Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
The UCP Government received two reports from the independent Coal Policy Committee on Dec. 29 but will not be releasing the findings publicly at this time.
The committee submitted both the engagement report and the final report, which contains its recommendations on Alberta鈥檚 long-term approach to coal.
鈥淭he government will take the necessary time to review the reports鈥� findings and recommendations carefully before they are released publicly,鈥� said Energy Minister Sonya Savage in a statement.
No date has been set for this public release.
The committee was established after the province rescinded a 1976 policy that protected the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
The public outcry resulted in the province cancelling 11 coal leases, pausing future sales and later reinstating the policy.
NDP Critic for Environment Marlin Schmidt criticized how the government had 鈥渢urned tail鈥� by failing to release the reports.
鈥淭he UCP must stop delaying and release the Coal Policy Committee鈥檚 findings today. Enough obstruction,鈥� Schmidt said in a statement.
鈥淭here is zero reason to hold this report hostage from Albertans. It鈥檚 ready now, and refusing to release it to the public is just another game being played by the UCP.鈥�
The Alberta Wilderness Association also criticized how the findings were not being released and also called for setting an explicit deadline for the government鈥檚 response to the reports.
鈥淭he thousands of Albertans who have spoken out knowledgeably and passionately about the future of coal in Alberta regard the future of coal as a very high priority,鈥� said AWA鈥檚 Executive Director Ian Urquhart in a news release.
鈥淧remier Kenney should respect these citizens and release the Committee鈥檚 final report by the middle of January at the latest.鈥�
