Crowsnest Pass residents vote overwhelmingly for new Alberta coal mine

Heavy snowfall didn’t extremity a dependable watercourse of voters successful Crowsnest Pass from casting ballots Monday successful favour of bringing King Coal backmost to this scenic rocky spot of Alberta’s southwest.

The rumor has polarized debate, but signs visible connected nan measurement to voting successful nan organization hallway were clear: I (love) Crowsnest Coal, said one. We are a Coal Town, said another.

A 3rd was much succinct: Vote Yes to Grassy Mountain.

In nan extremity 72 per cent of nan ballot was successful favour of nan caller project. There was a 53.6 per cent turnout of eligible voters compared to conscionable 38.5 per cent successful nan past civic election.

More than 40 years aft ember mining ended successful nan Crowsnest Pass, nan municipality is asking nan 6,000 residents to opportunity yes aliases nary to a straightforward question: “Do you support nan improvement and operations of nan metallurgical ember excavation astatine Grassy Mountain?”

“The Crowsnest Pass has made a decisive determination and arsenic politician and assembly we will return your position guardant to nan precocious levels of authorities and done nan regulatory process,” Crowsnest Pass Mayor Blair Painter told The Canadian Press precocious Monday evening.

“This ballot was astir proceeding from and getting guidance from our electorate. It is astir proceeding from nan group surviving present and uncovering retired erstwhile and for all, without each nan different extracurricular voices, what nan group of this organization want.

“The consequence won’t beryllium binding aliases person immoderate power connected regulatory aliases ineligible challenges. It’s different facet successful nan heated statement of system versus environment.

“It’s because this is simply a divisive rumor that it is truthful important to cognize wherever our organization stands and you person spoken.”

One of nan voters astatine nan organization hallway was Steve Arbuckle, whose grandparents were miners and lived successful Coleman, 1 of nan communities that dress up Crowsnest Pass.

“I cognize coal,” he said arsenic he near nan hall.

The economy, he said, needs a boost. “It could judge usage something,” he said. “Taxes are crazy for a personification who owns a home.”

Tony Vastenhout, who grew up successful Crowsnest Pass, said he’s nearing 70 and remembers that erstwhile location were ember mines, location were jobs.

“There were a batch of opportunities past and location are nary for our kids now,” he said. “I dream nan ballot goes yes.”

Australia-based mining institution Northback said it wants to create nan Grassy Mountain ember task astatine a tract that was mined complete 60 years agone but ne'er decently restored. It says it would beryllium reclaimed passim nan long of nan project.

Northback says metallurgical coal, which is utilized to make steel, is simply a basal building artifact for immoderate economy, but opponents interest astir nan effects connected downstream drinking h2o and nan broader ecosystem.

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The rumor is still earlier Alberta’s power regulator and opponents are besides challenging nan task done nan courts.

David Thomas, nan communications co-ordinator pinch Crowsnest Headwaters — which is starring nan nary run — said nan rumor has divided nan community.

He said nan nonaccomplishment intends it will beryllium easier to raise nan siren astir h2o usage to different communities downstream successful nan province.

“Our scheme is to return nan communicative to nan downstream municipalities and nan irrigation districts successful Alberta.”

David McIntyre and his wife, Monica Field — some erstwhile managers of nan Frank Slide Interpretive Centre — person been vocal opponents to improvement successful nan area.

McIntyre, who lives astir 10 kilometres downwind of nan projected mine, is worried astir nan sound and carcinogenic particles that would travel pinch it.

He said they were told they are conscionable extracurricular nan municipal bound and are incapable to vote. He said location are hundreds much that moved successful during nan “post-coal era” who are besides connected nan extracurricular looking in.

McIntyre said if nan excavation does spell ahead, it won’t mean semipermanent prosperity for nan area.

“If it’s a go, it won’t beryllium nan early of nan Pass,” he said.

“It will beryllium nan short-term early of nan Pass but won’t effect its semipermanent worth.”