Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society

Rescinding the Alberta Coal Policy opens headwaters in the eastern slopes of the Rockies to open-pit coal mining

Calgary – The Government of Alberta has rescinded A Coal Development Policy for Alberta (1976; the Coal Policy). CPAWS Southern Alberta is concerned about the impacts this will have on Alberta’s treasured mountains and foothills along the eastern slopes of the Rockies. “There are currently no other land use plans or policies that directly replace the environmental zoning and restrictions under the Coal Policy” says Katie Morrison, Conservation Director for CPAWS Southern Alberta. “This leaves sensitive headwaters regions and treasured landscapes that provide habitat for species like grizzly bear, elk, and threatened native trout, at risk to the disturbances that come with surface coal mining and increased exploration.”

Since 1976, the Coal Policy has provided important land use zoning frameworks which have informed management and development of coal mines along the eastern slopes region of Alberta.

The Coal Policy’s Land Classification System prevented coal development on Category 1 lands and restricted development to underground or in-situ mining under Category 2 lands along the eastern slopes. The Coal Policy Category 2 covers 1,458,000 ha of the headwaters areas that provide the majority of drinking water to downstream communities in Alberta and across the prairies. With the removal of the coal policy, open-pit coal mines will now be permitted on these sensitive lands. Read More

Alberta Coal Policy scrapped, making open-pit coal mining more accessible than ever along the eastern slopes of the Rockies

Alberta is cancelling a long-standing coal policy that provided broad protections within our mountain and foothill regions, making it easier to develop open-pit mines in more ecologically sensitive areas. 

Edmonton – On May 15, 2020 the Government of Alberta announced that they were rescinding  A Coal Development Policy for Alberta (Coal Policy) which has provided sweeping environmental protections for coal development since the 1970’s. This has raised concerns about how this will impact Alberta’s treasured mountains and foothills along the eastern slopes of the Rockies. Read More

Critical Trout Habitat Damaged Without Consequence

Two years ago, at the end of April 2018, when the snow melted in the Rocky Mountains, a forestry road crossing Silvester Creek blew out. Silvester Creek is Critical Habitat for threatened native westslope cutthroat trout. The road then leaked large amounts of sediment into the clean water that the trout rely on to survive. Read More

Defend Alberta Parks - Virtual Town Hall

Apr 28 2020 - 7:00pm

From the Eventbrite page:

Join CPAWS Southern and Northern Alberta chapters to learn about how parks cuts are impacting Albertans.

As you may know, Alberta Parks announced the removal of 164 parks sites and the closure of 20 sites in early March. CPAWS Northern and Southern Alberta chapters have been pushing for this decision to be reversed, but protecting Alberta’s parks is not possible without you! Read More

Defend Alberta Parks - Virtual Town Hall

Apr 8 2020 - 7:00pm

From the Eventbrite page:

Join us to hear from Albertans affected by the closure of and cuts to Parks.

Join us via zoom to hear from Albertans affected by these cuts. We will be joined by representatives from the conservation, recreation and youth communities. Presentations will be followed with an opportunity to hear from you! How are the cuts to parks impacting you? Read More

Strong Majority of Albertans Oppose Government Changes to Parks

Edmonton – A new public opinion survey shows the vast majority of Albertans oppose the changes to Alberta parks announced with the 2020 provincial budget.

On March 2, 2020 Alberta Environment and Parks announced the full or partial closure of 20 parks and the removal of 164 parks from the Alberta Parks System resulting in the loss of 39 percent of Alberta’s parks and removal of the protections to conservation values and quality of recreation experience that are provided through a parks designation. Read More

CPAWS Statement on Alberta Parks Closures and Privatization

For over 50 years CPAWS Southern and Northern Alberta chapters have been collaborating with industry, government, Indigenous partners, communities, and like-minded organizations to protect our invaluable parks and wilderness areas and connect Albertans to nature through sustainable outdoor recreation. We are very concerned with the recent announcement from the Government of Alberta on a drastic change to our parks and recreation areas. Read More

CPAWS concerned with cuts to parks and protected areas in Alberta’s 2020 budget

Edmonton/Calgary – CPAWS Northern and Southern Alberta chapters are deeply concerned over the fate of parks and conservation in Alberta after budget announcements on Thursday. The budget of Fall 2019 saw a substantial 9.7% cut to the Alberta Parks budget, and this additional 10% cut in the 2020 budget will further degrade the ability of Alberta Parks to properly manage the areas designated to protect Alberta’s natural heritage. Read More

Teck announces withdrawal of Frontier oil sands mine project proposal

CPAWS welcomes announcement of project withdrawal of environmentally devastating Frontier oil sands mine

Edmonton — CPAWS welcomes the announcement by Teck Resources Limited CEO, Don Lindsay, that the company has withdrawn their application for the Frontier oil sands mine.  In Teck’s letter to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Don Lindsay cites the need to address policy frameworks for tackling climate change and expresses urgent need to reduce global carbon emissions through carbon pricing and legislated caps for oil sands emissions. Read More

Pages

Subscribe to Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society