Listen now | Ahead of Referendum Day in Alberta, we'll update Corb Lund's efforts to include coal policy in that conversation; plus, new polling reveals a shifting political landscape
Hi, I’m a PhD scientist in Saskatchewan who has nearly 20 years experience with selenium and mining water treatment and regulations. The public deserves honest information to base their decisions on. I’d love the chance to join you on your show to provide some fact checking and scientific accuracy to the stories Corb is spinning. Fear is a strong sales tool, but it’s not always warranted. If anyone is interested, I have a few posts on my substack about selenium too, and just launched a podcast for public Q&A about mining, water, and the environment.
Hey Rob, if you are going to have someone do a 15 minute ad spot for why all things Coal are bad, and tell us that a Municipality that could use some good paying jobs are not needed. Please bring on someone to present the other side. Grassy Mountain is an old Coal Mine that was never reclaimed - the proposed mine would solve some of the problems this old mine currently presents. The ad's the anti coal movement run, all show a pristine mountain - that is not true - Grassy Mountain is an ugly old mine site that needs to be cleaned up.
On coal mining in the Rockies, a lot of people miss the point that Alberta has a long history of coal mining. Canmore was a coal mining town before its current gentrification as well as Blairemore. The trains ran on it and a majority of the generated electrical power came from coal until about a decade ago. This is not a new risk. It is an industry that operated for a century or more that has only recently become a target for environmentalists.
The selenium controversy has been a result of issues with the Elk valley coal mines in BC. This consists of 7 mines in a single valley that result in multiple coal trains a day running to the BC coast for export to Asia. The selenium issue was not perceived of at the time that the mines were created. Any Alberta development will be a fraction of the scale of this and mitigation can be planned up front. Selenium is also not limited to coal mines. Many mineral mines are possible sources of selenium. Are we going to shut down all mining?
As Corb points out, the ranching community is probably against it. It has nothing to offer them and the possibility impacting them negatively. Coal is also villainized generically by the environmental lobby. It does not hold a candle to the economic advantage of oil and gas so it is easy for the UPC to throw it under the bus with an organized campaign against it.
I fear that the risks are being exaggerated by people who are ignorant of the risks.
Found the Corey Lund conversation to be a little frustrating tbh, i broadly agree with him, coal mining in the headwaters of the river that feeds Calgary and a whole bunch of agriculture probably isn't worth the risk. But man he sounded like a greenie who just hates big evil corporations and greedy govt. and that's such a overdone stereotype that whenever it shows up I immediately end up not trusting him because he seems to have such a myopic view on the subject.
Lunds petition is nothing about the water. It is good old nimbism. His family ranches in the area and They don't want anyone else out there disturbing Their little paradise. His group has no data it is just hearsay.
Sorry I disagree. He had a time limit of 15 minutes to relay a lot of information and clarification as to his stance and his number one concern of our water and not a political ploy. He spoke quicker and was down to earth. I believe his intentions have nothing to do with “hate”for big corporations but truthful as to how most corporations are, once they get the coal they'll be gone and we're left with the damages to the environment and health effects from selenium in our drinking water and ground.
I hope some technically accurate information can help (I’m a PhD scientist who has worked with selenium for almost 20 years). My comments here apply to all mines in Canada. First, it’s not a concern for drinking water. Mines are allowed a concentration in the environment that is 50x lower than drinking water guidelines. The concern is for aquatic egg laying vertebrates (fish, turtles, salamanders, etc). So your drinking water is ok.
Secondly, Canadian mining regulations require that a closure plan be developed, costed out, and paid from the mine to the government to be held until closure. This way, even if a mine closes unexpectedly, there’s money reserved for the closure and remediation. The concern typically revolves around what is the appropriate costing of that plan. The plan itself is developed by many scientists and engineers, and reviewed by many others (from government, stakeholders, and interested parties). The public always has a chance to review and comment and provide feedback too.
"What Happens if Alberta Separates to Federal Services"
Article 1: What Happens to Money and Banking – Currency collapse, frozen accounts, and a worthless Alberta dollar.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-1-what-happens-if-alberta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 2: What Happens to Taxation and Revenue – The $50 billion hole in the provincial budget and the collapse of the CRA.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-2-what-happens-if-alberta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 3: What Happens to Pensions and Social Security – The end of CPP, OAS, EI, and the Canada Child Benefit.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-3-what-happens-if-alberta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 4: What Happens to Health Care – The loss of the $6.6 billion Canada Health Transfer and the collapse of medicare.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-4-what-happens-if-alberta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 5: What Happens to Policing and Justice – The RCMP withdraws, courts close, and lawlessness follows.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-5-what-happens-if-alberta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 6: What Happens to Military and Defence – No CAF, no NORAD, no NATO – a security vacuum.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-6-what-happens-if-alberta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 7: What Happens to Transportation and Infrastructure – Highways choke, borders snarl, and airports lose service.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-7-what-happens-if-alberta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 8: What Happens to Trade and Commerce – Every trade agreement ends. Exports collapse.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-8-what-happens-if-alberta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 9: What Happens to Border and Immigration – Passports become worthless. Albertans become trapped.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-9-what-happens-if-alberta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 10: What Happens to Environment and Natural Resources – No weather forecasts, no national parks, no water monitoring.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-10-what-happens-if-alberta?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 11: What Happens to Communications – No mail, no phone, no internet, no 9-1-1.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-11-what-happens-to-communications?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 12: What Happens to Food and Agriculture – No meat inspection, no grain certification, no exports.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-12-what-happens-to-food-and?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Article 13: The Final Reckoning – The path forward is inside Canada.
