Critics say federal Conservatives dodging questions on coal mining in Alberta Rockies

The Conservative Party of Canada is not saying if an Erin O'Toole-led government would keep measures supported by the twoother main parties that would increase scrutiny of open-pit coalmine proposals in Alberta's Rocky Mountains.

"[The Conservative platform]ensures that we will meet ourenvironmental and climate targets while ensuring we get Canadiansback to work in every region and in every sector," said an emailfrom party spokesman Mathew Clancy.

He was responding to questions from The Canadian Press aboutwhether victorious Conservatives would keep measures announced underthe previous Liberal government on coal mining a hot topic inAlberta.

Those measures include promises of federal involvement in futureenvironmental assessments of such projects and a warning that newthermal coal mines don't fit with Canada's climate-change goals. TheLiberals flatly turned down one such proposal RiversdaleResources' Grassy Mountain mine saying it would cause unacceptableenvironmental impacts.

A spokesman for the New Democrats said his party supports thosepositions.

Clancy's response for the Conservatives doesn't address them. The words "coal" or "mining" also do not appear.

"We have a detailed plan to show leadership on environmental,social and governance [issues] and we support an assessment processthat upholds best-in-class environmental standards and sets clearexpectations and timelines for environmental reviews," he wrote.

Alberta has been riven by the possibility of more coal mines inits beloved mountains and foothills since its United Conservativegovernment revoked a 1976 policy that protected them. Thoselandscapes are favourite recreation destinations, as well as thesource of most of the province's drinking water.

A public outcry against coal mines forced the province to restoreprotections and strike a committee to hear from Albertans beforemaking further moves.

'Red flags flying all overthe place'

The federal Conservative response does nothing to address thosedeeply held concerns, said Craig Snodgrass, mayor of High River, afoothills community that has opposed mining.

"There's zero comfort in that statement," he said. "When youmake a statement like that, and you make it that grey and you won'ttake a stance on this stuff, we know exactly what you're up to."

The statement suggests that a Conservative government would bereluctant to use federal powers for environmental protection, saidUniversity of Calgary law professor Martin Olszynski.

"It's very clear that the Conservatives would essentially leavethe issue to the province," he said. "Federal government involvement in mining has been an additional safeguard and hasprovided Canadians and Albertans with that additional security."

Olszynski notes the Conservative platform also proposes torewrite Canada's environmental impact legislation.

Bobbi Lambright, spokeswoman for a foothills landowners group,said her organization sees federal involvement in coal mineassessment as a way to ensure projects are thoroughly evaluated.

"Our membership very much wants assurance that the gains thathave been made with respect to protecting the eastern slopes [of theRockies]are not lost as a result of the federal election," shesaid.

She criticized the Conservative response to the questions on coalmining.

"These are exactly the questions that many people in Albertawant answered," she said. "They didn't answer them."

The Canadian Press also reached out to John Barlow, theConservative candidate for the Foothills riding, which covers muchof the area that has been leased for coal exploration. He did notrespond.

Snodgrass said Ottawa has a legitimate role in environmentalissues and that any party that wants to govern should lay out how itwould exercise it.

"They say it's a provincial issue, but we all know it's not. Weall know these projects land in the hand of the federal government.

"The Conservative Party of Canada wanting to be the governmentbut not taking a stand on [this issue]has red flags flying all overthe place."