Coal in the Stocking

In previous years leading up to the holiday season, commonplace phrases such as “Peace on earth, and good will to all men,” echoed throughout our country, carrying a sentiment of hope and images of a brighter future for all. It was a time of year that many looked forward to, and built up all year for; it’s supposed to be the time of year that made every other terrible month almost okay. However, this year has been a very confusing and turbulent time which has left many feeling isolated and not so peaceful thanks to this pandemic which our governments have mishandled from the very beginning, tanking the economy and any hope of a stable future along with it .

Coal mines like this one, using mountaintop-removal mining techniques, are being proposed in the eastern slopes of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.

In the province of Alberta especially, Premier Jason Kenney has decided to take it several steps further in the dampening of the general holiday spirit. In addition to his mishandling of the pandemic (whether it be leaving small business owners out to dry while giving massive relief to corporations; who have in turn fired thousands of workers, to asinine decisions such as deciding to rip up doctors and nurses contracts in the middle of a pandemic), his passing of anti-worker legislation as well as legislation to prevent protests all in the midst of a lockdown, he has taken it upon himself to take things one step further to truly put himself atop the pedestal of near cartoonish villainy; by taking a page out of St Nicks playbook but adding a sick twist: deciding to give everyone coal for the holidays.

Mountaintop-removal coal mining, as seen here at Teck Resources’ Fording River operations in Elk Valley, just across the Alberta-B.C. border, is a form of surface mining that strips large portions of a mountain away. “You’re not going to put a mountain back,” said Laura Laing, a third-generation rancher who lives west of Nanton, Alta. Photo: Callum Gunn

Like something out of a Back to the Future movie gone wrong, Kenney has somehow come up with a plan for Alberta’s recovery based on the returning to a dying industry from the past century. Despite having a $30 million “war room” (which refuses to answer to taxpayers how it spends its money) to promote and figure out how to improve the energy sector in Alberta; the best ideas $30 million dollars could buy is to not only stick with gas, but to also now sell off provincial land to Australian investors, who will come in and bulldoze our mountains in search of a stocking stuffer for naughty kids: coal. Despite the industry steadily drying up as more and more countries seek to transition to renewable energy; the Kenney administration has once again laughed in the face of common sense and is engaged in a headlong sprint to not only destroy the beauty of this country for his buddies profit margins, but to also further contribute to the incoming climate crises rather than to fight it like every other sensible person.

In 2019, Teck Resources posted $5.5 billion in coal revenue, generated primarily in the Elk Valley. Alberta is the second-largest producer of coal in Canada and the UCP government has lauded coal mining as a way forward for the province’s economy, particularly in light of job losses in the oil patch during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alberta reported some $15.7 million in royalties earned on coal production in 2017, though this figure has been declining in recent years. Photo: Callum Gunn

With Canada exporting most of their coal to eastern Asia, and China (the largest consumer of coal) planning to completely phase out coal consumption by 2050, as well as declining usage by our two largest purchasers (South Korea and Japan), the move has left many scratching their heads, to say the least. This also doesn’t take into account the other issues at stake: the failure to consult Indigenous groups within the region, how it will completely compromise the protections for several species in the area, the Conservation groups who are concerned about the parks and scenery being destroyed, the ranchers who rely on the area for native grasslands and prime pastures they use for grazing who will see these areas destroyed, nor finally the point that mountaintop removal mining relies on less workers than traditional coal mining methods- meaning that Kenney is literally selling our mountains directly to pad some Australian corporation’s bank accounts.

The Elk Valley mines, owned and operated by Teck Resources, are a major source of metallurgical coal, used in the manufacturing of steel. The vast majority of coal mined from these B.C. mountaintops is exported overseas. Proposals for new mines are largely coming from Australian-based companies, including one owned by billionaire Gina Rinehart. Photo: Callum Gunn

The Workers Liberation Coalition refuses to stand by and watch this blatant disregard for not only all Albertans, but for our environment and the natural beauty found across the province, especially throughout its mountains. We are asking for all Albertans and people across our nation to come together with us to stand against this destruction! If we don’t stand up and say something now, one day we will no longer have those mountains to defend. Just as Kenney and his office have shown us their disdain for Albertan workers and the lives of our citizens, they are now attempting to do the same to our environment and the beautiful mountains that are symbols of the strength of this province. We say no more! We must stand and say “Enough is enough!” The mishandling of this pandemic and blatant disregard for workers, our Indigenous and other marginalized communities, the destruction of the very land to which we call home must come to an end!

Waste-rock piles, seen here, are a source of leaching selenium. Selenium is a naturally-occurring chemical element commonly found in coal-rich deposits. It’s essential to human cellular function and considered healthy in very small doses. However, selenium can be fatal to egg-laying animals, including fish and birds, even in small quantities. In trout, the mineral can cause deformities of the jaw and spine and reproductive failure. Teck Resources recently reported several collapses in trout populations living directly downstream of mines. Photo: Callum Gunn

It’s time to leave the coal to Father Christmas; to use as a lesson for naughty kids rather than a pathetic attempt at an “economic boost.”

If you would like to get involved with any of our programs, to join or find out more info about the WLC, or are in need of any sort of community support or help that you think our organization could assist with, please feel free to reach out to us through one of our social media pages or our email: workerspartycontact@protonmail.com

*All coal mine photos are from The Narwhal, taken by: Callum Gunn*