ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE – A municipal council in Alberta Environment Minister Jason Nixon’s constituency is the latest to express concern about the province’s plan to expand coal mining in the Rocky Mountains.
Clearwater County is writing a letter to the United Conservative government saying people are worried about the effect open-pit coal mines could have on the area’s environment and on tourism.
Coun. Theresa Laing said she’s received about 400 letters and emails, only a couple of which support more mines.
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Clearwater County includes the town of Rocky Mountain House and about half the residents that Nixon represents in the legislature.
County Reeve Cammie Laird says council looks forward to consultations the province has promised and hopes they include the question of whether people want mines at all.
An informal list compiled by a councillor in High River, Alberta, suggests that 24 municipalities in the province have approved motions or some kind of action to challenge the United Conservative government’s coal-mining plans.
