instead, Elections Alberta says, electors received an email asking them to verify the information recorded on the petition.

“No signatures were deemed invalid or failed verification because an elector did not answer a phone call or respond to an email or voicemail,” the agency says.

Judicial review deadline

Water Not Coal has until Aug. 2 to file and serve an application for judicial review of Elections Alberta’s determination, as required under Section 53(2) of the Citizen Initiative Act.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

The provision requires an application to be filed within 30 days of the July 2 determination. A judicial review allows the court to examine whether the decision-making process complied with the law and principles of procedural fairness.

Lund says the deadline is adding pressure, but the campaign will not be rushed into a decision.

He says the proposed challenge would not allege corruption or dishonesty by Elections Alberta. Instead, it would challenge whether the agency’s process was reasonable and fair.

Focus stays on petition

Lund says his focus right now is on the petition itself, not broader reform of Alberta’s citizen initiative process.

He says a judicial review, if the campaign proceeds, could still prompt Elections Alberta to make internal changes.

“I don’t think I’m personally going to be going after EA. I don’t have the energy for it,” he says.

Anyone wishing to share their verification experience can find an online form at verify.waternotcoal.ca.

Citizen Initiative Act, Coal Mining, Referendums, Water Not Coal Petition

Corb Lund, man with dark hair wearing a cowboy hat with crowd behind him

Lund weighs legal action after coal petition fails

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

The Water Not Coal campaign says it submitted more than enough signatures to force a referendum on new coal mining in Alberta’s Eastern Slopes, but Elections Alberta says it missed the mark by 5,644. Now proponent Corb Lund is exploring a court challenge over how the count came up short.

In a statement issued July 6 Lund says he has concerns about the “procedural fairness” of Elections Alberta’s validation and verification process and is consulting lawyers over whether it was applied reasonably.

Of 207,435 signatures submitted, the agency validated 196,088 — comfortably above the 177,732 required under Alberta’s Citizen Initiative Act. But a verification step that involved contacting a sample of signatories by phone and email reduced the estimated number of valid signatures to 172,088, leaving the campaign short.

Lund has concerns about the number of signatures removed during the process.

“In the end, 35,000 of 207,000 signatories were rejected for various reasons. This seems like a ridiculously large number, given the thoroughness and dedication of our canvassers,” he says. “After being briefed by my lawyer/scrutineer that was in the room during the count, I have some real issues with the way this was handled.”

He says Albertans made their opposition to coal development clear and the government should not allow “thousands of Albertans” to be disenfranchised. He and his team have 30 days to file for a judicial review and are weighing their options.

Lund says the provincial government should recognize the 172,088 verified signatures and pause coal development in the Eastern Slopes.

“That’s 10 per cent of actual voters from the last election,” he says. “The overwhelming voices of Albertans opposing development in these areas needs to be respected.”

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

Water Not Coal director Laura Laing defended the campaign’s canvassers.

“We had 196,088 validated signatures, meaning there was only a five per cent error rate in the signature sheets submitted by our volunteer canvassers. In a complex and detailed process, this reflects exceptional integrity and professional accountability,” she says.

“They are understandably exasperated by the announcement.”

Lund says he is now “up to his eyeballs in meetings with attorneys specializing in administrative law.”

Next steps for Water Not Coal are expected in the days ahead.

Reaction in the region is split

The outcome landed differently among locals, in a region long divided over coal development.

Allan Garbutt, a Cowley resident who supports the petition, is unhappy with the result. He questions whether the verification process was fair to signatories, not the campaign.

“I don’t think there was a lack of signatures,” he says. “I think it’s a difficult verification process.”

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

“This day and age, who picks up the phone for an unknown caller? A whole lot of email gets directed straight to junk. I suspect that had a lot to do with Elections Alberta not being able to verify some signatures.”

Garbutt trusts Lund and Water Not Coal to navigate the legal process ahead.

Pincher Creek resident Don McRae takes the opposite view. He is “very pleased” with the announcement, saying modern regulations already protect water sources from mining impacts.

“I believe the environmental guidelines today make companies more accountable to ensure water is not harmed,” he says. “I believe the southwest corner of Alberta needs an industry like Grassy Mountain to bring economic development to our area.”

McRae says the province should work with the federal government to keep environmental standards in place while approving development.

“Our younger generation needs some good-paying careers so they stay and raise families in our communities,” he says.

How the count worked

The 177, 732 threshold represents 10 per cent of the voters who cast ballots in Alberta’s 2023 provincial election.

Elections Alberta says signatures were most often removed during validation for errors in elector information, missing information, duplicate entries — 551 in all — and incomplete canvasser declarations.

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

The verification process, which reduced the total further, involved contacting a random sample of petition signatories by phone and email to confirm their information. This reduced the estimated number of valid signatures to 172,088.

The agency also checked the petition against seeded names as an anti-fraud measure and found none among the submitted signatures.

Background

The petition, formally titled No New Coal Mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, sought to prohibit new coal mining and exploration. It would have exempted mines already in active production as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Two projects were named directly. One is Northback Holdings’ Grassy Mountain project near the headwaters of the Oldman River in the Crowsnest Pass. The other is Valory Resources‘ Blackstone project in Clearwater County, near the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River.

Grassy Mountain has a contentious history. A joint federal-provincial review panel rejected the project in 2021, when it was held by Benga Mining. It later returned to the approval process under Northback Holdings. In May 2025, the Alberta Energy Regulator approved deep-drilling exploration permits for the site.

The petition campaign launched with the issuance of a notice of initiative petition on Feb. 10. Signature collection ran until June 10. Lund and Water Not Coal supporters delivered 18 bins of signature sheets to the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton, unloading them from a horse trailer.

Verification began June 11 and concluded July 2, as required by regulations. It was the first citizen initiative petition verified with scrutineers present, a change introduced through Bill 23, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2026.

Under the act, Lund and other proponents were required to return the petition and canvasser identification documents, destroy copies of signature sheets and file a signed affidavit confirming both steps by July 6.

Financial reports related to the campaign are due to Elections Alberta by Aug. 10.

Bill 23, Citizen Initiative Act, Coal Mining, Coal Policy, No New Coal Mining Petition, Resource Development, Water Security

A bee gathers nectar from a pink Morden Centennial rose as an ant stands nearby.

The small workers behind Alberta’s 40 million pounds of honey

Written on . Posted in Agriculture & Rural Life, Environment.

One-third of the global food supply is pollinated by non-native honeybees, a fact that becomes easy to appreciate once you understand how much these small workers carry.

That was among lessons Calgary gardener Sheryl Normandeau shared May 28 in the gardening speaker series hosted by Pincher Creek Municipal Library.

While honeybees are kept in hives, registered to either commercial or hobby beekeepers, native bees nest on their own. Together, they are the workhorses that ensure flowering plants turn into seeds, grains, berries, fruits and many vegetables.

Without a strong bee population, animal and human life would be severely disrupted. Ants, beetles, butterflies, hummingbirds and other lesser-known pollinators would not be able to keep up.

Among native bees, Normandeau said, it is the females that build the nests in the ground or in decaying trees and gather the pollen that feeds the larvae when they hatch. This begins when the willow trees bloom — their shimmering green and yellow catkins are often the only food source for native bees in early spring, until other plants start blooming.

As bees fly from flower to flower to gather pollen, they spread small amounts of pollen caught on tiny hairs on their bodies. Plants as diverse as canola, cranberries, apples and broccoli all require cross-pollination for successful production.

Normandeau referenced the Alberta Native Bee Council and its mission to promote conservation and enhancement of native pollinators and their habitats. The council has noted that of the 903 species of native bees across Canada, 375 can be found in Alberta.

The council works with the Agroforestry and Woodlot Extension Society to build capacity and expand knowledge about native plants that are particularly appealing to pollinators.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

The Alberta Beekeepers Commission notes Alberta is home to more than 150 commercial beekeepers, including the Liquid Gold Honey Co. of Cayley.

Collectively, they manage more than 315,000 honeybee colonies and produce more than 40 million pounds of honey each year. That makes Alberta the largest honey-producing province in Canada and the third-largest in North America.

Small-scale local hobby beekeepers may set up only one or two hives, simply out of fascination with these creatures that carry out so many different tasks. They make the wax that builds the combs that hold the honey and hunt for flower nectar, swallowing it into their special honey stomachs and taking it back to the hive, where other specialized bees remove the moisture so that it can be better preserved.

 

A hobby beekeeper holds a hive frame containing honeycomb cells filled with honey and sealed with wax.A hobby beekeeper holds up a frame taken from the centre of a hive. The yellow sections near the left are honeycomb cells already filled with honey and sealed with wax. | Photo by Jan Frith

 

One tactic is to have hundreds of bees fan their wings in unison to help remove moisture from the nectar. The resulting honey is then stored in the honeycombs and keeps the bees alive until the next season’s blossoms appear.

The fewer flowers and the less nectar, the farther bees must fly to hunt for food, and the more plant fertilization and food production are threatened. At these times, beekeepers may provide sugar-water mixes to help keep the bees fed.

Motorists may notice, at times, that hives in fields alongside the highway are set only two boxes high, while later in the season they appear taller. Beekeepers wait until the bees have filled the lower two boxes with honey. The bees use these for their own needs over the winter. Honey deposited in the third and higher boxes is considered surplus and can be harvested.

For those whose curiosity is piqued, there’s a chance to learn more on July 4, when Heritage Acres Farm Museum hosts a hands-on honeybee demonstration.

Kathryn Knowles, a master’s student at the University of Lethbridge, will speak at 10 a.m., followed by a live demonstration of hives located on the museum grounds.

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

Preregistration and proper footwear are required. More information can be found at bit.ly/3SCUUh9.

Beekeeping, bees, Honeybees, Native Bees, pollinators

Blank petition form with tip of fountain pen above signature line

Corb Lund’s coal petition fails by 5,644 signatures

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

A citizen-led campaign aimed at stopping new coal mining along Alberta’s Eastern Slopes has failed to clear its final hurdle after a provincewide signature review.

