Marlin Schmidt, NDP Critic for Environment and Parks, made the following statement in response to the review of the Joint Review Panel finding that Grassy Mountain coal mine project is not in the public interest:

“Today’s rejection of the Grassy Mountain project by the Joint Review Panel must be a signal that we can longer consider these projects in isolation.

“We cannot pit potential mining jobs against the existing and future jobs supported by agriculture and tourism all along the Eastern Slopes.

“This review underscores the need for the Eastern Slopes Protection Act, introduced by Rachel Notley. This bill would ban coal mining in category 1 and 2 lands, and halt all development in category 3 and 4 lands pending a comprehensive regional planning process informed by a thorough consultation with Albertans.

“I thank the tens of thousands of Albertans who participated in this review. Albertans do not want these beautiful and distinctly Albertan landscapes to be destroyed by coal mining, and Albertans do not want their watersheds to be poisoned by selenium and other byproducts of coal mining.”