Crowsnest Pass voted for coal — other Alberta communities don't all share the enthusiasm

Crowsnest Pass residents voted decisively Monday in favour of bringing coal back, with more than 70 per cent of voters saying they'd support a nearby coal project.

Though the vote is non-binding, Crowsnest Pass councillors say the vote in support will guide them in the months ahead as they lobby decision-makers to advance the proposed coking coal mine at Grassy Mountain.

"The Crowsnest Pass has made a decisive decision and as mayor and council we will take your position forward to the upper levels of government and through the regulatory process," Crowsnest Pass Mayor Blair Painter told The Canadian Press late Monday.

"This vote was about hearing from and getting direction from our electorate. It is about hearing from the people living here and finding out once and for all, without all the other outside voices, what the people of this community want."

The turnout of eligible voters was 53.6 per cent, compared to just 38.5 per cent in the last civic election.

The proposed mine in southwestern Alberta is spearheaded by Northback Holdings (formerly known as Riversdale Resources and Benga Mining). It's the latest incarnation of a number of corporate entities tied to Australian parent company Hancock Prospecting.

Although the feelings of the residents of the historic mining community are now clear, some Alberta towns want their views to be considered, too.

On Monday, council members in High River voted unanimously to send a letter to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, stating that the Crowsnest Pass referendum shouldn't be the only factor to consider when making a decision in regard to coal mining at Grassy Mountain.

The letter goes on to request additional local and provincewide consultation prior to any further consideration or action tied to the project.

Craig Snodgrass, the mayor of High River, said the Crowsnest Pass referendum was the right thing for that community to do, but added his community has its own priorities.

"The letter was intended to just make sure that Premier Smith understands that the referendum, with her decision-making, should hold very, very, very little weight," Snodgrass said. 

"Because these are mining projects that affect all of Alberta … that water that gets polluted goes down the Crowsnest River into the Oldman."

Concern around water quality was one of the factors in the federal government's decision to reject the Grassy Mountain coal project in 2021, citing adverse effects "on surface water quality, including from selenium effluent discharge."

Northback Holdings, the company behind the mine, has said its plan will "ensure management and mitigation systems are in place for elements such as selenium during all project phases."