Elections Alberta confirmed July 3 that the initiative led by musician Corb Lund and the Water Not Coal group is unsuccessful under the Citizen Initiative Act.

Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure said the petition did not meet the required threshold after verification and statistical sampling of signatures collected across the province.

Despite more than 196,000 signatures being counted as valid, the verified total fell below the legal requirement needed to trigger the proposed legislative change.

Under Alberta’s rules, a successful citizen initiative requires support from 10 per cent of voters who cast ballots in the most recent provincial election. That number was set at 177,732 signatures based on the 2023 general election.

Organizers appeared to clear that bar easily. Elections Alberta reported that 196,088 signatures were initially counted as valid.

“There’ll be a few bad addresses, but we only needed 178,000. That’s a really big buffer. So we’re quite confident,” Lund told Shootin’ the Breeze after delivering the signatures to Elections Alberta.

However, after a required statistical sampling process applied at a 95 per cent confidence level, the estimated number of valid signatures dropped to 172,088, leaving the campaign 5,644 signatures short of the threshold.

Two people, a man and a woman, sit smiling on the wooden steps of a rustic building with a “Bear Butchering” sign. The ad promotes Vision Credit Union and emphasizes support for small businesses.

In a statement issued July 3, Lund said he was “simultaneously shocked by this outcome, yet, unfortunately, not surprised, given the continual government rule changes and roadblocks we have faced throughout this campaign.”

He questioned both the result and the process behind it.

“This has been an unreasonable and opaque process from the beginning and, despite diligently following every rule, we are left with more questions than answers,” he said. “I have grave concerns about how this number was reached and the fairness of the process itself.”

Lund said his campaign delivered more than 205,000 signatures on June 10, of which roughly 35,000 were rejected. Elections Alberta’s count began from 196,088 signatures it initially deemed valid, which random statistical sampling then reduced to an estimated 172,088. The agency did not publish a figure for the total number of sheets delivered.

How the count worked

Provincewide, an estimated 5.8 per cent of Alberta’s roughly 2.96 million registered electors signed the petition, according to Elections Alberta.

The agency said most signatures rejected during the initial validation phase were tied to incomplete elector information, invalid dates, electors signing more than once and incomplete or improperly completed canvasser signature witnessing declarations.

During the verification phase, further signatures were lost. Some electors could not be reached and others were unwilling to confirm their information.

Elections Alberta also confirmed the petition was checked against seeded names drawn from the Republican Party of Alberta’s list of electors, an anti-fraud measure added May 1, 2026. No matches were found.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

The petition, formally titled the No New Coal Mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains initiative, sought to prohibit new coal mining and exploration. It would have exempted mines already in active production as of Jan. 1, 2026.

Two projects were named directly. One is Northback Holdings’ Grassy Mountain project near the headwaters of the Oldman River in the Crowsnest Pass. The other is Valory Resources’ Blackstone project in Clearwater County, near the North Saskatchewan River’s headwaters.

Grassy Mountain has a contentious history. A joint federal-provincial review panel rejected the project in 2021, when it was held by Benga Mining. It later returned to the approval process under Northback Holdings. In May 2025, the Alberta Energy Regulator approved deep-drilling exploration permits for the site.

The petition campaign launched with the Notice of Initiative Petition on Feb. 10. Signature collection ran until June 10. Lund and Water Not Coal supporters delivered 18 bins of signature sheets to the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton, unloading them from a horse trailer.

Verification began June 11 and concluded July 2, as required under the Act. It was the first citizen initiative petition verified with scrutineers present, a change introduced through Bill 23, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2026.

The process now moves to its final steps.

Under the Act, Lund and other proponents have until July 6 to return the petition and all canvasser identification documents to Elections Alberta, destroy any copies of signature sheets and file a signed affidavit confirming both steps were completed.

Financial reports related to the campaign are due to Elections Alberta by Aug. 10.

“Today’s announcement is merely another step in the overall fight to protect the Eastern Slopes, not the end of it,” Lund said. He will outline Water Not Coal’s next steps on Monday, July 6.

Bill 23, Citizen Initiative Act, Coal Mining, Coal Policy, No New Coal Mining Petition, Resource Development, Signature Verification, Water Security

A black calf standing in a field.

Counting calves lost to predators

Written on . Posted in Agriculture & Rural Life, Environment.

Producers have until July 6 to share predation data that could reshape provincial compensation

Southwestern Alberta ranchers have long absorbed losses they couldn’t prove — calves that vanished into the bush or carcasses too picked-over to confirm a predator kill. A survey now underway could reveal ranchers’ true livestock losses and help set a multiplier to determine fair compensation.

Waterton Biosphere Region is asking livestock producers to share five years of predation data, with the goal of calculating a compensation multiplier to recommend to the province. The adjustment is intended to better reflect livestock losses producers believe were caused by predators but could not be confirmed or found.

It’s a question the organization has been working to answer since 2011, when its carnivore working group identified gaps in Alberta’s Wildlife Predator Compensation Program. A first survey produced a figure of 2.5 — meaning for every confirmed predator kill, ranchers were actually losing an estimated 2.5 animals.

That figure went to the province in 2013 and, more than a decade later, the work is still unfinished.

Where the program falls short

Alberta’s Wildlife Predator Compensation Program pays ranchers when livestock are killed by bears, wolves, cougars or eagles. Claims are investigated by Fish and Wildlife officers before compensation is paid.

There are three possible outcomes: the kill is confirmed and the producer is paid full market value; it is denied and no payment is made; or it is ruled probable, with enough evidence to suggest a predator, but not enough to confirm it.

A probable ruling pays at 50 per cent. Even then, two conditions must be met: a second kill by the same species within 90 days and 10 kilometres. If those criteria aren’t met, nothing is paid.

Many animal losses that ranchers believe were taken by predators, but couldn’t prove, go uncompensated entirely.

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

“Sometimes when they find the carcass, it can be difficult for Fish and Wildlife officers to confirm whether the animal was killed by a predator or only scavenged,” says Jeff Bectell, WBR’s Carnivore and Communities Program co-ordinator. “And in treed landscapes, it can be difficult to find everything that predators kill.”

The case for a multiplier

A multiplier would address the gap directly. If a producer finds one confirmed predator kill, the program would recognize that more animals were likely lost.

“The purpose of the multiplier is that you understand that the losses the livestock owner is experiencing are greater than the single animal or animals that have been found,” Bectell says. “It accounts for the missing animals, or for the ones where the carcass was so eaten up that you couldn’t confirm it.”

The state of Wyoming uses such a system and Bectell says multipliers have reached as high as seven in some jurisdictions.

WBR’s 2013 recommendations proposed a multiplier of 2.5. It also recommended probable kills be paid at 100 per cent rather than 50, and that the 90-day and 10-kilometre criteria be removed. Compensation for livestock guardian dogs killed by predators was also proposed.

Of those recommendations, the multiplier carried the largest potential cost to the program.

The province did not act on any of them.

Fifteen years of near-misses

WBR has taken its recommendations to ministers, departments and governments.

“At times, we felt like we were making progress,” Bectell says. “But every time there was traction gained, the process was slow. Before things could be completed, there would be staff changes or an election, or a pandemic that would just derail everything.”

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

The program itself has shifted jurisdictions. It was formerly administered by Forestry and Parks. In January, it moved to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. WBR is now working with that ministry.

“Currently the government is giving some attention to this request,” he says. “They’ve said, well, let’s look at this together, and something that we think would be valuable is to look again at the multiplier level. So that’s why we’re asking these questions of producers.”

He says no commitment has been made; the province has not promised to adopt a multiplier.

What the survey asks

The survey is open to livestock producers in the MD of Pincher Creek, the MD of Ranchland, the MD of Willow Creek and Cardston County, and covers the years 2021 through 2025.

Producers are asked to provide total herd size, total death loss from all causes, perceived predator death loss, and the number of kills confirmed or ruled probable by Fish and Wildlife.

The first two questions provide context, demonstrating not every death is being attributed to predators.

The last two are the core of the exercise. The gap between what producers believe they lost and what was formally confirmed is precisely what the multiplier is designed to close.

Once the data is collected and averaged across all respondents, WBR will present the results to Agriculture and Irrigation. The submission will include not just a single multiplier figure but a range — reflecting that some producers experience heavier losses than others.

Producer identities will not be shared with the province and individual data will remain with WBR.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

Who should fill it out

Bectell is clear about who the survey is for: producers of cattle, sheep or goats who believe they have experienced losses to bears, wolves or cougars at any point in the past five years — even once. Partial responses covering fewer than five years are still welcome.

Coyote predation is not covered under the provincial program, nor are poultry losses, and neither should be included.

“This does take a little time,” Bectell acknowledges. “People need to dig through their records. But this matters.”

The survey deadline is July 6. Paper copies are available at local MD and county offices. The online version is at forms.office.com/r/uTFKq4X4GY.

The bigger picture

Alberta’s predator compensation program handles between 250 and 300 claims a year across the province, Bectell says.

A decade ago, the total provincial payout was about $250,000. Rising cattle prices have pushed that figure closer to $350,000 — not because there are dramatically more claims, but because animals are worth more.

The multiplier, if adopted, would increase those costs. But Bectell frames compensation as one piece of a larger effort, not the whole answer.

WBR’s carnivore program includes on-farm predator-deterrent projects, bear safety workshops, public education and support for research into predator populations. The goal, as Bectell puts it, is for people and large carnivores to share the landscape.

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“We don’t hang our hat on any single solution,” he says. “Not lethal control alone, not electric fences alone, not compensation alone. We need all of those elements working together.”

But compensation, he says, has consistently been the area where producers feel most shortchanged.

If the province moves forward, it has not yet decided whether changes would roll out provincially or be piloted in a limited area first. Either option is possible.

Preliminary results of the current survey are expected to be submitted to Agriculture and Irrigation by mid July.

