Crowsnest Pass

It's been more than 40 years since coal was king in the scenic Crowsnest Pass of southwestern Alberta, but a referendum vote on Monday could sway a contentious debate on bringing it back.

An Alberta ranching community is fighting a planned hearing on proposed coal exploration in the Rocky Mountains, saying the province's arm's-length energy regulator shouldn't have heeded a letter from its energy minister suggesting an application from Northback Holdings be accepted.

Police say a carbon-levy protest in the Crowsnest Pass on Monday led to a multi-vehicle crash after five large farm tractors refused to stop for police.

In his ruling, Judge Richard Southcott said the joint federal-provincial review panel that examined the Grassy Mountain proposal near Crowsnest Pass didn't live up to the consultation promises it made.

Alberta's 2019 decision to cancel funding for an elite wildfire-fighting crew in 2019 came despite pleas to keep the Rapattack program from at least three municipalities, including one that has since been evacuated during this spring's blazes.

Some residents of Crowsnest Pass say a planned twinning of Highway 3 through the community in southwestern Alberta will amount to a "desecration" of the site of Canada's deadliest rock slide.

Alberta's Opposition New Democrats want the provincial government to end any uncertainty about the future of the province's Rocky Mountains by legislating that no new coal mines will be permitted there.

Supporters of open-pit coal mining say there's a chance new mines could be built in Alberta's Rockies after comments from the province's new premier.

Health risks come from chronic exposure to coal dust particles over many years.

In its 680-page report released Thursday, the joint federal-provincial panel questioned the ability of Benga Mining, owned by Riversdale Resources, to control the release of selenium from its proposed Grassy Mountain mine. 

One of North America's top experts on pollution from coal mines is warning Albertans about the dangers of expanding the industry in the province's Rocky Mountains.

At least five popular recreation areas in southern Alberta are surrounded by coal exploration plans and one of them has been partly given over to an exploration lease, raising questions about their future with lovers of the outdoors.