Elections Alberta deems ‘Water Not Coal’ petition unsuccessful

“The primary reasons signatures were rejected during the verification phase included electors being unable or unwilling to verify the information on the petition sheet, and not providing valid contact information to reach them for verification.”

As a result, the government said Lund and his team have until Monday, July 6, to return the citizen initiative petition and all canvasser identification documents to Elections Alberta. They must also destroy all additional copies of the signature sheets and submit a signed affidavit confirming that.

They must also file their required financial reports with Elections Alberta no later than August 10.

The main goal of the petition was to call on the provincial government to protect the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and their waters that supply drinking water across Alberta from proposed coal mining projects, which Lund said could impact water quality.

The provincial government received the petition from Lund on June 10 to begin the verification process. Elections Alberta had 21 days to complete the process.

Lund explained in a previous interview with rdnewsNOW that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told him that his petition would be on the referendum this October if they gained enough signatures.

In a posting on the website, Water Not Coal, the petition’s proponent, Corb Lund, issued the following statement on Friday:

“I learned this morning of Elections Alberta’s announcement that the Water Not Coal initiative did not meet the required validation numbers. Of the more than 205,000 signatures delivered to Elections Alberta on June 10th, 2026, roughly 35,000 were rejected.”

“We are simultaneously shocked by this outcome, yet, unfortunately, not surprised, given the continual government rule changes and roadblocks we have faced throughout this campaign.”

Lund continued by thanking the more than 3,000 canvassers who worked extremely hard, and to the overwhelming number of Albertans across the province who took the time and effort to sign the Water Not Coal Petition.

“Today’s announcement is merely another step in the overall fight to protect the Eastern Slopes, not the end of it,” he concluded.

by Pattison Media staff

Elections Alberta deems ‘Water Not Coal’ petition unsuccessful

Our Community