Questions can be directed to Bectell at jbectell@watertonbiosphere.com or 403-653-2267.

Human-Wildlife Conflict, Livestock Predation, Predator Compensation, Ranching, Wildlife Predator Compensation Program

Graphic with the text "Municipal News from the MD of Pincher Creek" on the left side, featuring a stylized image of people seated around a meeting table on the right.

News briefs from June 9 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Community concerns over rail noise, infrastructure support and regional project planning were among the issues before MD of Pincher Creek council June 9.

Council also addressed correspondence items ranging from community events to infrastructure support and a proclamation recognizing municipal development officers.

Reeve Rick Lemire and councillors Tony Bruder, Dave Cox, John MacGarva and Jim Welsch were in attendance at the meeting.

Train whistling decision tabled

Council tabled discussion on whether to pursue a train whistle cessation application for crossings near Lundbreck, pending further information on municipal liability.

The issue came to council after a landowner raised concerns about the whistles with a member of council, who passed the matter to administration. The railway company, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, told the landowner that any request for whistle cessation must come from the municipality itself.

Administration confirmed there is a formal process in place with CPKC and asked council whether to proceed and, if so, at which crossings.

Northback water plan update

Council received a followup presentation from Northback Holdings regarding changes to its proposed water-management approach, tied to its term licence Water Act application.

The update outlined revisions to the project’s final terms of reference, including a commitment that Northback will not draw water directly from creeks or streams.

Instead, the company indicated it will rely on precipitation collection and mine dewatering, with storage in constructed dams during freshet, an approach it compared to methods used in Alberta’s irrigation systems.

Water collected through this system requires licensing under Alberta’s water allocation framework. Northback said further public information would be released as the application advances.

Castle Mountain fire guard advances

Council unanimously supported Pincher Creek Emergency Services Commission in advancing the Castle Mountain Fire Guard Project (CFP 24-11) to its construction phase.

Gravel for Twin Butte Community Hall

Council approved a request from Twin Butte Community Hall for a municipal donation of three loads of gravel, including delivery.

Development Officers Week proclaimed

Council proclaimed Sept. 14 to 18 as Alberta Development Officers Week in the MD of Pincher Creek.

The proclamation, put forward by the Alberta Development Officers Association, recognizes the contributions of development officers to planning across Alberta municipalities. They are responsible for enforcing and administering land-use regulations and policies under the Municipal Government Act.

Reeve Lemire signed the proclamation on behalf of council.

Community events

Council declined an invitation to attend Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre’s annual general meeting and facility tour June 23, as it falls on a regular council day.

Couns. Cox, Welsch and MacGarva were approved to attend the Pincher Creek Emergency Services open house June 25.

Any interested councillors were authorized to attend a community celebration recognizing completion of the Fishburn Cemetery Restoration Project, scheduled for July 25 at Fishburn Marr United Church.

Coal Mining, Community Events, Development Officers Week, Fire Guards, Municipal Governance, Rail Noise, Train Whistle Cessation, Water Act, Water allocation, water management

Jim Green, a Pincher Creek supporter of Water Not Coal, stands with Corb Lund.

Coal petition delivered, premier says no October ballot

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Corb Lund’s campaign to halt new coal mining along Alberta’s Eastern Slopes has cleared its threshold, but Premier Danielle Smith says the question won’t appear on the Oct. 19 referendum ballot, despite earlier indications it would.

On June 10, Lund and a group of Water Not Coal supporters unloaded 18 bins of signature sheets from a horse trailer outside the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton. Lund says organizers used the trailer to make a point about who this fight belongs to.

“We got over 205,000,” Lund told Shootin’ the Breeze. “There’ll be a few bad addresses, but we only needed 178,000. That’s a really big buffer. So we’re quite confident.”

Organizers say the four-month signature drive drew support from across the province — from urban centres to rural communities, First Nations and remote areas near the Eastern Slopes.

“It shows that Albertans are very strongly against these coal mines at the headwaters of our rivers,” Lund says. “We got signatures from 84 out of 87 ridings in the province. It was a very wide group of Albertans voicing their opinion.”

For Water Not Coal spokesperson Laura Laing, a rancher and longtime advocate for protecting the Eastern Slopes, the delivery was a milestone.

“It was very heartwarming,” she says. “We kind of wrapped all those months of blood, sweat and tears. It was quite the moment in history, really. One of the biggest moments that I think our province has seen on a grassroots initiative.”

Smith says deadline had already passed

On her June 13 Your Province, Your Premier radio show, Smith said the proposal is a legislative initiative that must be reviewed by a committee before recommendations are made to government.

A smiling woman and man stand side by side inside a store. The poster promotes Vision Credit Union and highlights Jeny and Phil receiving profit shares, with text describing their experience and the benefits. Vision Credit Union logo is visible.

During an unrelated press conference four days later, Smith told reporters the coal question will not appear on the Oct. 19 ballot. She said Elections Alberta set a June 1 deadline for the final list of referendum questions and the Water Not Coal verification process could not be completed in time.

Elections Alberta later confirmed to media that the deadline was set to ensure technological readiness, staffing and materials in advance of the referendum, saying each additional question requires 4.9 million ballot sheets.

Smith said the petition will instead be referred to a legislative committee, which will not be assembled until the legislature reconvenes Oct. 27.

“They’ll decide what direction to take with it,” she said. “It could result in a recommendation for a provincewide vote, which would take place in October of 2027.”

Smith also pointed to complications the committee would need to consider: provincial legislation requiring compensation when private property rights are restricted and the 2024 Crowsnest Pass plebiscite.

The premier’s announcement marks a shift from her earlier public position. As recently as April, she told reporters she expected the deadline for adding referendum questions to align with the close of the Water Not Coal signature-collection period.

Justice Minister Mickey Amery‘s office said the government plans “to see this process play out” and wait for the final verified signature count.

Lund disputes the deadline

Lund criticized the decision, saying organizers were not informed of the deadline despite discussions with the premier while the petition campaign was underway.

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

“To be told that the petition won’t make the ballot because it allegedly missed a June 1 deadline is unacceptable,” Lund said in a statement following the premier’s comments.

“I personally met with the premier in her office on May 11. We were literally discussing the wording of my question as it should appear on the ballot, face-to-face. And at no point was any June 1 deadline mentioned.”

Smith repeatedly said publicly that if Water Not Coal collected enough signatures, the question would appear on the fall ballot, Lund said.

“My team, all the canvassers and Albertans in general deserve consistency, honesty and fair treatment around these petition and direct-democracy issues that the premier has professed to believe in so strongly, so many times.”

He also argued the government has the authority to add questions to the ballot if it chooses.

“If the premier wants to put something on the ballot, she easily can,” he said. “She has done so multiple times — first with her original nine referendum questions, and then with the current question on separatism. The authority and the choice are available to her. And Albertans deserve to know why that authority was not used in this case, despite more than 200,000 people calling for it.”

Lund also pointed to evidence beyond the petition itself.

“Independent findings from the coal policy review initiated by the former UCP government in 2021 showed more than 80 per cent of Albertans oppose new coal mining on the Eastern Slopes,” he said.

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“Those facts, and the overwhelming public support reflected in more than 200,000 signatures, cannot be dismissed by a procedural excuse or an arbitrary deadline that was never communicated.”

On the Crowsnest Pass plebiscite Smith cited, Lund said the comparison was misleading.

“A turnout of roughly 1,700 people in a heavily lobbied local referendum in the Crowsnest Pass that voted in favour of the Grassy Mountain mining project (which is not even in the Crowsnest Pass municipality) does not represent the will of Albertans,” he said.

“More people canvassed for this petition than were even permitted to vote in the Crowsnest Pass plebiscite that the coal companies like to refer to so frequently. The scale of public concern is provincewide, and it cannot be minimized.”

What the petition asks

The petition calls on the provincial government to prohibit new coal mining and exploration anywhere along Alberta’s Eastern Slopes, exempting only mines already in active production as of Jan. 1, 2026.

It specifically names Northback Holdings‘ Grassy Mountain project near the headwaters of the Oldman River in the Crowsnest Pass area and Valory Resources’ Blackstone project in Clearwater County, near the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River.

The Grassy Mountain proposal was rejected in 2021 by a joint federal-provincial review panel. Held at the time by Benga Mining, the project re-entered the approval process under Northback Holdings, and in May 2025 the Alberta Energy Regulator approved deep-drilling exploration permits.

Industry responds

Northback Holdings and Valory Resources both responded to the petition delivery with statements to CBC News on June 10. The Coal Association of Canada has also been a vocal industry voice during the campaign.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

Northback’s strategic communications manager, James Robson, said there is strong support for the Grassy Mountain project “as demonstrated by provincewide external polling which determined that up to 74 per cent of Albertans support it.”

“Further, the 2024 referendum in Crowsnest Pass saw 72 per cent support for the Grassy Mountain project,” Robson wrote.

“If approved, the Grassy Mountain project will produce high-quality steelmaking coal for global markets, provide hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefits and hundreds of direct jobs, while adhering to the highest environmental standards.”

Ian Black, CEO of Valory Resources, said in a written statement that his company is committed to developing its underground metallurgical coal mine responsibly.

“It is disappointing to see misinformation about this industry, especially in Alberta,” Black said.

Rina Blacklaws, vice-president of industry development for the Coal Association of Canada, told the Western Standard in early June that the petition would put project decisions in “the court of public opinion as opposed to the technical expert review panel at the Alberta Energy Regulator.”

“That can put our province at a disadvantage in attracting private sector investment and realizing the economic and community benefits that come with critical mineral development,” Blacklaws said.

Where things stand

Elections Alberta has until July 2 to complete signature verification.

Lund closed his statement with thanks to the campaign’s supporters:

“I want to thank every Albertan who signed, every volunteer who canvassed, and every community group that stood up to protect our water, mountains and ranchland. Your work matters. We will continue to organize, to demand accountability, transparency and to insist that promises made to the public are kept.”

