By Canadian Press

Judge orders Alberta to produce massive trove of coal documents after four-year fight

Apr 15, 2024 | 10:52 AM

EDMONTON — A judge is ordering the Alberta government to produce a massive trove of documents concerning its efforts to encourage coal mining in the province’s Rocky Mountains.

The ruling comes in response to an attempt by the United Conservative government to block the release of the documents to a group of southern Alberta ranchers.

In his decision, the judge sharply criticizes the government’s secrecy, saying its approach makes the public’s right to information on important decisions “largely illusory.”

It says the government took a casual approach to the request and tried to use delay tactics to stymie the documents’ release.

Laura Laing, one of the ranchers involved in the four-year fight, says she and her colleagues want to understand how the government suddenly chose to revoke a policy in 2020 that had protected the Rockies from open-pit coal mines for decades.

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Alberta Energy did not immediately provide comment on the decision.

Sarah Elmeligi, Alberta NDP Critic for Environment and Tourism, issued the following statement in response to the court order demanding the UCP to disclose coal mining documents:

“Albertans across the political spectrum have been very clear, they do not want coal mining in the Rocky Mountains, especially during a water shortage. But instead of listening to Albertans, the UCP has chosen to hide information that the public has requested, has a right to know, and is now mandated by a judge to share.

“This government’s blatant lack of transparency only confirms what many have long suspected: the UCP is far more interested in being a cheerleader for coal mining than they are in doing their job and protecting the Rocky Mountains and Albertan’s access to a high-quality and quantity of water.

“Albertans shouldn’t have to fight for years just to get some honesty from their government. It’s time for the UCP to stop playing games, stop the secrecy, and comply with the courts. If they truly have nothing to hide, there should be no hesitation in releasing all documents associated with coal mining in the Rocky Mountains.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2024.

The Canadian Press

(With files from rdnewsNOW)