‘It’s a catastrophe’: Southern Alberta’s ag industry concerned over potential coal mining pollution

Former Lethbridge mayor Chris Spearman says a coal mine could create 400 jobs, while nearly 200,000 people downstream rely on agriculture for the Alberta economy.

Pushback continues to mount over possible coal mining on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, with the latest being a letter penned to the provincial government over the impact coal mining could have on the agriculture industry.

“We are very concerned with the impact on integrated agriculture in southwestern Alberta,” said Chris Spearman with the Water for Food Group.

“We don’t understand -- our question to the Alberta government is basically – ‘are they prepared to sacrifice a multi-billion-dollar food industry for a coal mine?’”

With southern Alberta known as the province’s heart of agriculture, roughly $14 billion in products are exported every year.

Spearman says a coal mine could create 400 jobs, while nearly 200,000 people downstream rely on agriculture for the economy we have in Alberta.

“We have about 25 food processing plants in Lethbridge and the region and those all generate employment for farmers and it’s a huge integrated economy,” he said.

It’s those concerns that led Spearman, the former mayor of Lethbridge, to write a letter to the province asking for answers -- something the group has not yet received.

“I think they’re afraid to answer,” said Spearman. “They have all the information and they’re hiding it from Albertans.”

Last week, the province removed the 2022 moratorium in coal exploration.

Those who ranch and live along the Eastern Slopes say they’re just as concerned.

“I’ve been saying this for four years, but people in southern Alberta really have to look into this, especially people in agriculture because if they really open up all these coal mines it’s going to affect your water,” said country music singer Corb Lund.

Lund is from Taber, but currently lives in Lethbridge. His family still owns land in the Eastern Slopes.

In a statement, the office of minister of energy and minerals Brian Jean said, “Alberta’s government is prioritizing the protection of our waterways and environment through our Coal Industry Modernization Initiative (CIMI) which bans new open pit mines in the Eastern Slopes and mountain top removal.

“The CIMI will regulate coal mining to the highest standards in the world. We are prioritizing the protection of our environment and waterways while being open to meeting a growing global demand for steel-making coal, required in thousands of everyday products including the construction of wind turbines and solar panels.”

But Spearman said that without any direct evidence, he feels everyone downstream along the Oldman River Reservoir is being left at risk.

“It’s a huge risk to move forward,” said Spearman. “It’s more than a risk... It’s a catastrophe.”

CTV News has previously reached out to Northback, the company behind the Grassy Mountain proposal about how it plans to address environmental concerns -specifically selenium in the water.

We have yet to hear back.

The Grassy Mountain project is currently before the Alberta Energy Regulator following public hearings.

The decision for that project is expected by the end of April.