Alberta musician Corb Lund is embarking on a whirlwind tour across the province this weekend, making appearances at 14 events from Friday to Sunday to galvanize support for his anti-coal mining petition. The campaign, dubbed Water Not Coal, seeks to ban new coal mines along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, with Lund describing the momentum as "good" as tens of thousands of signatures have already been collected.
Province-Wide Push for Signatures
From Edmonton and Red Deer to Calgary, Medicine Hat, and Lethbridge, Lund is crisscrossing Alberta to drum up more backing for his citizen initiative. The three-month signature drive officially began on February 11 and must conclude by June 10, requiring 177,732 signatures to proceed. Lund expressed confidence in the effort, noting, "We have a couple thousand canvassers and the momentum is good, so we're pretty confident." He aims to far exceed the minimum to send a clear message to the Alberta government that residents oppose new coal mines.
Campaign Focus and Rural Impact
While the campaign has concentrated on Alberta's major urban centers, Lund emphasized that rural communities are receiving "plenty of time" in outreach efforts. He highlighted that these areas are among the most affected by proposed coal mines, citing ranchers west of Nanton who raised concerns about water supply impacts. Lund's involvement stems from these local issues, with the petition specifically targeting projects like the Grassy Mountain coal mine in the Crowsnest Pass, proposed by Australia-based Northback Holdings.
Northback Holdings claims the Grassy Mountain project would produce high-quality steelmaking coal for global markets, generate hundreds of millions in economic benefits, create hundreds of jobs, and adhere to high environmental standards. Last year, the Alberta Energy Regulator approved the company's application for a coal exploration program at the site, adding urgency to Lund's campaign.
Balancing Music and Activism
Despite his busy music schedule, which includes recent tours in the U.S. and upcoming performances across Europe from April 11 to 28, Lund is maximizing his time in Alberta to support the petition. "I'm doing my best to maximize every second I have home to meet people and encourage them to fight this thing," he said. The campaign kickoff this weekend marks a strategic push as weather improves and canvassers refine their techniques.
With an estimated "tens of thousands" of signatures already gathered, Lund's Water Not Coal campaign represents a significant grassroots movement in Alberta's environmental landscape. As he tours the province, the focus remains on mobilizing Albertans to protect water resources and halt new coal mining developments, setting the stage for a pivotal showdown with government and industry interests.
