MD Pincher Creek resident smacks back at Northback lie that anti-coalers rejoice in loss of jobs for First Nations people

"No one opposing coal mines in our watershed takes joy in Indigenous job losses, and to suggest that is reprehensible. "

By Blaine Moen

On January 18th a pro-coal fairytale was published in an Alberta based newspaper, sinking the water versus coal debate in southwestern Alberta to a new low.

From the article:
“Northback spokesperson Rina Blacklaws said she and her colleagues were saddened — but not surprised — opponents would take pleasure in denying local aboriginal communities job and education opportunities they take for granted. "We were disheartened and disappointed that people would take pleasure in seeing their neighbours lose their jobs” if the project fails to be approved, she said."

When our neighbors propose disastrous ideas which will adversely impact our lives and jobs, what are we to do?

No one opposing coal mines in our watershed takes joy in Indigenous job losses, and to suggest that is reprehensible. This is about foreign shell companies convincing our neighbors to follow them in threatening our jobs and lives. No amount of economic benefits, golf course upgrades, school lunches or money can compensate us for our water.

I have a proposition for Northback which will create job opportunities for Albertans. Northback has stated part of the reason they wish to restart a coal mine in our watershed is to reclaim the scarred abandoned mine site. I agree, the site as it exists today requires reclamation. We just disagree on the suggestion that restarting a coal mine in the Eastern Slopes is the only way to accomplish that goal.

I invite Northback to work with mutually agreed upon ecologists to develop a strategy to reclaim Grassy Mountain, now, today. Anti-coal mine Albertans would work with Northback to apply for federal and provincial grants to help pay for the project. This would create jobs while repairing our watershed. Wouldn't it be great to restore the site instead of increasing the damage by five or six times?

Northback's parent company, Hancock Prospecting is a billion dollar corporation, but it isn’t applying directly for this mine. Instead, its shell company, Northback is attempting to convince the Alberta Energy Regulator and Albertans to trust them with respect to reclamation.

I understand that when a shell company asks you to trust them, the end result is very likely to be another damaged orphaned industrial site requiring taxpayers to cover reclamation costs.

Moreover, as an Indigenous person and a resident of the M.D. of Pincher Creek, I take offense to foreign company representatives using Indigenous job losses as a punch line. This is an attempt to further divide communities using Canada's First People as wedges.

I do not wish to stop my neighbors from increasing their tax base and improving their financial situation. But, this mine represents a direct threat to my water and our environment. Believe me, I'd rather be spending time with family and friends instead of fighting this terrible idea. So, if the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass requires infrastructure upgrades and the government of Alberta needs to raise our taxes to help pay for those upgrades, I am happy to help. I just wish those 2000 folks in the Pass who "voted" for coal mines in our watershed were as considerate.