Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is reconsidering a decision in December to keep the federal government out of the approvals process for a major coal-mine expansion in Alberta.
The existing Vista mine, which is owned by the U.S. coal giant Cline Group, began shipping coal for export in May 2019 and the company is now looking to double, or possibly even triple, its output.
Wilkinson declined in December to order a federal impact assessment of the project near Hinton, Alta., between Edmonton and Jasper, saying the potential risks to the environment and Indigenous rights would be dealt with by a provincial approval process.
That was the ultimate in “climate hypocrisy,” Thomson said Wednesday.
Source: Environment minister reconsidering decision to stay out of Alberta coal-mine review | CBC News
The decision to be made by December has been moved up to this month, July.
The article says, “Wilkinson had previously decided in December to allow U.S.-owned Coalspur Mines Ltd. to double or triple the output and export capacity of the mine, without subjecting it to review under the federal Impact Assessment Act, after concluding that provincial review would address potential risks to environmental and Indigenous rights, The Canadian Press reports. But this week, spokesperson Moira Kelly “said the government is studying the issue anew, and Wilkinson will make a fresh decision by the end of July.”