From Tina Dmytryshyn to the Joint Review Panel re: Comments on the Grassy Mountain Coal Project

From: T. Dmytryshyn
Sent: July 10, 2020 4:57 PM
To: Grassy Mountain (IAAC/AEIC)
Subject: Grassy Mountain Coal Project, Open-pit mining in the Alberta Rockies

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

and The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

On May 15, 2020, Alberta's Energy Minister, Sonya Savage announced that the province's coal policy will be modified as it is "redundant" and "outdated." The UCP government’s new policy will allow open-pit mining to occur in our pristine and beautiful Canadian Rockies, which will be decimated and ripped up for coal extraction. This coal will then be shipped off to countries such as China, Japan, and Korea for use in steel production. This process produces more C02 per ton because the coal is denser with higher thermos properties. No public consultation was done before drafting the new policy, and no clear environmental assessment has been completed detailing the harmful effects of any proposed mine.

Open-pit mining is one of the most destructive forms of mining today, with terrible long-term consequences. If this destruction is completed in and around the Rockies, many harmful effects will occur. Some of these include erosion, formation of sinkholes, biodiversity loss and contamination of groundwater by chemicals from the mining process. Habitat for important at-risk species such as the Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Grizzly Bears will also be destroyed.

Because of the lack of public engagement, lack of transparency, and lack of assessments for environmental impacts, the Government of Alberta needs to be stopped in the approval of licenses to mining companies. Any true democratic government would determine all the possible detrimental effects on their citizens, the environment and wildlife habitat before making decisions that will negatively affect them.

That is why I am writing to you, Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Wilkinson. The UCP Government will not even consult with the citizens of Alberta who are deeply concerned with their decision to move ahead with horrendous open-pit mining in our treasured mountain vistas. They seem to care nothing for the environment, and the wildlife that live in these areas. Please take the time to review their policies and determine if they are violating environmental regulations for Canada’s greenhouse gas reduction policies and water security protocols for both the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Albertans must rely on the Federal Government to listen to our concerns, to make sure that our rights to clean drinking water, unpolluted air and safe environmental protections are not violated. The UCP government will not listen to us and we are desperate to preserve our wonderful Rockies before it’s too late.

Sincerely,
Tina Dmytryshyn
Tina Dmytryshyn
<contact information removed>

Cc Sonya Savage, Alberta Energy Minister
     Jason Kenney, Alberta Minister of Environment and Parks