By Canadian Press

No need for federal involvement in Alberta coal mine review, First Nation says

Oct 4, 2021 | 10:49 AM

An Alberta First Nation says it continues to doubt the need for a federal environmental review of a proposed thermal coal mine expansion in the province.

And the Ermineskin band from central Alberta says any federal review that does go ahead must consider the economic consequences of not allowing the mine to proceed.

The statements, made in a letter to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, come after federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said last week that Ermineskin had dropped its objections to a federal review.

On Friday, Wilkinson reinstated his decision to subject the mine expansion to a federal review after a court suspended the initial ruling at Ermineskin’s request.

Federal Court said Ermineskin should have been consulted before Ottawa decided to step in on the review.

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Since then, the band has met four times with federal officials.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2021.

The Canadian Press