Ministry of the Environment, Johnathan Wilkinson, has been under a lot of pressure to order an environmental assessment of Vista Coal in Alberta. Forty-seven groups, including Alberta Environmental Network, Alberta Wilderness Association, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Northern Alberta sent an open letter to the minister. Their letter is very clear, “Vista is already one of the largest thermal coal mines in Canada. The proposed expansion could almost triple its capacity to mine coal: the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel that is responsible for half the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and an estimated 800,000 early deaths each year from air pollution.”

David Suzuki, the environmental conscience of Canada, said:

Coal isn’t coming back, nor should it. From start to finish, it’s one of the most destructive energy sources. Extracting it often requires blasting away entire mountaintops, polluting air, water and soil. Burning it creates enormous amounts of deadly pollution, along with CO2 and methane emissions that drive global heating.

The climate emergency demands that we use less energy and that we get what we need from cleaner sources. We shouldn’t be using 19th century fuels in the 21st

Minister’s Response

Coalspur Mine (Operations) Ltd. proposes the Vista Coal Underground Mine Project and the Vista Coal Mine Phase II Expansion Project, to expand the existing Vista Coal Mine Phase I Project; an open-pit thermal coal mine. The expansions would be located approximately 10 kilometres east of Hinton, Alberta.

Decision:

The Minister previously considered the Vista Coal Mine Phase II Expansion Project for designation pursuant to the Impact Assessment Act, and on December 20, 2019, determined that the Project did not warrant designation. In light of the reasons provided below, the Minister is reconsidering that decision and has decided to designate the physical activities associated with the Vista Coal Mine Phase II Expansion Project along with the Vista Coal Underground Mine Project.

Reasons:

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change has considered the potential for the Projects to cause adverse effects within federal jurisdiction, adverse direct or incidental effects, public concern related to these effects, as well as adverse impacts on Aboriginal and Treaty rights. The Minister also considered the analysis of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.

The Minister has reached the decision that designation of the Projects is warranted for the following reasons:

Source: Minister’s Response – Canada.ca