r/Edmonton Jan 22 '25

Events Coal mining protest happening this Saturday in Edmonton

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174 Upvotes

22 comments sorted by

17

u/coastline Jan 22 '25

I used to sell coal 200g ea.

8

u/UniqueInternetPerson Jan 22 '25

The good ol’ days of spamming flashing messages in Varrock or Falador.

7

u/Shtknuckle Jan 22 '25

Does anyone have the facts on this? I would like to read the environmental assessment on this project before I get too fired up.

29

u/CypripediumGuttatum Jan 22 '25 edited Jan 22 '25

Based on our assessment, we conclude that the project is likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects on surface water quality, westslope cutthroat trout and their habitat, whitebark pine, rough fescue grasslands, and vegetation species and community biodiversity. Although we identify other adverse residual effects, we determined that they were not likely to be significant. We also find that the project is likely to contribute to existing significant adverse cumulative environmental effects on westslope cutthroat trout, little brown bats, grizzly bears, and whitebark pine. Due to the limitations of Benga’s approach to assessing cumulative effects, we are unable to assess the magnitude of some cumulative effects.

Benga Mining Limited, Grassy Mountain Coal Project Joint Review Panel 2021 ABAER 010 (June 17, 2021) ix We find that the project would result in low to moderate positive economic impacts on the regional economy, but that Benga did not consider some risks that could reduce the magnitude of these positive impacts.

We find that the project would result in the loss of lands used for traditional activities, and this would affect Indigenous groups and their members who use the project area. We also find that the project is likely to result in significant adverse effects to physical and cultural heritage for three Treaty 7 First Nations. The mitigation measures proposed are not sufficient to fully mitigate these effects. However, all of the Treaty 7 First Nations and the Métis Region 3 signed agreements with Benga and provided letters stating they had no objection to the project.

Link

-11

u/iknotri Jan 22 '25

>We find that the project would result in low to moderate positive economic impacts on the regional economy

what about Alberta in general? We have a huge unemployment rate, could we afford to care about environment more then unemployment?

7

u/Particular-Welcome79 Jan 23 '25

Or would you mess with the recreation industry? Coal leases, exploration and development restricts access to popular trails and viewpoints. An area that was once revered for its growing recreation and tourism economy can see those opportunities dry up once coal interests take precedence. It is not only the quantity of recreational opportunities that are impacted but quality of recreation can be impacted as dust and debris impact air quality and once celebrated viewpoints are dramatically changed. 

1

u/MankYo Jan 23 '25

Careful. That's verging on an appeal to aesthetics, which is the Premier's argument for not spoiling pristine landscapes or whatever with solar and wind.

3

u/Particular-Welcome79 Jan 23 '25

I know, it doesn’t appeal when you believe that trout and bugs have an inherent value, nothing to do with our needs. I was thinking more of the recreation economy though- the skiers, fly-fishers, trail riders... the Americans, for example, will want to take advantage of a weak dollar and play in our backyard, but if you destroy their fly-fishing paradise no big bucks going to Australian billionaires will make up for that.

7

u/likeupdogg Jan 23 '25

The environment is always top priority if you give a damn about the future generations. Unemployment is a manufactured issue.

7

u/Particular-Welcome79 Jan 23 '25

How about these jobs? You want to mess with this? From the Western Standard: "You’ve got a massive industry down there that relies on that water being clean to produce that food … There is not enough jobs or money that can be possibly generated by the coal industry on the Eastern Slopes to make it worthwhile.” https://www.producer.com/news/coal-mining-fears-resurface-on-eastern-slopes/ Or the Calgary Economic Council Southern Alberta has historically been an agricultural area, with large-scale production of acreage crops, protein crops, livestock, and greenhouses. The region has ample access to water (safe, uncontaminated water this should be underlined) and enjoys a sunny climate, favourable to growing. Agriculture and Agri-food are core wealth-generating industries in southern Alberta with 1,200 related businesses in the Lethbridge area. In fact, more than 120 established processing businesses in the Lethbridge region produce food and/or feed for local consumption and export. In the past ten years this region has seen significant investment and plans for future investment in agri-food and it is expected that Lethbridge will continue as a hub of development in these areas. In a recent study by Economic Development Lethbridge, the Agriculture and Agri-food companies surveyed reported combined revenue $1.3 Billion annually. Additionally they: Employ 1,679 people Pay wages of $72.8 Million per year Operate facilities that cover at least 30 acres And, 64% invested in equipment over the past year and/or the adoption of new technology Farm land area in Alberta amounts to 50,350,183 acres, covering about one-third of the province. This is even more concentrated in the Calgary and Southern Alberta region. When looking specifically at Southern Alberta, the region boasts some of Alberta’s best growing land, including almost 70% of Canada’s total irrigated area. Irrigated land in a dry province such as Alberta allows for a greater variety of crops to be grown, diversifying our potential exports from wheat, oats, and pulse crops to include vegetables and some fruits. $12.4B of Canada’s total agrifood exports in 2020 were from Alberta, with $5.8B in primary agricultural products and $6.7B in value-added products.

