Coal town hall draws conflicting reactions

By Somya Lohia, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Reactions to last week’s coal town hall revealed the sharp divide that remains over coal development in southern Alberta.

Dean Ward, a Municipality of Crowsnest Pass councillor who attended the meeting, said he was disappointed by what he described as a lack of respectful dialogue.

“I went to the coal meeting in Fort Macleod with great anticipation,” Ward said in a social media post.

He had expected the meeting, with the format and packed room, would be “informative” and conducted in a “civil manner respecting opinions on both sides of the issue.”

Ward said that supporters of coal mining remained quiet while opponents spoke, but efforts to voice their own perspective were met with interruptions.

“Every time somebody tried to say something pro-coal they were interrupted,” he said. “I know more people would have spoken pro coal, but would have faced a barrage of loud, obnoxious people trying to drown them out.”

Ward expressed concern that environmental groups were unwilling to engage with opposing views.

“They have zero interest in listening to any evidence that does not agree with their position,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, longtime landowner Mike Judd saw the evening very differently.

“I am tremendously pleased to see how many Albertans would take it as a responsibility to go and tell their premier what they think about coal mining on the Eastern Slopes,” Judd said.

“The response was tremendous and overwhelmingly clear that we don’t want open-pit coal mines or any coal mines on the Eastern Slopes. We know what the downsides are.”

Judd estimated that less than 10 per cent of attendees supported coal, while the majority voiced opposition.

When asked whether he was satisfied with the government’s response, Judd said: “No. We don’t believe they are listening to Albertans.”

He alleged the province made deals with foreign coal companies long before the public knew the Eastern Slopes were even being considered for new mines.

Judd criticized the province’s handling of the issue, raising concerns about selenium pollution, water use during drought, and what he described as the spread of misinformation to the public.