Signature collection for anti-coal mining petition begins in Edmonton

A group trying to stop coal mining on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains has started collecting signatures at province-wide canvassing events.

Signature collection for a petition that seeks to ask a question on whether Alberta should ban coal mining on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains began across the province this weekend, including a soft launch of sorts in Edmonton.

“I’m here to test out my process,” said Gail, an official canvasser at Earth’s Refillery Coop in Edmonton on Saturday.

“It’s really about the runoff into our waterways and what that does for agriculture, fishing, tourism, farmers.”

The No New Coal Mining initiative is headed by country singer Corb Lund. The petition calls for the government to introduce legislation prohibiting any new coal mining activity in the Rocky Mountains area, including a proposed mine in Crowsnest Pass.

Elections Alberta greenlit the signature gathering earlier this month. Lund’s group now has until June 10 to collect 177,732 signatures.

Lund previously told CTV News that he was looking to collect “way, way more than” the signatures he needs.

Gail, who sat at her table collecting signatures for the better part of Saturday afternoon, said the “big launch” for canvassing begins Sunday.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Galen McDougall, The Canadian Press and CTV News Calgary