Citizen-Led Petitions, Coal Mining, Coal Policy, Direct Democracy, Environmental Protection, Public Accountability, Referendums, Water Security

Corb Lund, man with dark hair wearing a cowboy hat with crowd behind him

Water Not Coal petition clears signature threshold

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Corb Lund’s campaign to halt new coal mining along Alberta’s Eastern Slopes has cleared its threshold. Organizers delivered more than 205,000 signatures to Elections Alberta on June 10, about 27,000 more than the 177,732 signatures required under the Citizen Initiative Act.

Lund and a group of Water Not Coal supporters arrived at the Elections Alberta office in Edmonton with a horse trailer in tow. Eighteen bins of signature sheets were unloaded, marking what they describe as a defining moment in a six-year fight over coal policy in the province.

While Lund says there is a significant buffer between signatures required and collected, Elections Alberta must verify the signatures before the initiative can proceed further.

“We got over 205,000,” Lund says. “There’ll be a few bad addresses, but we only needed 178,000. That’s a really big buffer. So we’re quite confident.”

Organizers say the four-month signature drive drew support from across the province — from urban centres to rural communities, First Nations and remote areas near the Eastern Slopes.

“It shows that Albertans are very strongly against these coal mines at the headwaters of our rivers,” Lund says. “We got signatures from 84 out of 87 ridings in the province. It was a very wide group of Albertans voicing their opinion.”

For Water Not Coal organizers, the delivery marked both a logistical endpoint and an emotional milestone. Spokesperson Laura Laing, a rancher and longtime advocate for protecting the Eastern Slopes, calls the delivery a surreal and emotional moment.

“It was very heartwarming,” she says. “We kind of wrapped all those months of blood, sweat and tears. It was quite the moment in history, really. One of the biggest moments that I think our province has seen on a grassroots initiative.”

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

The horse trailer was a deliberate transportation choice. Lund says organizers brought it to make a point about who this fight belongs to.

“It was just to show people that rural people care about this,” he says.

Elections Alberta officials accepted the 18 bins, issued an affidavit of receipt and began verification the next morning. The agency, which operates independently of any political party, has 21 days to count and validate the signatures.

Clearing the threshold does not automatically put a coal question on a referendum ballot.

Under the Citizen Initiative Act, a verified legislative proposal goes to the Speaker of the legislative assembly and the government must refer it to a committee that can recommend either legislation or a provincewide vote.

Alberta already has a referendum with 10 separate questions set for Oct. 19; organizers hope a coal question can join it.

However, Premier Danielle Smith has indicated the coal proposal must first proceed through the process outlined in the Citizen Initiative Act before any decision is made on whether it will appear on a ballot.

Speaking on a radio show, Smith said the petition is a legislative proposal that must be reviewed by a committee, which will consult with government officials and make recommendations on how to proceed.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

“I looked at the petition and it calls for a legislative proposal, so I have to figure out what that means,” Smith said. “There is a process that’s outlined in the act, and we will follow that process on this one too.”

What the petition asks

The petition calls on the provincial government to prohibit new coal mining and exploration anywhere along Alberta’s Eastern Slopes, exempting only mines already in active production as of Jan. 1, 2026.

It specifically names two proposed developments — Northback Holdings’ Grassy Mountain project near the headwaters of the Oldman River in the Crowsnest Pass area and Valory Resources’ Blackstone project in Clearwater County, near the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River.

Lund has said both projects are at similar stages in the regulatory process and represent the most immediate potential coal developments on the Eastern Slopes, but has emphasized the petition is deliberately broader.

“We specifically included Grassy Mountain and Blackstone within the wording of the question, because we wanted to be very clear that it includes those two,” Lund has said.

Six years in the making

The campaign’s roots stretch back to 2020, when Alberta’s move to lift long-standing protections on Rocky Mountain coal mining sparked widespread opposition.

The Grassy Mountain proposal was rejected in 2021 by a joint federal-provincial review panel, when the project was held by Benga Mining.

It re-entered the approval process with a modified approach under Northback Holdings rebranding and, in May 2025, the Alberta Energy Regulator approved deep-drilling exploration permits for the site.

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

Lund’s personal involvement includes meetings with coal lobbyists and company executives, correspondence with government ministers, participation in protests and presentations at regulatory hearings.

The idea for a citizen initiative took shape following a June 2025 town hall in Fort Macleod where Premier Smith encouraged those concerned about coal mining to consider that route. Lund and Water Not Coal organizers filed a notice of intent and received approval, but not without a significant setback.

Legislative interruption

In December 2025, the campaign was thrown into uncertainty when Elections Alberta informed organizers their previously approved petition had been retroactively cancelled following the implementation of Bill 14, provincial legislation that amended Alberta’s citizen initiative framework.

The bill transferred certain decision-making powers from the chief electoral officer to the justice minister and nullified petitions that had not been formally issued before the legislation took effect.

In a Dec. 12 statement, Lund said the cancellation was a serious blow but that organizers used the interruption to sharpen their operations. A new notice of intent was filed Dec. 19 and Elections Alberta confirmed on Jan. 27 that the revised application met legislative requirements.

The formal petition was issued Feb. 10, with the signature collection window running from Feb. 11 to June 10.

Four months on the road

Over the four-month collection period, Water Not Coal mobilized more than 3,000 registered canvassers across the province, staging thousands of signing events at community centres, markets, breweries, ranches, doorsteps and sidewalks.

In the final stretch, Lund conducted what organizers called a last-chance tour running from Lethbridge to Edmonton.

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“There were people lined up to sign and say thanks,” Laing says, adding that even people from Crowsnest Pass and the MD of Ranchland supported the petition.

She says the broader human experience of the campaign left its own lasting impression.

“The friendships made along the way are incredible, and just connections to people we wouldn’t have met before,” Laing says. “I think the human experience of this whole thing has been the biggest adventure experience and return on our efforts for sure.”

Support for the campaign was also visible in the Pincher Creek area, which sits close to the proposed Grassy Mountain project. Lund says he received a “very positive” response during a visit to the community earlier in the campaign, noting it was his first time engaging directly with residents there on the coal issue.

A dispute over water

In the final weeks of the campaign, organizers seized on a Northback move they say validates their concerns — a water licence application Northback Holdings filed with the Alberta Energy Regulator. Organizers argue it contradicts the company’s years of assurances that Grassy Mountain would not need additional water from the already stressed Oldman River system.

“They promised for a number of years that they wouldn’t need any of our water, and they’ve just turned around and made an application for a large amount of water,” Lund says. “To me, that’s basically lying.”

Laing, whose ranch operations in southern Alberta have already been affected by drought and tightening water allocations, was equally pointed.

“They say one thing and do another once they’re in,” she says. “As a rancher in the south, I don’t know where this water is going to come from. On our ranch, we’ve had to divest our herd size to accommodate the lack of water. That water needs to be preserved. It’s our No. 1 resource in the province and we can’t be just giving that away.”

At a May 26 presentation to the MD of Pincher Creek council, Northback CEO Mike Young said the company revised its water approach to remove any direct withdrawal from creeks or streams. Instead, operational needs will be met with precipitation captured on-site and water recovered through mine dewatering, stored in dams during rain and seasonal freshet flows.

Young likened the model to storage systems used in Alberta’s irrigation networks and said a water allocation licence is required because the water would be stored and used.

Next steps and objectives

With the petition now in the hands of Elections Alberta, organizers say the next critical step will be determining wording for a potential referendum question. Lund is emphatic that the exact petition wording approved by Elections Alberta be used verbatim.

“We put a lot of time into the wording of our question with lawyers and a lot of thought,” he says. “We insist that the government use our exact wording, because we made it very specific to include the Blackstone project and the Grassy Mountain project.”

Looking beyond a vote, Lund describes a two-part vision of success — strong legislation banning new coal mining on the Eastern Slopes and a level of public awareness durable enough to outlast any future government.

“You could change legislation — even if they make good legislation, some other government can change it down the road,” he says.

“Our goal, in part, with the petition and referendum, is to get enough public discussion on this issue that most Albertans understand how bad an idea this is. If another politician comes along who’s fine with coal at the headwaters of our rivers, they’ll be run out of office.”

For now, organizers say they plan a brief rest before what they expect will be an intense lead-up to a possible fall vote and acknowledge the opposition won’t be quiet.

“The coal industry has become more and more aggressive in their attacks on us,” Lund says. “But they say if you’re getting flak, you’re over the target. They’re feeling the public pressure, definitely.”

 

Alberta Referendum, Citizen Initiative Act, Coal Mining, Eastern Slopes, Resource Development, Water Security

Graphic with the text "Municipal News from the MD of Pincher Creek" across the top, featuring an image of large windmills in a field with mountains in the background.

News briefs from May 26 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Municipal District of Pincher Creek council heard updates on a proposed water management approach linked to Northback Holdings and made several decisions on local infrastructure and community funding during its May 26 committee and regular meetings.

Highlights included approval of emergency bridge repairs near Connelly Creek, the defeat of a Fish Lake pumping proposal and the acknowledgment of a conservation easement notice from the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society.

Northback outlines revised water management approach

Mike Young, chief executive officer of Northback Holdings, presented updates to the company’s water management plans tied to its proposed coal mine development. He told council Northback has revised its approach in response to changes made to the final terms of reference and its term licence Water Act application.

Young said the revised approach removes any direct water withdrawal from creeks or streams. Instead, Northback would meet operational water needs using precipitation captured on-site and water generated through mine dewatering processes, which involve removing water during mining operations.

Water would be collected and stored in dams during precipitation events and seasonal freshet flows, and Young described the model as similar to water storage approaches used in Alberta’s irrigation systems. Because the collected water would be stored and used under this system, it would still require licensing under Alberta’s water allocation framework.

Council was told further information will be provided to the public as it becomes available throughout the application process.

Emergency bridge repairs approved for Connelly Creek crossing

Council approved $37,500 in emergency capital repair funds for a bridge crossing on Range Road 23A over Connelly Creek, after the MD’s bridge inspector flagged a structural concern during spring checks.

