Send an Email - Stop Coal Mining in the Eastern Slopes

Minister Brian Jean issued a new ministerial order in January rescinding the moratorium on all new coal exploration and development in the Eastern Slopes. The order reverts protections back to those established in the 1976 Coal Policy, which permits various levels of coal exploration and development throughout the Rockies and Foothills, with the exception of protected areas.It also lifts the suspensions on any approvals paused under the previous orders, meaning Albertan’s are about to see a lot more coal activity in the Eastern Slopes.

AWA is unequivocally against the rescindment of the moratorium on coal; our wildlife, wilderness, and waters deserve better than back-door deals and blind-sliding decisions. Below we’ve drafted a template for you to use. Please feel free to personalize it.

Thanks for supporting Mountains over Mines!

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I am writing to express my objection to the recent removal of the moratorium on coal mining and exploration in the Eastern Slopes, and continued concern for the so-called “advanced projects” being permitted through Alberta’s regulatory system, including Summit Coal Ltd.’s Mine 14 and Northback Holdings Corporation’s Grassy Mountain applications.

Albertans have reiterated time and time again that coal mining is an inappropriate land-use for the sensitive and essential environments within the Eastern Slopes, including many of the headwaters that provision the province and its inhabitants with clean drinking water. The removal of the 1976 Coal Policy in 2020, which allowed companies to obtain over 180,000 hectares of coal leases in previously restricted areas, was met with widespread public outcry.

It led to a government survey where the vast majority of participants agreed coal development should be restricted from the Eastern Slopes, with many citing environmental impacts as the most important issue informing their opinion.

The latest Ministerial Order 003/2025 issued by Minister Jean on January 15th re-activates these contentious leases and runs contrary to the findings of the Coal Policy Committee (CPC), who undertook the largest public engagement in the province’s history to provide better clarity on how the industry is regulated in the future.

The government has yet to fulfill many key recommendations from the CPC, including completing and releasing regional land-use plans, resolving reclamation uncertainties surrounding exploration liabilities, determining responsibilities for legacy mine reclamation, and actually developing a modernized coal policy.

These missing deliverables, considered in tandem with the Ministerial Order 003/2025 demonstrate the government is not listening to Albertans. Further, the failure to meaningfully publicize this decision shows that restoring public trust and transparency in legislative and regulatory processes is not a priority for this government. The Eastern Slopes are the backbone of Alberta’s wilderness. They encompass the vital headwaters of the North Saskatchewan, South Saskatchewan, Red Deer and Oldman rivers, provide essential habitat for wildlife and species at risk, and support the recreational pursuits and livelihoods of many. Applications and plans for coal mining exploration and development threaten the ecological integrity of Alberta’s Eastern Slopes.

I demand that the Government of Alberta:

· Re-establish a permanent moratorium on all coal mining and exploration in the Eastern Slopes.

· Rescind Ministerial Order 003/2025.

· Ensure Albertans are meaningfully aware, engaged, and consulted about resource development prior to all future decisions.

· Deny Northback Holdings Corporation’s Grassy Mountain and Summit Coal Ltd.’s Mine 14 applications, and any subsequent coal mining and exploration projects in the Eastern Slopes.

· Complete the subregional management plans under the Alberta Land Stewardship Act.

· Resolve uncertainties regarding responsibility for reclamation liabilities relating to coal exploration and development activities.

· Address reclamation liabilities for legacy coal mines.

· Prioritize the integrity and long-term health of Alberta’s environment, which provides essential and irreplaceable ecosystem services and economic benefits.

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Send an Email – Stop Coal Mining in the Eastern Slopes