'We need an industry': Crowsnest Pass residents voting on support for new coal mine

CROWSNEST PASS, Alta. — It's been more than 40 years since coal was king in the scenic Crowsnest Pass of southwestern Alberta, but a referendum vote Monday could sway a contentious debate on bringing it back.

"Our tax base is over 80 per cent residential. We'd like to ease that off our residents and this would give us the opportunity to be able to do that." The issue is still before Alberta’s energy regulator and opponents are also challenging the project through the courts. He said they were told they are just outside the municipal boundary and are unable to vote and that there are hundreds more that moved in during the"post-coal era" who are also on the outside looking in.

Five of the original 10 coal communities that sprang up on the Alberta side of the Pass remain: Blairmore, Frank, Bellevue, Coleman and Hillcrest.

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Mining company makes extra push by lobbying for coal mine in Crowsnest PassCrowsnest Pass Mayor Blair Painter said a vote later this month is looking to hear from residents to determine if they want to see the coal industry come back to the region.
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