By Heidi McKillop
Special to the Western Standard
Pincher Creek — Day Two of the Northback Grassy Mountain hearing in Pincher Creek had a markedly different tone and energy compared to the first day.
It was the second of two days of Alberta Energy Regulator hearings in the proposed Northback mine on Grassy Mountain.
On November 25, residents of Crowsnest Pass voted overwhelmingly in support of the development of the Grassy Mountain Coal mine located a few kilometers north of that town.
Wednesday's shift began shortly before lunch when a First Nation woman from the Piikani Nation requested to speak, despite not being previously registered.
Speaking passionately into the microphone, she demanded that the AER panel hear her concerns and those of others who had accompanied her. She firmly stated that the chief and council did not represent her or the broader Piikani Nation.
This prompted a response from the Piikani Nation’s legal counsel, who clarified to the panel that these individuals did not reflect the official stance of the Nation.
Northback’s legal team also expressed concerns, stating that allowing unregistered speakers would undermine the process and disadvantage those who had followed the proper protocol by registering and submitting materials in advance.
Despite these objections, the AER panel voted to permit the individuals to speak.
As events unfolded, it became evident that the newly added speakers were strong opponents of the project. Their speeches quickly turned into sharp criticisms of their own chief and council. The atmosphere grew somber as grievances unrelated to the project began to dominate the discussion. One speaker revealed that she had run for chief and was not elected, adding personal context to her frustrations.
Their attacks against Northback were unjustified, labeling the company as "eco-terrorists," perpetrators of "mass genocide," greedy, and intent on destroying the environment.
The hearing seemed to shift away from fact-based discussion, devolving instead into a platform for addressing historical social and environmental grievances in the region. The tone resembled a radical climate protest more than a hearing on an exploration permit.
One speaker outlined an extreme agenda, suggesting that young people on her reserve should not seek assistance from companies to escape poverty but should instead focus on growing hemp as a revenue source. She dismissed the idea that Northback could provide steady paying jobs to the region.
The Piikani Nation’s chief and council have been clear in their focus on addressing poverty on the reserve. Achieving this goal requires sustainable job creation, a critical component of building long-term economic stability. However, the disconnect between some community members and their leadership was on full display during this session, further highlighting the complexity of the discussion surrounding resource development and its broader implications for the region.
Not all was lost during the day. Many residents directly impacted in the Crowsnest Pass came forward to voice their support for the coal mining project and to highlight Northback’s involvement and outreach within the community.
One particularly passionate speech came from Lucas Michalsky, a local rancher, who eloquently described the balance between land stewardship and economic viability.
"No one knows the country better than a rancher and respects what it has to offer and how hard it is to repair once it’s damaged. Water management is equally as important as pasture management," he stated.
"As stewards of the land, it is our duty to protect it. The last thing any of us would want is for land and water to be destroyed. For over 120 years, my family has lived downwind and downstream of coal mines. We have mined coal and run cattle on the eastern slopes of the Livingston Range since before Alberta was a province. We have been the first to defend this land, and we want it to remain wild and accessible to future generations. But in order to defend it, we need to be able to afford to live here to protect it."
His words resonated with many in the room, highlighting the deep connection local families have to the land, as well as the practical realities they face in maintaining and preserving it for future generations.
The day was marked by lively debates and passionate arguments, often overshadowing the voices of the actual residents of the Crowsnest Pass—those living closest to the proposed coal mining site. It is worth emphasizing that 72% of the small communities within the Crowsnest Pass voted in favor of moving the coal mining project forward.
Despite this clear local support, the AER extended the platform to individuals whose connection to the project’s direct impact appeared questionable. This broader outreach sometimes diluted the focus from those who are truly affected and stand to gain or lose the most from the project’s outcome. The voices of the local residents, who intimately understand the region’s challenges and opportunities, must remain central to the conversation.
The AER will release their decision at a later date.