Administration reported the northwest bank at Bridge File 13957 is being undermined, with water flow beginning to move behind the north abutment back wall. An assessment strongly recommended placing riprap on the toe of the embankment and upslope to maintain slope stability and prevent further deterioration.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

As Connelly Creek is home to species protected under the federal Species at Risk Act, work in the bed and banks carries stringent permitting requirements, including recommendations from a qualified aquatic environmental specialist.

However, administration noted that given the bridge’s proximity and habitat similarity to a nearby crossing — Bridge File 1348, already an approved 2026 capital project — the work can be carried out concurrently to avoid duplicating environmental assessment and permitting efforts.

Administration noted that Bridge File 13957 is on the 10-year prioritization list with a target replacement year of 2036 due to other existing deficiencies. Completing those repairs in full this year was deemed not feasible, given the scope of land acquisition, permitting requirements and preliminary engineering work that would first be needed.

Council approved the funding and awarded the work through the bridge reserve.

Library system funding update received

Council received as information a presentation from Chinook Arch Regional Library System, originally delivered at the May 12 council committee meeting.

The presentation outlined the structure of the regional system and how it supports Pincher Creek Municipal Library through shared access to resources and interlibrary services. It also included budget details for the 2023–26 cycle.

For 2026, the per capita levy was $7.76, with a proposed increase to $8.17 for 2027. A formal request for that increase is expected to come before council at a later date.

Fish Lake pumping proposal defeated

Coun. Dave Cox moved that funds be drawn from the tax rate stabilization reserve to pump water to Fish Lake at a cost of $81,250.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

The motion was defeated.

Conservation easement notice acknowledged

Council acknowledged receipt of a conservation easement notice from the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society for two parcels of land known as the Lievaart West project, located at NW-11-8-3-W5 and NE-11-8-3-W5, totalling about 322 acres.

Under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act, municipalities must be notified prior to registration of conservation easements. Council also agreed to waive the 60-day notice period, allowing the easement to proceed to registration.

While the MD has the option to register an objection to the easement, administration noted that the easement may still be registered regardless.

Outdated licence of occupation policy repealed

Council repealed Policy C-AES-001, Licence of Occupation, following the adoption of Traffic Bylaw 1365-25, which now covers all use of highways within the MD, including temporary grazing permits and road allowance use, making the existing policy redundant.

Heritage Acres to receive donated gravel

Council agreed to donate remaining waste material from the Heritage Gravel Pit — up to 400 cubic yards — to Heritage Acres Farm Museum for use on its grounds.

Community funding and events received

Council dealt with several correspondence items related to community events, sponsorships and regional participation.

Interested councillors were authorized to attend the Alberta SouthWest annual general meeting June 3 and the Pincher Creek Rodeo Parade and dignitary luncheon Aug. 15.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

Council approved a $160 sponsorship for Community Safety Net, a children’s safety program operating in Pincher Creek. The funding will support 10 local families at $16 per family, up from five families sponsored by the MD last year. Funds will come from the grants to groups and organizations budget. Coun. Tony Bruder moved the motion, which carried.

Council received as information an invitation to participate in the Elkford Wildcat Days Parade on June 27.

A call for nominations for the 2026 National Fire Chief of the Year Awards, jointly presented by the Fire Underwriters Survey and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, was also received. Nominations for both a volunteer and a full-time fire chief are open until June 30.

Council also agreed to provide a letter of support for Kootenai Brown Historical Park in its application to the FCC AgriSpirit Fund.

Alberta Land Stewardship Act, Bridge Repairs, Coal Mining, Conservation Easements, Municipal Governance, Road Allowances, Traffic Bylaw, Water Act, Water allocation, water management

Oldman Watershed Council logo with a river in the background

Oldman Watershed Council expands its work

Written on . Posted in Community Life, Environment.

The Oldman Watershed Council, a two-decade-old non-profit, says it is carrying out some of its most consequential work yet.

From planting thousands of willows along eroding streambanks to restoring wetlands and fencing sensitive areas, dozens of annual OWC stewardship projects add up to millions of dollars in ecosystem benefits across southern Alberta, according to the organization.

OWC says those efforts are part of its broader mission to improve water security across the Oldman River basin through collaboration and hands-on restoration.

Founded in 2004 and based in Lethbridge, OWC describes itself as a neutral forum that brings together municipalities, Indigenous nations, industry, government and landowners to tackle water security across southwestern Alberta — roughly from High River south to Grassy Lake west.

Chief executive officer Shannon Frank says the organization’s role is rooted in collaboration rather than advocacy.

“We bring people together to discuss complicated issues and find practical solutions so that we can maintain our water security,” she says.

Frank presented to Pincher Creek town council at its regular meeting on May 25.

The organization recently crossed its 150th project milestone under its Watershed Legacy Program, a cost-sharing initiative that funds boots-on-the-ground stewardship work with landowners, First Nations, agricultural producers and government.

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

In the fiscal year ending March 31, OWC completed 39 such projects, enhancing 5,600 acres of land.

Frank said the organization works across four main areas: convening and collaboration, education and literacy, monitoring and assessment, and on-the-ground planning and implementation.

One of its most visible tools is the Ecosystem Services Calculator, an online platform that assigns a dollar value to natural landscapes based on the services they provide, such as water filtration, flood mitigation and drought resilience.

“Nature does have a lot of value,” Frank says. “If we had to replace those services — water filtration, for example — and build a water treatment plant to do that for us, it would be much more costly than trying to work with nature.”

The free calculator, available on OWC’s website, allows anyone to enter the number of hectares of land they manage — whether grassland, forest or wetland — and receive an estimate of the annual dollar value of ecosystem services provided.

“It’s only been on our website for a few weeks,” Frank says. “We wanted to test it out and make sure everything was working well before we launched it publicly.”

Among the trends OWC is tracking closely is a surge in virtual fencing — a technology that uses GPS collar systems to manage livestock movement without physical fencing.

Frank says the organization saw a notable uptick in virtual fencing applications among ranchers last year, alongside a rise in requests for help drilling deeper groundwater wells as drought stressed existing water sources.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

OWC offers grants covering roughly 50 per cent of eligible project costs. Applications for its current funding intake are open until July 1 and the organization says anyone with land — municipalities, ranchers, First Nations, food producers — can apply through its website.

Alongside data tools, OWC is also expanding hands-on habitat restoration. One current program supports publicly accessible pollinator gardens helping bumblebee populations, which researchers warn face extinction risk.

The organization plants about four such gardens per year, covering the cost of plants, soil and mulch, and prefers locations on public land where educational signage and community tours are possible.

“When pollinators go extinct, we will go extinct,” Frank says. “It matters and there are a lot of efforts underway to improve pollinator populations.”

Frank says town councillor Bernice Cyr expressed interest at the meeting in situating a pollinator garden in a local park and OWC plans to follow up.

OWC also runs stewardship programs that include willow planting, erosion control, wetland restoration and fencing projects designed to protect sensitive water areas from livestock.

Frank says willows are especially critical for stabilizing streambanks. The organization plants between 5,000 and 10,000 willows annually.

The organization also plays a major role in water monitoring across the region. Frank said OWC currently monitors about 20 sites annually, focusing on stream health and aquatic insects that act as indicators of water quality.

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“We haven’t seen any huge issues flagged there,” she says, noting that results have generally shown good water conditions in monitored areas.

Groundwater monitoring is another growing priority as drought conditions persist across southern Alberta. OWC is working with Living Lakes Canada to expand well monitoring in the region, with funding to track nine additional wells on top of the 13 already monitored by the provincial government.

“This is really going to help us with drought management,” Frank says, adding that better data is needed as more communities report dry wells and deeper drilling requirements.

OWC is also preparing a new “state of the watershed” report card, expected in 2027, which will update data last compiled in 2010. The new version will expand beyond environmental indicators to include socioeconomic data and Indigenous perspectives.

Education is another key pillar of the organization’s work. OWC runs programs that include outreach in recreation areas, where staff speak with backcountry users about responsible land use, and agricultural literacy initiatives that connect urban residents with farms and ranches.

The goal, Frank says, is to reduce misconceptions about food production while building public understanding of how land use connects to water health.

At the governance level, OWC operates with a 19-seat board representing municipalities, Indigenous partners, provincial and federal governments, health, environment and industry sectors. The structure is designed to ensure representation across the watershed’s roughly 200,000 residents.

The Town of Pincher Creek supports OWC’s operations through a voluntary per-capita funding model. Frank says the town contributes 49 cents per resident, for about $1,700 annually.

As drought pressures continue and water security becomes increasingly uncertain, OWC says its focus remains on practical, collaborative solutions rooted in science, land stewardship and community engagement, all aimed at keeping the watershed functioning for those both upstream and downstream.

Drought Management, Ecosystem Services, Habitat Restoration, Pollinator Gardens, Water Monitoring, Water Security, Watershed Stewardship, Wetland Restoration

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Briefs from May 12 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

MD of Pincher Creek council dealt with recycling changes, a Burmis Lake lease transfer, summer meeting cancellations, sponsorship requests and several land matters during its May 12 meeting.

Reeve Rick Lemire and Couns. Dave Cox, John MacGarva and Jim Welsch were present; Coun. Tony Bruder was absent.

Recycling changes

Council approved a public information release regarding upcoming changes to curbside and depot recycling services, scheduled to begin Oct. 1.

The changes fall under Alberta’s Extended Producer Responsibility framework and will bring single-stream recycling to Lundbreck and Beaver Mines at no cost to residents.

The Eco Centre will also transition to a single-stream system, with compensation provided through Circular Materials.

Administration said new material streams will be introduced, along with a provincewide education campaign expected to begin in mid year. The MD will release information ahead of that campaign and co-ordinate messaging with the Town of Pincher Creek.

Public communication will be made through social media, the MD website, email lists, newspaper advertising and community organizations.

