After a four-year legal battle, a judge has ordered the Alberta government to release a large amount of documents related to coal mining in the province.
The ruling comes after a request was made by the environmental group, the Alberta Wilderness Association, for the release of documents related to the government’s decision to revoke a decades-old policy that protected the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains from open-pit coal mining.
The group argued that the government’s decision to revoke the policy was made without proper consultation and transparency, and that the documents would shed light on the decision-making process.
In response, the government argued that the documents were protected by cabinet confidentiality and releasing them would harm the province’s economic interests.
However, Justice Richard Neufeld ruled that the government must release the documents, stating that the public interest in understanding the decision-making process outweighed the government’s concerns.
The documents in question are said to be a “massive trove” and include emails, briefing notes, and other records related to the coal policy decision.
The ruling has been hailed as a victory for transparency and accountability by environmental groups, who have been vocal in their opposition to the government’s decision to open up the eastern slopes to coal mining.
The government has not yet indicated whether they will appeal the ruling or comply with the order to release the documents.
This decision is just one of many legal battles surrounding coal mining in Alberta, as the province faces increasing pressure to address the environmental impacts of the industry.
The release of these documents will provide valuable insight into the government’s decision-making process and could have significant implications for the future of coal mining in Alberta.