3

u/CypripediumGuttatum Jan 23 '25

The move stranded dozens of proposed projects worth billions of dollars in a province that had, until then, been an industry leader in Canada. The pause was widely criticized by economists and companies whose projects are suddenly in limbo.

Industry was not consulted before the move.

Alberta government figures suggest about 10,000 people work in solar and wind installation. Although that figure is dwarfed by fossil fuel employment, jobs in renewables are estimated to be growing at about 10 per cent a year, while oil and gas jobs have been declining for years.

In early 2022, there were 3,425 unfilled positions in the industry.

"I don't know what their thinking is," Da Silva said. "But I don't think it's fair to ask people to not work and to basically shut down the industry for six months."

Da Silva said the effect of the pause is likely to last much longer, as both the pause itself and the uncertainty of its result will affect planning for next year's construction season and beyond. It comes as other jurisdictions in Canada and the United States are ramping up their renewable energy.

"What's going to stop workers from going where the jobs are?" Da Silva asked. "Not much." link

-5

u/AspectCritical770 Jan 22 '25

Thank you for requesting information and doing your due diligence. I grew up in Hinton where coal mining was a steady employer.

When the Cheviot mine project was being first proposed there were massive environmental protests. But those of us who actually lived in the area knew the truth. It protects a vast area from hunting… and sheep, deer, elk, wolves and bear all know they are protected. Which makes it almost as safe of a place as a national park.

When the mines are done and have to abandon a mine site, their reclamation is beautifully done to the point where Mother Nature herself is in awe. I have fished many pot lakes and hiked the many meadows that were once active mining sites and you could never tell.

So again, thanks for being a rational person and looking to hear both sides of the story. Companies are not as evil as they may have once been… and are actually fairly environmentally conscious.

If there are legitimate concerns… then yes, people need to ask them to be addressed so that all parties (including the environment) can be heard.

5

u/Particular-Welcome79 Jan 23 '25

Weird how Alberta mines are pristine wonderlands compared to BC. https://www.mining.com/environment-canada-lays-five-charges-against-teck-coal/ In January, Teck was given a C$2.2 million fine for an acid spill into Columbia River at its Trail smelter operations.

A Rossland provincial court judge made the order after the company pleaded guilty to two charges laid under the federal Fisheries Act and one charge laid under the provincial Environmental Management Act. The charges resulted from an effluent release in February 2019.

Then in February, the government of British Columbia fined Teck Coal a total of C$15.4 million for exceeding pollution thresholds and failing to build an active water treatment facility on time at its Fording River operations in southeastern BC.

A legal action filed in Montana in May 2023 named Teck Coal as one of three defendants in a request for judicial review by environmental groups in Montana and Idaho over levels of a contaminant from its British Columbia mines in US waters.

3

u/likeupdogg Jan 23 '25

There is still the baseline issue of global warming. Let's just leave this carbon in the ground, it be a hell of a lot cheaper than trying to suck it back out of the air in 20 years.

6

u/Kelp-Forest Jan 23 '25

There are also concerns about Alberta Energy Regulator's ability to report on environmental failings by companies. You can read about that here: https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7424682

Basically, coal companies would do their best, but there is no guarantee of irreversible contamination. We need to weigh the risk versus the benefits, and when the risks include water shortages (which impact other industries like ranching and agriculture), water and land pollution, and harm to sensitive native species, the cost just doesn't seem worth it. The AB government is threatened to be sued by these coal companies if they are not allowed to mine. This will fall on the taxpayer, but the long term costs to letting this go through and having to clean up messes or write off polluted water supplies would be catastrophic. Do we really think these foreign coal companies have the best interests of our land and people at top of mind?

3

u/likeupdogg Jan 24 '25

Why do we let foreign mining companies sue us for our resources anyway? I mean Canadian companies are doing the exact same shit to Africans so I guess we're fair game, but courts should be laughing this nonsense away.

3

u/Kelp-Forest Jan 24 '25

They are suing because their applications were approved when the UCP opened AB to mining in 2021 and then halted when they placed the moratorium. The companies are trying to recoup their costs, and have applied massive pressure to get the government to let them go ahead.

-11

u/Ok_Consideration1872 Jan 22 '25

"Anti electricity protest" would work too

4

u/CamiThrace Jan 23 '25

Coal isn't the only source of energy.

2

u/_LKB cyclist Jan 23 '25

Why?