Feb
09
2021
Wilderness & Parks
Feb
08
2021
The Promise and the Ambiguity in Reinstating the 1976 Coal Policy
Few governments and politicians are willing to admit their mistakes. So it was good today to hear Energy Minister Savage say it’s important for a responsible government to “admit when you’ve made a mistake and to fix it. And that’s what we are doing here today.” AWA thanks Minister Savage for taking the podium to admit her government’s mistake in rescinding the 1976 Coal Policy and to declare that “Alberta’s government will reinstate the full 1976 Coal Policy.” Read more about The Promise and the Ambiguity in Reinstating the 1976 Coal Policy
Feb
08
2021
Stop Work, Consult: Alberta Needs Public Hearings on the Future of Alberta’s Eastern Slopes
Last week, Premier Kenney’s Director of Strategic Planning was reported to have written that some of the strip-mining restrictions in the 1976 Coal Policy “will be restored.” Alberta Wilderness Association wants to be encouraged by this news. AWA hopes the firestorm of opposition the Kenney government has faced over rescinding that policy has convinced the government to restore restrictions. To that end, the Energy Minister should: Read more about Stop Work, Consult: Alberta Needs Public Hearings on the Future of Alberta’s Eastern Slopes
Jan
28
2021
Recreational Users and Conservationists Come Together to Protect Tonquin Caribou in Jasper National Park
EDMONTON, AB – Caribou in Jasper National Park are on the brink of extinction. Backcountry and conservation groups are calling on Parks Canada to reduce human access impacts to the Tonquin caribou, the largest herd left. The Alpine Club of Canada (ACC), Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA), Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Northern Alberta Chapter, David Suzuki Foundation and Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) are urging Parks Canada to: Read more about Recreational Users and Conservationists Come Together to Protect Tonquin Caribou in Jasper National Park
Jan
19
2021
Cancelling Leases, Pausing Lease Sales in Category 2 Lands – A Good First Step
Yesterday, Energy Minister Sonya Savage delivered a small, but important, reward to the thousands of Albertans and Canadians who have objected to the provincial government’s unilateral decision to revoke the 1976 Coal Policy. She announced that 11 leases sold in December would be cancelled. She also announced a “pause” in offering more lease parcels for sale in the Coal Policy’s Category 2 lands. Read more about Cancelling Leases, Pausing Lease Sales in Category 2 Lands – A Good First Step
Jan
18
2021
Too little, too late: “Pause” on new coal leases fails to address ongoing threat of coal development in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains
CPAWS Southern and Northern Alberta chapters are concerned that the Minister of Energy has not heard the real concerns of Albertans on new coal developments in the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies. Read more about Too little, too late: “Pause” on new coal leases fails to address ongoing threat of coal development in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains
Dec
23
2020
“The good news Albertans needed”: Provincial government announces 175 Alberta parks sites will no longer be delisted or closed
CPAWS Northern and Southern Alberta Chapters are happy to see the Government of Alberta’s announcement that all parks included in the February “Optimizing Alberta Parks” plan, which stated that 175 parks sites would be delisted or closed, will now retain their current designations and associated protections. Read more about “The good news Albertans needed”: Provincial government announces 175 Alberta parks sites will no longer be delisted or closed
Dec
22
2020
CPAWS celebrates Canada’s nearly $60 million commitment to Wood Buffalo National Park
EDMONTON, AB – Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson, has announced a $59.9 million funding commitment for the implementation of Wood Buffalo National Park’s Action Plan over the next three years. This funding is in addition to a previous federal investment of $27.5 million from 2018 for the park’s Action Plan, which was developed to address serious concerns with the ecological degradation of this World Heritage Site. CPAWS Northern Alberta welcomes this exciting announcement of continued investment in the future of Canada’s largest national park. Read more about CPAWS celebrates Canada’s nearly $60 million commitment to Wood Buffalo National Park
Dec
15
2020
Grassy Mountain Coal Project
The oral portion of the public hearing for Benga Mining Ltd.'s proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project in the Crowsnest Pass concluded on December 2. The next step in the federal impact assessment process is for the Joint Review Panel to draft the Impact Assessment Report, Consultation Report, and recommend potential conditions for submission to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
Grassy Mountain is the first of at least six mountain-top removal coal mines proposed by large Australian mining companies in various stages of regulatory approval in the region. There are more than 50,000 ha of the Old Man River headwaters under lease for future mountain-top removal mining.
Public hearing
- Grassy Mountain Coal Project (Canadian Impact Assessment Registry)
- Grassy Mountain blog (Alberta Wilderness Association)
- Watch archived recordings of the public hearing on YouTube.
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