Albertans can’t afford Nathan Neudorf

Like many Alberta residents, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read MLA Nathan Neudorf’s remarks to the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce in the Lethbridge Herald earlier this month.

Did he really say : “so do you want to choose coal mining with higher than ever regulatory thresholds for any environmental infrastructure’s or do people want a 10 to 20 per cent tax increase”?

In 2019, the UCP was elected to govern Alberta. MLA Neudorf was part of that government. The government immediately began negotiations with foreign coal companies to open up the Rocky Mountains and eastern slopes to coal mining. When the new government publicly announced it would rescind the 1976 Coal Policy, there was an immediate backlash from Albertans. 

In 2021, the Alberta government acknowledged that they did not have the support or a mandate from Albertans and the government backed down.

Coal companies subsequently filed their lawsuits against the Alberta government (taxpayers) to recover costs and potential future lost profits.

In 2023, the UCP was re-elected without mentioning that they intended to open up the Rockies and eastern slopes to coal mining, and again without a mandate from Albertans to do so.

Now vast numbers of Albertans are justifiably angry again.

Alberta’s Minister of Affordability and Utilities and our city’s representative for the constituency of Lethbridge East seems to be saying that taxpayers must pay dearly for the mistakes of the governments that he was and is member of.

The alternative is to let foreign owned coal companies destroy our mountains and pollute our river to access coal owned by Albertans, operating within lax environmental standards while paying some of the lowest royalty rates for coal in the world. Energy Minister Brian Jean state that any new regulations would not apply to existing applications and coal projects. Even ones that have yet to begin.

If Mr. Neudorf really cared, he would represent the wishes of the people of Lethbridge. He would be speaking out against coal mining and advocating for immediate implementation of strong environmental standards.  He would demand immediate implementation of the required legislation in the next session of the Alberta legislature.

Mr. Neudorf, you were elected to represent the citizens of Lethbridge East.

If you aren’t prepared to do that, please resign.

Albertans can’t afford you.

Chris Spearman

Resident, M.D. Pincher Creek