MLA faces criticism over availability, openness

By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Livingstone-Macleod MLA Chelsae Petrovic provided no further comment last Friday as constituents against coal mining within the riding criticized her job performance.

Two residents of the riding said they aren’t alone in their frustration over what they call Petrovic’s lack of availability and meaningful communication.

Speaking in the aftermath of her cancellation of a tour of open houses dubbed Coffee with the MLA, they said the first-term MLA and past mayor of Claresholm is failing in her duty to serve residents.

“We don’t really know what she does, other than what we see on her Facebook page,” said Jacqueline Chalmers, who chairs a society now stylistically referred to as the Chinook Water*Shed Crew.

Chalmers characterized Petrovic’s communications as photos of cheque presentations or posts about visits to school functions or municipal council meetings.

 But what the watershed society wants are regular communications about issues, meaningful information about government decisions and actions, and a chance to meet with cabinet ministers face-to-face in a town hall setting.

Chalmers and Fort Macleod retiree Peter Jowett, another member of the watershed group, were among about 50 people who showed up Jan. 24 to a coffee event at Petrovic’s Claresholm office.

Said Jowett: “We don’t hear from her. A lot of folks have written to her, and we get a form letter back saying your concern has been noted. But there’s no real promise to address our concerns or to meet with us.”

He continued: “We had enough of that, and we wanted to make sure she actually heard us. So the only time her office was available that we could see her was during one of her little coffee meetings.”

In posts on Instagram and Facebook over a week ago, Petrovic announced she was cancelling further Coffee with the MLA open houses to protect businesses, their staff and their patrons.

Designed to make Petrovic available throughout the constituency, especially to residents who can’t easily travel, the tour was a staple of her approach last year to meeting constituents. Stops were promoted in Claresholm, Fort Macleod, Blairmore, High River, Longview, Nanton and Pincher Creek.

Petrovic’s post reads: “Unfortunately, some have used these gatherings as a platform for town-hall style debates, which was never their intent.” Her office received information that people would “continue disrupting these events in this way.”

The post concluded: “To protect local businesses, their staff and patrons, I have made the difficult decision to cancel the Coffee with the MLA tour.”

Staff in Edmonton and the riding answered separate inquiries Friday by saying Petrovic was unavailable for comment, directing the Macleod Gazette to the original social media post.

The post had triggered Canadian Press coverage in the first place. CBC, the Calgary Herald, the Edmonton Journal and others picked up the story for online publication at least. A major community newspaper group, Great West, ran its own take in its online Beyond Local section.

Petrovic was unavailable to comment for the initial stories, too.

Chalmers characterized Jan. 24 interactions as part protest, part question period. About 20 people displayed a banner and placards outside Petrovic’s constituency office without preventing pedestrians from passing. Another 30 took part in the actual coffee event inside.

“Yeah, it wasn’t disruptive to business,” said Chalmers, a businessperson and activist who lives west of Claresholm.

“In fact, when it was over, I would say at least half of us went across the street to the restaurant and the other half went to the coffee shop. So I would say it kind of stimulated the economy on a Friday afternoon,” she quipped.

Chalmers said the biggest lack of decorum she knew of happened inside the office. “Chelsae equivocally answered a question from a strong-willed woman, and this woman said, bull- – – -. Chelsae said that language is not acceptable in this space and would you please leave. And the woman left.”

Added Jowett, who spent his career in natural resources protection: “The point really wasn’t to confront her. We just wanted to make her aware that there are people here who really want to show up and really want their voice represented, and they’re not getting it.”

As for showing up at future coffee events, he said nothing definite was organized. But the possibility was “on the radar.” 

Coal is a major issue in Livingstone-Macleod, Jowett said. “You know, she’s mute on this whole issue. We don’t hear anything from her. And she’s supposed to represent us.”

In mid-January, Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean announced that the government has lifted a moratorium on coal mining, meaning projects eyed for the sensitive environment of the Eastern Slopes are now allowed to proceed through the approvals process.

Applications related to the Grassy Mountain project north of Blairmore were already before the Alberta Energy Regulator, because it’s been designated an “advanced project” and therefore allowed to proceed during the moratorium. That happened even though AER had rejected a past application.

Those against Grassy Mountain worry about watershed contamination and air pollution, threats to flora and fauna, and interruptions of wildlife corridors.

Supporters say the proposal from Northback Holdings Ltd., owned by an Australian mining giant, would bring well-paying jobs, spinoff business and a larger, more diverse tax roll to Crowsnest Pass and beyond.

Jowett said the potential for damaging the watershed can’t be understated, because of the role the Eastern Slopes play in supplying water for drinking, irrigation and the environment.

“It’s a sponge up there, and it feeds water all the way into Saskatchewan and Manitoba,” said Jowett, a former national park warden and federal fisheries officer. “This may sound like overplaying it, but it’s our lifeblood.”

Northback proponents say mining of steel-making coal would incorporate the latest technological solutions for things like preventing the release of selenium into the watershed.

Premier Danielle Smith has said that because of the moratorium, the province faced lawsuits resulting from billions of dollars in sunk-cost losses from coal mining companies with leases.

 Jowett and Chalmers believe potential financial losses to provincial taxpayers and what lawsuits might reveal are the key to Petrovic’s support for coal mining: cabinet is dictating that she fall in line. Because of that, neither Chalmers nor Jowett hold out hope that Petrovic will change her ways.

But real town halls, especially one with cabinet ministers, would help, said Chalmers. So would regular newsletters on issues that matter.

A statement from Jean’s ministry to the Canadian Press said that “it would be inappropriate” for the minister to attend a meeting in the riding on the issue while coal mining proposals are in the approval process.

Chalmers and Jowett said their MLA should pay attention to a shift in opinion that transcends political partisanship. Both noted there were more honks of support during the protest than at a comparable past event in Nanton.

“The horn honking, it’s got to be, gosh, 80 per cent stronger than it was,” said Jowett. Many of those honkers, he believes, are past UCP voters.

The issue has “certainly got the attention of people. I think they’re understanding a bit more why it’s important.”

Jowett has little sympathy for challenges Petrovic faces in serving a large and diverse riding.

“I don’t give her any latitude there at all. She asked for the job. She knew what the job was. She got the job. So just do the job.”