Country music artist Corb Lund has joined the fight against coal mining in Alberta, adding his voice to the growing opposition to the province’s plans for expanding the industry.
Lund, who hails from Taber, Alberta, has signed a petition calling for a halt to new coal leases and a full review of the government’s coal policy. The petition, started by the Alberta chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), has garnered over 25,000 signatures since it was launched in January.
In an interview with CBC News, Lund expressed his concerns about the potential impact of coal mining on the province’s environment and economy.
“I think it’s a really bad idea,” Lund said. “I think it’s going to have a lot of negative consequences for the environment, for tourism, for agriculture, for ranching, for all kinds of things.”
The petition comes in response to the Alberta government’s decision to rescind a decades-old policy that protected the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains from open-pit coal mining. The move has sparked widespread backlash from environmental groups, Indigenous communities, and concerned citizens.
Lund, who has a deep connection to the land and has written songs about Alberta’s landscape, believes that the government’s decision is short-sighted and ignores the long-term consequences of coal mining.
“I think it’s a really short-term, narrow-minded way of looking at things,” Lund said. “I think we need to be thinking about the future and what kind of province we want to leave for our kids and grandkids.”
The petition also calls for a full review of the government’s coal policy, which has not been updated since 1976. Lund believes that a review is necessary to ensure that the province’s resources are being managed responsibly and in the best interest of all Albertans.
“I think it’s time for a review,” Lund said. “I think we need to look at what’s going on and make sure that we’re doing things in a responsible way.”
The Alberta government has defended its decision, stating that the expansion of the coal industry will bring much-needed jobs and economic growth to the province. However, Lund believes that there are other, more sustainable ways to create jobs and stimulate the economy.
“I think there’s a lot of other ways we can create jobs and stimulate the economy that don’t involve destroying the environment,” Lund said.
Lund’s support for the anti-coal petition adds to the growing chorus of voices calling for a re-evaluation of the province’s coal policy. With the petition gaining momentum and the issue gaining national attention, it remains to be seen how the Alberta government will respond to the concerns of its citizens.
