By Chris Brown

Five-person committee

Province to engage with Albertans on coal policy development

Mar 29, 2021 | 4:23 PM

Alberta has created a five-person committee to lead public engagement on developing a modern coal policy.

The government says the Coal Policy Committee will ensure all Albertans will have an opportunity to contribute to how the province will manage coal development.

“Albertans have made it clear they want a say in where and how coal is developed in our province,” says Energy Minister Sonya Savage. “By establishing an independent committee, everyone across the province will have their voices heard during this engagement process. This is an essential step in ensuring a new modern coal policy is developed by Albertans for Albertans.”

The independent committee will be responsible for designing and conducting the engagement.

Albertans are invited to take part in an initial survey online that will help the committee design the engagement. The survey is will be open until April 19. More details on the engagement process will be released after the survey closing.

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“It’s important that a wide range of perspectives are understood and respected as we move through this process,” says committee chair Ron Wallace. “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 says it will also work directly with Indigenous leaders and communities to ensure their perspectives are heard and considered.

The committee will provide the energy minister with a report that describes Albertans’ perspectives on coal development and provide recommendations about the province’s development of a modern coal policy.

A final report will be presented to the minister by Nov. 15.

Members of the Coal Policy Committee

Ron Wallace, chair, is an internationally recognized expert in regulatory policies associated with environmental assessment and monitoring. He has served on numerous regulatory boards dealing with energy and environmental issues, in addition to extensive experience in the private sector. He was also a permanent member of the National Energy Board.

Fred Bradley is 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 the chair of the Alberta Research Council.

Natalie Charlton is 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 is the president of the Livingstone Landowners’ Group, which represents landowners and supporters of the Livingstone-Porcupine area of Alberta. He has 35 years of experience in the IT industry and the health sector.

Eric North Peigan is a small business owner and a member of Pikanii First Nation. He operates a teepee camp that provides an immersive cultural experience for tourists.