Corb Lund’s petition effort to outlaw new coal mining in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains is one step closer to gathering signatures.
Elections Alberta says the country singer’s application to petition the government to pass a prohibition on all new coal exploration or mining activities in the area has been approved.
Lund previously applied and received the official OK, but recent legislative changes from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s government retroactively cancelled it.
Lund, who lives in southern Alberta, has been a vocal opponent of coal mining, arguing that mines threaten land and water in the area.
He still needs to complete some paperwork before Elections Alberta can issue a petition, and he can start collecting names.
Lund will have four months to collect nearly 178,000 signatures, and if successful, the legislature would consider passing a coal mining ban or send it to a province-wide vote.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2025.