Alberta's Energy Minister Sonya Savage (Government of Alberta)

By Justin Goulet

Independent committee to engage with Albertans on new coal policy

Mar 30, 2021 | 10:19 AM

EDMONTON, AB – The province has appointed an independent committee to lead a public engagement process toward the development of a modern coal policy.

Back in February, it was announced the Alberta would be reinstating the 1976 coal policy.

READ MORE: Alberta reinstating 1976 coal policy

The committee includes five members, who will be responsible for designing and conducting the public engagement.

“Albertans have made it clear they want a say in where and how coal is developed in our province. By establishing an independent committee, everyone across the province will have their voices heard during this engagement process,” stated Minister of Energy Sonya Savage.

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“This is an essential step in ensuring a new modern coal policy is developed by Albertans for Albertans.”

The help inform the committee’s engagement approach, Albertans can share their thoughts in an initial survey. That will be available until April 19 and can be accessed here.

More information about the engagement process will be designed and shared by the committee after the initial survey closes. Members of the Coal Policy Committee are:

• Ron Wallace, chair. Wallace has served on many regulatory boards dealing with energy and environmental issues, in addition to having extensive experience in the private sector. He was also a permanent member of the National Energy Board.
• Fred Bradley, a former Alberta minister of the environment under Premier Peter Lougheed and served as MLA for Pincher Creek-Crowsnest. After retiring from politics, he served as chair of the Alberta Research Council.
• Natalie Charlton, the executive director at Hinton and District Chamber of Commerce. She has served on various boards and has experience advocating for alternative energy resources.
• Bill Trafford, the president of the Livingstone Landowners’ Group, which represents landowners and supporters of the Livingstone-Porcupine area of Alberta. Trafford has 35 years of experience in the IT industry and the health sector.
• Eric North Peigan, a small business owner and member of the Piikani First Nation. He operates a teepee camp that provides an immersive cultural experience for tourists.

“I am honoured to serve as chair of this committee and look forward to working with the members as we engage with Albertans over the next several months. It’s important that a wide range of perspectives are understood and respected as we move through this process,” chair Ron Wallace stated.

“We will review the results of the initial survey as we begin the work of developing an engagement plan that provides an opportunity for Albertans to have their voices heard.”

The Government of Alberta will also work with Indigenous leaders and communities to ensure their perspectives are heard and considered throughout the process.

After the engagement, the committee will provide the Energy Minister Sonya Savage with a report that describes the perspective of Albertans on coal development and provide recommendations about the province’s development of a modern coal policy. The committee will provide a final report to the minister by November 15, 2021.

A video announcement from Sonya Savage can be viewed below.