Country artist Corb Lund remains steadfast in his efforts against new coal mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains despite his recent setback with Elections Alberta rejecting his petition. Lund expressed concerns over the rejection process and hinted at potential legal action to challenge the decision.
Lund, speaking in an interview on Monday, emphasized his group Water Not Coal’s determination to pursue further avenues, including a possible judicial review. The petition, which aimed to halt coal mining activities in the Rockies, faced rejection by Elections Alberta, marking another hurdle in Lund’s six-year battle against the industry.
Highlighting the environmental risks posed by coal mining, especially to water sources, Lund voiced frustration over what he perceived as inconsistencies in government policies and regulatory actions. He questioned the democratic integrity of the process, reflecting on the challenges faced in garnering support for the petition.
To compel action from Premier Danielle Smith’s government, Lund needed nearly 178,000 signatures, surpassing the threshold to trigger legislative action or a provincewide referendum on coal mining. Despite delivering over 207,000 signatures, with 196,000 deemed valid by Elections Alberta, random authenticity checks led to the petition’s failure, with the agency estimating a lower count of verified signatures.
Lund raised concerns about the verification procedures followed by Elections Alberta, citing instances of unidentified calls requesting personal information from individuals without proper verification protocols. He underscored his adherence to rules and the diligence of his canvassers in collecting signatures, expressing disappointment at the perceived obstacles encountered.
In response, Elections Alberta defended its verification process, stating that signatures were rejected only if contact information provided by electors was invalid. The agency emphasized the rigorous nature of its verification process, attributing the rejection of signatures to unconfirmed voter details.
The rejection of Lund’s petition came amidst heightened scrutiny following a breach of the provincial voting list, necessitating a more stringent verification process. While the premier indicated time constraints for the petition to be included in the upcoming referendum, she highlighted government initiatives to address environmental concerns, including land preservation and mining restrictions.
Smith acknowledged the ongoing dialogue on environmental policies and expressed openness to further actions, acknowledging the need for continued engagement on the issue raised by Lund’s petition.