Water For Food Group submits Official Petition to Alberta Legislature

Now, Mr. Jean, democracy has spoken.

captChris Spearman holds 6,787 signatures opposed to the Grassy Mountain Coal Mine

When the non-binding plebiscite took place in the Crowsnest Pass, 1957 people voted in favour of the Grassy Mountain coal project.

Energy Minister Brian Jean said ‘democracy has spoken’, even though the plebiscite:

- was non-binding

- excluded property tax payers who had purchased vacation properties,

- asked residents their opinion about a proposed coal mine located in another municipal jurisdiction,

- excluded downstream residents in the Oldman River basin who would be most affected by the negative aspects of the mine.

The Water For Food group’s Official Legislature Petition was an opportunity to give a voice to those who were excluded.

We are pleased to announce that we have concluded the Official Petition signature collection process and yesterday submitted the petition to the legislature for review.

6,787 signatures have been received, more than three times the number of those who voted for the mine in the non-binding plebiscite.

Our Official Petition gave a voice to those who were excluded from the plebiscite process.

Now democracy has truly been served.

But will Energy Minister Brian Jean listen?

In the next few weeks, we expect that our Official Petition will be presented in the Alberta Legislature.

It will be an opportunity to see firsthand if our Alberta Government will do the right thing and listen to Albertans opposed to the Grassy Mountain coal project.

Chris Spearman

Spokesperson

Water For Food group