https://kellydwills55.substack.com/p/article-13-the-final-reckoning-the?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=r5v2
Please Read, Love, Comment and Restack!
https://www.substack.com/@kelly794110
The only way to survive is staying. The only way to thrive is staying. The only way to win is staying.
Hi, I’m a PhD scientist in Saskatchewan who has nearly 20 years experience with selenium and mining water treatment and regulations. The public deserves honest information to base their decisions on. I’d love the chance to join you on your show to provide some fact checking and scientific accuracy to the stories Corb is spinning. Fear is a strong sales tool, but it’s not always warranted. If anyone is interested, I have a few posts on my substack about selenium too, and just launched a podcast for public Q&A about mining, water, and the environment.
Hey Rob, if you are going to have someone do a 15 minute ad spot for why all things Coal are bad, and tell us that a Municipality that could use some good paying jobs are not needed. Please bring on someone to present the other side. Grassy Mountain is an old Coal Mine that was never reclaimed - the proposed mine would solve some of the problems this old mine currently presents. The ad's the anti coal movement run, all show a pristine mountain - that is not true - Grassy Mountain is an ugly old mine site that needs to be cleaned up.
On coal mining in the Rockies, a lot of people miss the point that Alberta has a long history of coal mining. Canmore was a coal mining town before its current gentrification as well as Blairemore. The trains ran on it and a majority of the generated electrical power came from coal until about a decade ago. This is not a new risk. It is an industry that operated for a century or more that has only recently become a target for environmentalists.
The selenium controversy has been a result of issues with the Elk valley coal mines in BC. This consists of 7 mines in a single valley that result in multiple coal trains a day running to the BC coast for export to Asia. The selenium issue was not perceived of at the time that the mines were created. Any Alberta development will be a fraction of the scale of this and mitigation can be planned up front. Selenium is also not limited to coal mines. Many mineral mines are possible sources of selenium. Are we going to shut down all mining?
As Corb points out, the ranching community is probably against it. It has nothing to offer them and the possibility impacting them negatively. Coal is also villainized generically by the environmental lobby. It does not hold a candle to the economic advantage of oil and gas so it is easy for the UPC to throw it under the bus with an organized campaign against it.
I fear that the risks are being exaggerated by people who are ignorant of the risks.
Found the Corey Lund conversation to be a little frustrating tbh, i broadly agree with him, coal mining in the headwaters of the river that feeds Calgary and a whole bunch of agriculture probably isn't worth the risk. But man he sounded like a greenie who just hates big evil corporations and greedy govt. and that's such a overdone stereotype that whenever it shows up I immediately end up not trusting him because he seems to have such a myopic view on the subject.
Lunds petition is nothing about the water. It is good old nimbism. His family ranches in the area and They don't want anyone else out there disturbing Their little paradise. His group has no data it is just hearsay.
Sorry I disagree. He had a time limit of 15 minutes to relay a lot of information and clarification as to his stance and his number one concern of our water and not a political ploy. He spoke quicker and was down to earth. I believe his intentions have nothing to do with “hate”for big corporations but truthful as to how most corporations are, once they get the coal they'll be gone and we're left with the damages to the environment and health effects from selenium in our drinking water and ground.
I hope some technically accurate information can help (I’m a PhD scientist who has worked with selenium for almost 20 years). My comments here apply to all mines in Canada. First, it’s not a concern for drinking water. Mines are allowed a concentration in the environment that is 50x lower than drinking water guidelines. The concern is for aquatic egg laying vertebrates (fish, turtles, salamanders, etc). So your drinking water is ok.
Secondly, Canadian mining regulations require that a closure plan be developed, costed out, and paid from the mine to the government to be held until closure. This way, even if a mine closes unexpectedly, there’s money reserved for the closure and remediation. The concern typically revolves around what is the appropriate costing of that plan. The plan itself is developed by many scientists and engineers, and reviewed by many others (from government, stakeholders, and interested parties). The public always has a chance to review and comment and provide feedback too.