Burmis Lake lease

Council approved the transfer of Recreation Lease 2348 for Burmis Lake from the MD of Pincher Creek to the Alberta Conservation Association.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

The municipality has held the lease since 1965 but has not been responsible for site operations or maintenance beyond minor road upkeep. The Alberta Conservation Association has managed the area for years, including fish stocking and contracted maintenance work.

Administration said the transfer aligns the lease with the organization already carrying out day-to-day management.

The MD will cover a $3,150 administrative transfer fee, through its operating budget.

Summer meeting schedule

Council approved cancelling regular council and committee meetings scheduled for July 28 and Aug. 11, along with municipal planning commission and subdivision authority meetings set for Aug. 4.

The motion allows meetings to be called if urgent matters arise.

Funding requests and provincial programs

Council reviewed several correspondence items, including a support request from Pincher Creek Minor Hockey Association for its upcoming golf fundraiser. A raffle basket donation valued up to $75 will be funded through the operating budget.

Council also received information on Alberta Day 2026, a provincewide initiative encouraging municipalities to host local celebrations between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, with funding available based on population.

Family and Community Support Services encouraged council participation in a seniors’ needs discussion being organized in the community. Coun. Welsch will attend, with Coun. Cox as alternate.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

Council approved a $250 sponsorship for the 2026 Huckleberry Festival at Castle Mountain Resort, happening primarily on Aug. 22.

Council also declared May 19 as Family Doctor Day in the MD, recognizing family physicians and primary-care providers.

April delegations formally received

Council formally received as information several updates presented at the April 28 council committee meeting.

Waterton Lakes National Park provided information on its 2026 operational priorities. These include continued restrictions on non-motorized watercraft, aquatic invasive species prevention, and expanded visitor management tools such as 511 alerts and additional signage to manage park capacity.

Council also received an update from Pincher Creek Curling Club outlining revised project costs now exceeding $5 million and a funding shortfall of about $1.6 million. The club also indicated interest in having a council representative sit on its building committee to strengthen communication during the project.

A third presentation, from resident Marco Bergeron, raised concerns about municipal water rates following recent increases. Administration noted the MD has been implementing staggered increases over four years to bring rates closer to mid-range levels compared to other municipalities.

Closed session

Following a closed session, council authorized attendance at a June 29 meeting and tour at Pincher Creek Airport.

Council also approved the sale of municipally owned Lots 1 and 2, Block 8, Plan 1993N in Pincher Station at fair market value under MD policy.

Another motion approved a request to close and purchase portions of undeveloped road allowance near NW-7-4-28-W4 and NE-12-4-29-W4, with the applicant responsible for associated costs.

Alberta Day, Aquatic Invasive Species, Community Sponsorship, Extended Producer Responsibility, Family Doctor Day, Huckleberry Festival, Municipal Governance, Road Allowances, Single-Stream Recycling, Water Rates

A piece of blue paper is torn open to reveal the word "APPLICATION" typed in black, all-capital letters on a white background.

Northback water bid contradicts public statements, LLG says

Written on . Posted in Environment.

A water licence application filed by Northback Holdings is drawing sharp criticism from the Livingstone Landowners Group. The group says the application contradicts the coal company’s public statements and raises questions about transparency.

Calling the application filed with the Alberta Energy Regulator to divert water from the Blairmore Creek watershed “premature,” the LLG is urging municipal and provincial leaders to demand full disclosure before any permit is approved. The concerns are tied to the Grassy Mountain coal project, along the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

In a letter sent to both the Town and MD of Pincher Creek on April 22, the LLG said Northback’s March 13 application to divert 185,022 cubic metres of water annually from the Blairmore Creek watershed for 25 years is inconsistent with the company’s previous public assurances.

The group pointed to statements on Northback’s website and a Dec. 9, 2025 presentation to council committees, where the company said the project would require no water drawn from rivers and creeks.

In the letter, the LLG also argues the application is being made ahead of a full mine proposal and therefore does not provide sufficient context for regulators or the public to assess the broader environmental implications.

Bobbi Lambright, LLG board member, says the water issue is central to the group’s concerns about how Northback presents information.

“It just doesn’t feel like Northback is being upfront about what their requirements are,” she says. “How do you trust somebody who’s saying one thing to your face and then is going behind your back essentially to ask the regulator for a permit?”

Lambright raises concerns about the scale of the proposed diversion, saying the application seeks to take water from a tributary of Blairmore Creek in an area she describes as already water-constrained.

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

“If you have a city of between 120,000 to 150,000 people, that’s how much water they would use, and that’s a lot of water from an area that is very water constrained,” she says.

The LLG also takes issue with the timing, saying the application predates any broader environmental assessment or public disclosure of total water requirements.

The group says this prevents regulators and the public from understanding the full project scope, including total water demand, treatment needs and environmental risks.

“There’s no way that this application should even be considered in advance of a formal application for the mine itself,” Lambright says. “You don’t have enough information for people to fairly evaluate what the implications are going to be.”

The LLG also flags that the Oldman River Basin is already fully allocated and has been closed to new licences since 2007.

However, the group says Northback is seeking to access water under a clause in an earlier allocation order that allows for industrial use.

The group argues the company is attempting to secure a significant portion of that allocation without disclosing its full water requirements for the mine or potential cumulative impacts on the watershed.

Lambright questions the data being used in Northback’s submission, saying the application relies on older hydrological information rather than current conditions.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

The LLG has raised its concerns with local and provincial leaders with letters sent to the MD of Pincher Creek, the Town of Pincher Creek, Premier Danielle Smith, the minister of energy, the minister of environment and protected areas, and Livingstone-Macleod MLA Chelsae Petrovic.

Lambright said no responses had been received at the time of the interview.

Northback, in a written response, defended the application as part of its broader water management plan. The company says the water application is part of its revised mine design and water management approach, and is required under Alberta’s water allocation system.

“Northback is advancing a revised mine design which will provide significant benefits to Alberta, while operating with the highest environmental standards,” says James Robson, the company’s manager of strategic communications.

He says water contacting the mine site will be captured for use and treated if necessary, and that full details of water management will be included in its integrated environmental assessment application.

“As such, this application is part of Northback’s water use plan and the full details will be available as part of the integrated environmental assessment application.”

The Grassy Mountain coal project has been the subject of long-standing debate in the region, particularly over its potential impacts on water resources in the Eastern Slopes.

The LLG says its position is not only about the current application, but about ensuring complete disclosure of all water requirements before any approvals are considered.

Lambright says the group’s immediate concern is that the Alberta Energy Regulator does not approve the water permit until a full mine application is submitted and reviewed.

Coal Mining, Resource Development, Water allocation, Water Licences

A fountain pen writes the word “Petition” in bold, black ink on white paper.

Water concerns drive support for Corb Lund coal petition

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

With a June 10 deadline approaching, Pincher Creek volunteers continue gathering signatures for a citizen-led petition that would ban new coal mining along Alberta’s Eastern Slopes. Water security is the issue bringing most residents to the table.

The provincewide campaign was launched by country musician Corb Lund. The petition seeks to prohibit new mining on the Eastern Slopes, excluding mines already operating as of Jan. 1, 2026.

To proceed, organizers must collect 177,732 valid signatures by June 10. Elections Alberta began the official signature collection period on Feb. 11 after the campaign was reapproved earlier this year under updated provincial legislation.

Pincher Creek resident Allan Garbutt, one of the local canvassers, says volunteers have hosted signings at Ranchland Mall and most recently at the Annex in early May, with plans to return.

He says the response from residents has been encouraging, though a paperwork snag has slowed things down.

Elections Alberta requires signatories to provide identification showing a physical address, not a post office box, which means a driver’s licence listing a box number is not accepted.

Garbutt says many rural residents don’t carry a utility bill or tax notice, the kinds of documents that satisfy the requirement.

Water at the centre

Garbutt says the petition taps into anxiety that has been building in southwestern Alberta for years. He points to the region’s visibly low reservoir levels over the past three years as evidence of how precarious the situation already is.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

“The water we drink comes off the East Slopes,” he says. “If the coal mines are allowed to proceed, the water either may not be there or it may be contaminated.”

He describes southwestern Alberta as “the driest corner in the driest province,” noting that more than 90 per cent of water flowing into the North and South Saskatchewan River basins originates on the Eastern Slopes.

The problem, he says, is that the foothills and mountain terrain in this part of the province are exceptionally narrow, roughly 20 kilometres wide, compared with as much as 200 kilometres farther north near Edmonton.

“Anybody who’s looked at our reservoir the past three years up until this fall knows how precarious our water situation can be,” he says.

Cody Johnson, the Pincher Creek resident who organized the Annex signing event, says selenium contamination from coal mining is what concerns him most and points to communities near mines in British Columbia’s Elk Valley as a warning.

“They will use clean water and they will produce contaminated water,” Johnson says of the proposed mining projects. “They have not yet demonstrated a way that they can clean and clear the water before they return it to the system.”

He notes that the proposed Grassy Mountain coal project, the focus of much of the opposition, was reviewed by a joint federal-provincial panel, which concluded it would have adverse environmental effects and was not in the public interest. That decision was later upheld through multiple appeals.

The Annex event drew fewer visitors than Johnson hoped, but the mall event weeks earlier was more successful. One group of visitors stayed with him.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

“Several people used to work in mines in British Columbia and they said, ‘We don’t want it here,’ because they say, ‘We know what happens,’” he says. “I was surprised when miners came up to me and said that.”

He frames coal as a sunset industry ill-suited to the region’s future and questions the economic rationale for a project that would, in his view, put tourism, fishing and recreation at risk for a limited number of short-term jobs.

“You aren’t bringing tourists to look at open-pit mines and blowing up mountains,” he says. “That one industry would put many other things at risk.”

A narrow strip, and a fragile one

Brenda Davison, an environmentalist who lives near Burmis, between Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek, says her concerns are both personal and environmental.

She draws her drinking water from a private well fed by groundwater near the Crowsnest River and says contamination from selenium — a byproduct of coal mining that leaches into waterways — would leave her with no safe alternative.

