Article content This is a letter sent from Bruce Masterman, the High River coordinator for Corb Lund’s Water Not Coal campaign... Corb Lund will be in High River and Okotoks in late afternoon on Monday June 8 to collect final petition sheets from canvassers, thank them for their work over the 4 month petition campaign and give people one last chance to sign the petition aimed at calling a referendum on stopping new coal mining and exploration on the Eastern Slopes. People will get a chance to meet the popular country singer behind the petition.
In High River, Corb will meet with Mayor Craig Snodgrass, who has been a vocal opponent of new coal mining for six years, when Town Council first voted to oppose it. The Last Chance To Sign Tour is a multi-community event scheduled for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. It’s called Last Chance because it will be the last chance for Albertans to sign the petition.
The High River event goes from 3:30-4:15 p.m. in front of Town Hall. The Okotoks event runs from 4:45-5:45 p.m.
at the Okotoks Recreation Centre. Stops are scheduled: -Sunday in Strathmore and Lethbridge, -Monday in Pincher Creek, Claresholm, Nanton, High River, Okotoks and Calgary. -Tuesday in Airdrie, Olds, Red Deer, Lacombe, Leduc and Edmonton.
It’s all about protecting the water. 90% of Alberta’s fresh water originates from headwaters along the Eastern Slopes. Coal mines in Alberta and British Columbia have a scientifically proven history of polluting rivers downstream of their operations, making the water undrinkable for downstream municipalities and poisonous to fish, wildlife and cattle.
Corb Lund and Albertans supporting Water Not Coal are very concerned about the proposed Grassy Mountain mine in southern Alberta polluting the South Saskatchewan river basin, and the proposed Blackstone coal mine near Nordegg polluting the North Saskatchewan River basin. The Water Not Coal petition must have 177,732 signatures by June 10 to force the Alberta government to hold a referendum in October on future coal mining. Although Grassy Mountain and the Blackstone mines wouldn’t directly impact High River, Okotoks or Calgary, their approval would open the door to future major mining projects in the headwaters of the Highwood, Sheep and Elbow rivers, which provide water to those 3 communities.
Future coal mining is an environmental gamble Alberta must avoid. Please email for further info: High River event: Bruce Masterman, Okotoks event: Claire Lacey. Both can be reached at wnc.foothills@gmail.com.
