Protesters greet Premier Kenney and Finance Minister Toews visit to Lethbridge

Her group wants to see open-pit coal mining stopped since all of Lethbridge’s water comes from the Oldman River, which is on the dry side of the Rockies

“They (mine companies) are going to use tons and tons of water to wash their coal and try to hold the coal dust down in our wind, they`re going to pollute our water, and City Council has already said they can’t filter out selenium in our water treatment plant – so where is our water going to come from? We are living in the middle of the prairie – we`ve created this beautiful oasis of trees and grass, that’s all from the Oldman River.”

Fisher says the result of the coal mines will be stark.

“We won`t have drinking water, we won’t have water for irrigation, we won`t have water for industry, they’re going to use it all up before it even gets here and then this water normally goes all the way to Hudson’s Bay and supplies all those millions and millions of people – so, I don`t know what they’re thinking? They’re talking about responsible coal mining but, there’s no example of that anywhere in the world.”

Fisher notes that even if the technology worked, it’s likely the mines will only be in business for maybe five or ten years.

She says, “The world is so close to making steel without coal so, all around, it makes no sense and why would you jeopardize 100,000 people’s lives here in this city by using up all of our water and poisoning it?”

Fisher said the protest group was made up of a variety of residents who have difficulty with the decisions being made by the provincial government.

Protesters from various professions in Lethbridge — LNN

“There are nurses here, there are teachers here along with healthcare workers, as well as daycare workers and First Nations individuals, who are with us on the coal issue. It`s all the bad decisions that he (Kenney) is making that is going to ruin our province, and he`s got to stop.”

Fisher was happy with the protest turn out, with the exception of the `pro coal guys’, who she said, “You can’t talk any sense into them, as they`re convinced they have the technology but, there`s nowhere in the world where they have that technology and even if they did, I don`t think they would be able to continue that for the life of the mines.”

“And the jobs that they`re promising – who are going to get those jobs? They promised jobs to the Crowsnest Pass, the First Nations people but there are not that many jobs and they`re talking about automating the mining equipment – then where are the jobs? And for what? They’re going to have a conveyor belt running over highway-3, running coal 24-7 and the coal dust will be a nightmare in that beautiful spot.”

Fisher believes they could be doing other things in the Crowsnest Pass.

“Why isn`t it a national historic site or national historic park? First Nation`s could be running tours out there talking about the two quarries they have where they used to take out rock for arrow points and spear points and they`re collecting medicinal plants and they have Vision Quest sites with a huge history with that area and we an share that with the world and benefit from that financially and emotionally and physically.”

Coal mining makes no sense – it’s an antiquated industry that’s going by the wayside and these Australians (those vying fo the mine) have been kicked out everywhere else, so what makes them think they can be here in Alberta?”

Fisher is hoping the protest will capture people’s attention and they get the message.

“I don’t know if Kenney will get the message, as he doesn’t seem to be listening to anybody and we’re trying to raise awareness of the situation for all of us.”

“I know people are stressed about jobs and food and living and surviving but, this has got to be addressed because it will be with us for a long time. We wont be a city, it will be gone.”

by Dori Modney

Protesters greet Premier Kenney and Finance Minister Toews visit to Lethbridge

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