“If the groundwater gets contaminated, I’m in big trouble,” she says. “They can clean the surface water, but they can’t get that deep water.”

She describes the area’s mountains as uniquely fragile water towers. Unlike areas near Canmore or Banff, where multiple mountain ranges provide a broad band of water-capturing terrain, she says the Crowsnest area has only a thin strip between the Continental Divide and the open prairie.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

“The reason the Crowsnest River keeps running even when it’s not raining is because the mountains are like big water towers,” she says. “They hold the water.”

Davison also worries about coal dust and the long-term impact of open-pit mining on wildlife habitat and migration corridors along the Eastern Slopes. Grizzly bears, elk and wolves once ranged across the prairies, but she says they have been pushed back by private land development until only a narrow corridor of public land remains.

She describes the Crowsnest area as the narrowest wildlife corridor along the entire Continental Divide and says open-pit mining would further fragment or eliminate it.

Grizzly bears are “an indicator species — if you have bears, you have a healthy ecosystem,” she says. “The only place where there can be grizzly bears or wolves or animals or those kinds of things, where they’re safe, is public land. It’s already very small here.”

She has collected about 50 petition signatures by going door-to-door in the Burmis area, with roughly 70 per cent of those she approached agreeing to sign.

Davison says she understands some residents support coal development because of potential employment opportunities, but believes the economic benefits would be temporary compared with the long-term environmental impact.

“A lot of people in the Crowsnest Pass, their parents and grandparents were coal miners,” she says. “I don’t want to discount other people in the Pass who believe the coal mine will bring jobs, I just believe that a healthy environment is very important.”

Garbutt says organizers plan to continue hosting signing events in Pincher Creek in the coming weeks and encourages residents interested in signing to contact local canvassers.

“Sign the petition — our water security depends on it,” he says. “If somebody up this way wants to sign and they haven’t done it already, I’ll come to their house.”

Citizen-Led Petitions, Coal Mining, Environmental Protection, Open-pit mining, Selenium, Water Security, Wildlife Corridors

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Briefs from April 28 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Conservation, water use and municipal advocacy were among the key topics discussed at the MD of Pincher Creek’s April 28 council meeting.

Councillors approved a conservation easement registration request from the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society. They also finalized amendments to the municipality’s land-use bylaw governing agricultural reservoirs and dugouts.

Conservation easement approved

Council acknowledged receipt of a notice from the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society regarding a proposed conservation easement on the Fitch Bradley property located at NE-36-5-1-W5.

The project covers about 67.79 hectares, or 160.1 acres.

Under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act, municipalities must be notified before a conservation easement is registered.

SALTS asked the MD to waive the standard 60-day notice period to allow immediate registration. Council approved the request.

Administration noted that while municipalities may object to a conservation easement registration, the easement can still proceed. The notice primarily serves to inform the municipality that the conservation easement will be placed on the property.

Dugout and reservoir bylaw passes

Council gave second and third readings to Bylaw 1369-26, which amends the municipality’s land-use bylaw to better define and regulate dugouts and agricultural water reservoirs. The changes clarify the difference between smaller dugouts and larger agricultural water storage projects within agriculturally oriented districts.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

The amendments define dugouts as excavated water storage areas generally located below natural grade, while larger reservoirs exceeding one acre or involving above-grade storage would fall under a separate classification with additional requirements.

The bylaw also introduces provisions allowing some dugouts and reservoirs to proceed without a development permit if they meet setback, sight-line and capacity requirements. Additional regulations address engineering requirements for larger projects and possible fencing requirements near residences.

The bylaw received first reading March 3. No members of the public spoke and no written submissions were received at an April 14 public hearing.

FCM membership not renewed

Council voted not to renew the municipality’s membership in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for 2026-27. The motion stated council believes the organization is more urban-focused.

Summer Games invitation received

Council received as information an invitation from the Town of Bow Island to attend the opening ceremonies for the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

The Games are scheduled to run July 8 to 11, with opening ceremonies planned for July 8 at Centennial Park in Bow Island.

Letter to province requested

Under new business, council directed administration to send a followup letter to Environment and Protected Areas Minister Grant Hunter regarding red-tape reduction and a previously denied diversion permit application connected to pumping raw water from dugouts.

The discussion referenced a 2023 permit application that was denied, despite water hauling from the same location being permitted.

Agricultural Water Reservoirs, Alberta Land Stewardship Act, Conservation Easements, Land-Use Bylaw, Municipal Advocacy, Red Tape Reduction, Water Diversion Permits

Kennedy Halvorson smiles while receiving a carton of fresh eggs from Allan Garbutt after her Crowsnest Conservation Society presentation.

Earth Day talk on Castle resort legislation draws crowd to the Pass

Written on . Posted in Environment.

More than 40 people turned out April 21 for an Earth Day presentation on Alberta’s All-Season Resorts Act and its implications for the Castle area.

Kennedy Halverson of the Alberta Wilderness Association spoke to the Crowsnest Conservation Society, with her talk drawing an engaged crowd eager to hear about the legislation and its policies.

Halvorson described the steps required for creation of an all-season resort, using Nakiska and Fortress as examples. Public consultation is conducted by the proponent of the resort, not the government, which may make it more thorough. The proponent’s assessment of impacts on local natural environments and communities comes later in the process. No proposal has been announced yet by Castle Mountain Resort.

She reviewed the history of the Castle area over the past century, including various uses, creation of the wetland reserve, previous proposals for an all-season resort, and the creation of the Castle Provincial and Wildland parks.

Using maps, Halverson described expert assessments of the area covering native plant cover, landscape continuity, stream connectivity, and biodiversity of plant, animal and fish species. The impact of people and development on the natural health of the region varied by geographic area.

Audience questions were thoughtful and comments informative, drawing on previous surveys, citizen committees and activities on the landscape. Most people stayed after the event to share opinions and discuss future concerns.

All-Season Resorts Act, biodiversity, conservation, Earth Day, Environmental Planning, Land-Use Planning, Public consultation, Tourism Development

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Briefs from March 24 MD council table

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Municipal District of Pincher Creek council dealt with both routine governance and broader regional concerns at its March 24 meeting, including receiving correspondence tied to the Northback coal proposal that alleges potential threats to groundwater systems.

Council also approved a rezoning bylaw for a rural business, updated its dust control schedule, committed funding toward local requests and discussed plans to address aging trees at Bobby Burns Fish Pond.

Tree removal planned

Council revisited an earlier request regarding hazardous trees at Bobby Burns Fish Pond.

The issue was first raised in February, when the fish pond chairman warned that several large poplar trees surrounding the pond are deteriorating internally and could pose a safety risk, particularly to seniors who frequently use the area.

At the March 24 meeting, chief administrative officer Roland Milligan informed council that tree removal is expected to take about two days, at an estimated cost of $3,000 per day.

As the park is municipally owned, the work will be incorporated into the parks and recreation budget for 2026.

Wildfire mitigation presentation

Council formally accepted, as information, a presentation from AltaLink regarding its wildfire mitigation program, originally delivered at the March 10 committee meeting.

Representatives outlined increasing wildfire risks across Alberta and emphasized mitigation strategies aimed at reducing the likelihood of utility-related ignitions.

A key component discussed was the public safety power shutoff, a measure that allows for temporary power outages during extreme weather conditions as a last-resort effort to prevent wildfire starts.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

Dust control policy updated

Council approved the 2026 Schedule A under its dust control policy, with amendments discussed during the meeting.

The policy is reviewed annually to guide dust suppression efforts on municipal roads, particularly in high-traffic areas, along re-gravelling routes and in locations prone to washboarding.

Administration noted that the program may begin earlier than in previous years to provide extended benefits to residents throughout the season.

Rezoning bylaw approved

Council gave second and third readings to Bylaw 1370-26, approving a land-use redesignation to accommodate an existing rural business and future subdivision plans.

The amendment changes the designation of a parcel from grouped country residential to rural business, as well as a portion of agricultural land to rural business.

The application was submitted to bring an existing mechanics shop into compliance with land-use requirements, as the size of the building qualifies it as a major industrial-type use under the municipality’s bylaw.

The bylaw was given first reading Feb. 10, and a public hearing on the matter was held March 10.

While no one spoke at the hearing, two written submissions were included in the public hearing package. Both residents asked for more information about the type of business proposed and raised concerns about potential impacts, particularly increased traffic in the area.

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

Coffee With Council rescheduled

Council approved a change to its Coffee With Council schedule for Division 2, which takes place at the MD office.

The November session, originally set for Nov. 17, has been moved to Nov. 26 to avoid a conflict with the Rural Municipalities of Alberta convention.

Council supports funding requests and events

Council approved several community-related requests through correspondence items.

Members authorized attendance at Canada Day celebrations at Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village.

A $500 sponsorship was approved for the Matthew Halton High School senior girls basketball team, which qualified for the provincial championships for the first time in decades. The funding assisted with travel costs to Peace River.

Council also agreed to support St. Michael’s School’s upcoming A Night in Paris fundraiser by providing an in-kind donation of a tandem load of gravel and delivery, with logistics to be co-ordinated through public works.

Followup on deadstock concerns

Council directed administration to send a followup letter after a recent meeting with Alberta’s minister of environment and protected areas, raising concerns related to deadstock management on the landscape.

Steve Poltz in concert Sept. 15 at Fort Macleod Empress Theatre

The correspondence will also be shared with multiple provincial ministries, the local MLA and MP, neighbouring municipalities and relevant agencies.

Northback-related correspondence

Council received, for information, a submission raising concerns about the proposed Northback coal development and its potential impact on regional water security.

The correspondence, described as a forensic disclosure record, alleges that historical and ongoing geological data point to what the author characterizes as a significant risk to freshwater aquifers connected to the Oldman River system.

“As the custodian of this record, I have placed the federal IAAC [Impact Assessment Agency of Canada] and the sovereign nations on notice that the Hancock/NorthBack ‘experiment’ represents a terminal geotechnical risk to our regional water security,” the correspondence said.

