More on Robin Campbell

Robin Campbell - Photo: 2016 (CBC

Background:

I would suggest some contradictory positions of power in this fellows career.

• elected in 2008 and 2012 as MLA for West Yellowhead and prior to becoming a Cabinet Minister, served as Chief Government Whip and Deputy Government Whip.

• chaired the Northern Alberta Development Council.

• Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (???)

• Minister of Finance

• President of Treasury Board

• Minister of Aboriginal Relations

• Deputy House Leader

• Government House Leader

• Environmental Protection Advisory Committee for Alberta Labour Relations Board (again, ???)

• also a key participant in the Cheviot hearings, representing the Hinton and District Chamber of Commerce, Alberta Council for Sustainable Communities and the Environment and the United Mine Workers.

Okay. Here’s the kicker:

• “I currently reside in Jasper where I have worked as a fishing guide for over 30 years.” (Robin Campbell)

I, Bob Costa (not Robin Campbell), am an avid fly fisher and have worked as a fishing guide in my past. As such, one of the most obvious things in a fisherman’s mind is being conscious of water conditions not only for the purposes of finding fish but more importantly, for the fishes well being.

I have spent decades observing water conditions simply for the concerns around stream or lake health (which includes the fish and invertebrates) whether it be flow rates and levels, clarity, general habitat both in-water and riparian, spawning beds (redds), temperatures, overfishing, and now…..potential contaminants.

For anyone who cares about the fish, the water must be equally if not more so, a very important concern. This should go without saying given that the ecosystem below the water’s surface in incredibly fragile. Sure, the streambed rocks and boulders are tough but the creatures they are housing have a distinct vulnerability, especially with contaminated water that finds its way into every nook and cranny.

So I ask you…..how can a seasoned fishing guide living in a National Park, not understand the difference between a healthy environment protected as a park and the direct opposite with water environments outside of a National Park? Further to that, how can he hide within the protection of that park while allowing the poisonous resource extraction which he condones to occur elsewhere.

The following is a piece submitted by one of our dedicated “team” volunteers.

SHAME ON ROBIN CAMPBELL

A former environment minister and now president of the Canadian Coal Association, Robin Campbell, has recently pontificated about the merits of coal development from the 49^th parallel extending beyond his ol’ stomping grounds in West Yellowhead.

Sixty nine percent (69%) of metallurgical coal comes from British Columbia and is exported to Japan, South Korea and China wholly owned by offshore investors. Aussie investors are relentlessly courting the powers that be to allow coal mining in the headwaters of all our major rivers here in Alberta.

The montane belt of the Eastern Slopes and Rocky Mountains collects and stores 90% of our water. The asset value of clean water far outweighs coal mining. Thinking needs to be re-jigged. We can capitalize on the economic benefits from tourism, agriculture production and recreational opportunities, all of which are renewable and sustainable. Foreign coal investors are intent on destroying this narrow belt of montane for minimal limited economic return.

A witch’s brew of toxic chemicals and heavy metals are released from coal mining. Selenium from Tent Mountain (1948 to 1983) has contaminated Crowsnest Lake and River, with levels too high for all life. The Piikani Nation can no longer depend on it for a healthy source of sustainable food. Quite a legacy rearing its ugly head 40+ years after shutting down. There is no technology anywhere in the world to remove selenium to reach health standards.

Where was the Alberta Regulator when Grassy and Tent Mountain needed to be reclaimed? On an aside, why haven’t all the orphan wells been cleaned up, and recently an additional 4000 wells were added to the inventory? Despite greenwashing there is actually little to no enforcement. The buzz word is “monitoring” which is like closing the gate after the horse bolts…an exercise in futility.

To quote Mr. Campbell, he recently said “Albertans deserve strong environmental protection…” The time is now, sir, to walk the talk! Do you remember from your days as Minister of Aboriginal Relations about long term visionary planning and decisions reflecting the Indigenous philosophy of planning for seven generations ahead? This kind of thinking trumps destruction of our watershed and contamination or our primary source of water.

Robin Campbell, as Finance Minister under Premier Jim Prentice supported the “phase-out of coal”. He’s obviously a turncoat supporting the annihilation of our only significant source of water. Mr. Campbell’s opinion editorial in the Calgary Herald on April 11^th is fraught with embellishment and inaccuracies. Shame on him.

Jacqueline L. Chalmers

Claresholm