“Since the provincial authorities have failed to address the 1976 baseline, I am placing this technical notice directly in your hands to protect our municipal interests.”

It further claims that certain exploration activities could create pathways for contamination through underground formations.

The document also references broader regulatory and environmental concerns, including calls for federal involvement and recognition of Indigenous stewardship over the watershed.

No formal discussion or motion beyond receiving the document as information was recorded.

Additional correspondence

Council received additional correspondence for information, including an update from the provincial government outlining enhancements to Alberta’s aquatic invasive species prevention and response framework.

Members also received a thank-you letter from a beneficiary of STARS Air Ambulance service, acknowledging a municipal donation and highlighting the impact of community support on emergency medical response services.

Aquatic Invasive Species, Coal Mining, Deadstock Management, Dust Control, Land-Use Redesignation, Municipal Governance, Wildfire Mitigation

Speaker pointing to Northback logo in front of audience with town and MD of Pincher Creek Logos

Economic hopes, environmental concerns collide at Northback presentation

Written on . Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Promises of jobs, environmental safeguards and a redesigned mine plan from Northback Holdings were met with both cautious interest and deep skepticism during a presentation to Pincher Creek town council on March 23.

As chief operating officer Brad Johnston outlined updates to the controversial Grassy Mountain coal project, residents packed council chambers to hear the company’s latest vision.

While some residents welcomed the economic potential and meaningful improvement, others questioned whether the company’s assurances go far enough, arguing it still relies heavily on assurances rather than proven outcomes.

Company outlines revised mine plan

Johnston, who joined the company in September 2025 and brings decades of experience as a mining engineer, said the company is working toward submitting a new application within the next 12 months.

He described the proposed operation as producing about 2.5 million tonnes of steelmaking coal annually, positioning it as part of the global supply chain for a “Tier 2 premium hard coking coal.”

Framing the project as an economic driver, Johnston said the mine could generate between 300 and 400 permanent jobs, with up to 600 positions during construction, along with broader economic benefits for southern Alberta through taxes, local spending and business opportunities.

“I think of a mine as an economic engine,” he said, adding the company intends to support local businesses and communities if the project proceeds.

A significant portion of the presentation focused on changes made since the project’s earlier rejection following a joint review panel hearing. Johnston said the revised plan includes a roughly 40 per cent reduction in the mine footprint, elimination of waste rock placement in the Gold Creek watershed and increased use of mined-out pits to store material.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

He also highlighted the introduction of “progressive reclamation,” which would begin about five years into operations and continue throughout the life of the mine, as well as long-term closure planning tied to Alberta’s regulatory and financial security requirements.

Environmental concerns, particularly around selenium contamination, were addressed through what Johnston described as a “multiple lines of defence” approach, including waste rock segregation, containment methods and water treatment systems designed to operate from the first day of mining.

“We’re going to have an active water treatment facility on Day 1 of operations,” he said, noting the company also plans to divert clean water away from mining areas while capturing and treating mine-affected water.

Johnston emphasized that the operation would not draw water directly from rivers or creeks, instead relying on collected precipitation, runoff and recycled water from within the mine.

Council members raised questions about how such commitments would be enforced and whether residents could be assured reclamation and water protection measures would be carried out as described.

In response, Johnston pointed to the regulatory approval process and Alberta’s mine financial security program, saying detailed plans would form part of the company’s formal application and be subject to oversight.

Concerns about dust and noise, particularly related to a proposed rail loadout facility near Highway 3, were also discussed at length.

Johnston said mitigation strategies would include loading trains below grade to reduce visual and noise impacts, continuous loading to avoid start-and-stop noise, and the use of sprays and additives to limit coal dust during transport.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

“There are certain things that a mine has to do, or the railway won’t move the train,” he said, describing industry-standard dust suppression practices.

Additional measures such as ventilation systems, covered loading areas and site housekeeping were also cited as ways to control airborne particulates during operations.

Mayor Wayne Oliver questioned how dust would be managed during high winds, a common occurrence in southern Alberta. Johnston said water spraying on roads and modified waste rock placement methods would help reduce exposure, along with engineering models that suggest impacts can be mitigated.

Residents express divided views

While the presentation outlined technical strategies and projected benefits, reactions from residents following the meeting reflected a clear divide.

Ken Williams, who attended the presentation and has followed similar sessions in other communities, said he found the delivery polished but ultimately unconvincing.

“Central to their presentation is the promise of great outcomes based on the newest and best technologies, which are promises only since there are no material and practical examples of successful coal mining escaping the dire outcomes we’re trying to avoid,” he said.

Williams also questioned projections around job creation and the quality of the coal itself, suggesting both claims conflict with past assessments and broader industry trends.

“This same coal has been referred to as low quality by the Japanese licence holders who after investigation dropped their interests some years ago,” he said, adding that scientist Cornelius Koljin also said at an open house that coal on the Eastern Slopes is low quality.

A color-coded map shows areas in red, orange, and yellow, with several location markers and warning icons near Lethbridge. The left side features terrain detail and a label for Fernie.

Others expressed concerns about gaps in the information presented.

Cody Johnson said the presentation emphasized economic benefits while “glossing over” environmental impacts, particularly to water.

“They did not address my key concerns related to water quality and quantity,” he said, adding he remains unconvinced that sufficient water could be sourced and managed in the region’s dry conditions.

Jim Cameron described the presentation as “canned” and said it failed to meaningfully address core issues such as water, dust and the scope of reclamation.

“It makes me wonder if this project was really about starting a coal mine,” he said, questioning both the project’s viability and the broader decision to allow it to proceed.

At the same time, some residents expressed support for the proposal and the direction outlined by the company.

Don McRae said he was encouraged by what he viewed as responsiveness to public feedback, including commitments to reduce environmental impacts and avoid practices such as mountaintop removal.

“Very pleased with how Northback has been listening to feedback of residents and have made big commitments to address environmental issues,” he said, also pointing to plans not to draw fresh water from rivers and to address previously unreclaimed land at the site.

Shootin' the Breeze connection to more local stories

McRae, who worked in the mining industry, said he is interested in learning more about the proposed environmental processes, including a tour of the site offered by the company, and believes perceptions about the project do not always reflect the current proposal.

“Some of the public against the project still think it’s mountaintop removal,” he said.

He also pointed to the potential for job creation, noting the region’s long history with mining and the number of local workers currently employed in British Columbia’s coal industry.

McRae said he would have liked more questions from council related to employment impacts and local benefits, suggesting those aspects are important to residents considering the project.

Austin Koehn, who works at Boulder Metal Industries, said he found the information clear and the company’s responses to questions reassuring.

The potential for job creation was one of the most compelling aspects of the presentation, he said, adding that the mine is a “big opportunity” for the community, especially young people.

Northback has indicated it will continue refining its plans ahead of a formal application, which is expected to be submitted within the next year.

Coal Mining, economic development, Environmental Protection, Grassy Mountain Mine, Mine Reclamation, Selenium, Water Quality

Participants sit at tables during a watershed presentation at Pincher Creek Community Hall.

Water must come first, Eastern Slopes assembly hears

Written on . Posted in Environment.

Water should be the top priority in land-use decisions across the Eastern Slopes, participants said at a community assembly in Pincher Creek.

“Pretty much everybody could agree that water is the main priority,” said Colin Smith, founder and executive director of the Land Lovers Network. “The essential need for healthy water should be key to all of our land-use planning processes.”

About 70 people — farmers, ranchers, anglers and members of Piikani Nation among them — gathered Feb. 26 at Pincher Creek Community Hall to discuss the future of the region’s headwaters.

The assembly was one of 12 held across the Eastern Slopes region since December as part of a grassroots effort to document community concerns about watershed health. The series began in High River and wrapped up earlier this month in Okotoks.

“The purpose was to listen to community members’ concerns and what their values are for the watershed,” Smith said.

Understanding the watershed

“Nearly all of the water I’ve consumed in my lifetime has come from the Eastern slopes,” Smith said. “And that’s not just true for me — it’s true for millions of people, farms and businesses across the foothills and the prairies.”

He described the mountains as Alberta’s “water towers,” explaining that snowfall and rainfall in the region feed rivers that supply communities across southern Alberta.

He also spoke about his personal journey toward environmental organizing, describing how caring for his grandmother during the Covid-19 pandemic gave him time to reflect on his relationship with land and water.

“That realization of where my water comes from changed how I think about responsibility, stewardship and the future,” Smith told the audience.

Satellite imagery and time-lapse visuals showed how landscapes have changed over several decades including logging activity in the headwaters of the Oldman River, historic coal mining areas and large-scale mining in British Columbia’s Elk Valley.

Andrew Collins Trio at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod Sept. 18

Concerns and ideas raised

Following his presentation, participants broke into small groups to discuss what the watershed means to them, where they see harm occurring and how to balance competing interests.

Pincher Creek participants voiced concerns about the health of the Oldman River watershed, the impacts of forestry and legacy coal mining, and declining river flows. Many called for stronger environmental protection and enforcement on public lands.

Some attendees raised the idea of granting rivers legal rights — sometimes referred to as “rights of nature” — as a way to protect waterways from harm.

This is a concept gaining traction internationally. The Magpie River in Quebec has been granted legal personhood, following an earlier precedent set in New Zealand.

Participants also emphasized the importance of science-based decision-making, public education, and long-term planning for water use and watershed management.

Looking ahead

The Land Lovers Network plans to compile feedback from all 12 assemblies into an Eastern Slopes Watershed Protection Charter. The organization will share the findings with communities and local governments.

“What we’re trying to organize towards in the long term is a headwaters protection and restoration act,” Smith said. “These assemblies have shown that there is strong public interest in protecting the headwaters that supply our communities.”

 

Coal Mining, Community Consultation, Forestry, headwaters protection, Land-Use Planning, Public Lands, Rights of Nature, Water Security, Watershed Health

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