Alberta to appeal release of some Rocky Mountain coal mining documents ordered by judge

Alberta is appealing a judge's ruling that ordered the release of internal documents on coal mining in the province's Rocky Mountains, according tothe lawyer for ranchers seeking the information who said he was "told by [government]counsel."

Richard Harrison represents a group of southern Alberta ranchers that filed a freedom of information (FOIP)request in 2020 to understand why the United Conservative Party government rescinded a policy that had for decades protected the eastern slopes of the Rockies.

Earlier this month, King's Bench Justice Kent Teskey refused to grant a judicial review of an order from the province's information commissioner that told the government to produce without redactions more than 6,500 documents pertaining to the coal decision.

Teskey ruled the request for review was a delay tactic to avoid providing information the public is entitled to see. He also warned the governmentthe courts would resist granting future requests for such reviews if they were seen as ways to frustrate the public's right to know.

Teskey also criticized what he called the government's "casual" approach to how many documents exist.

First, it whittled an initial estimate of 6,539 pages down to 2,100. Of that, 1,353 documents have been released, more than half of which are completely blank while the rest are partially redacted.

Grounds for appeal not yet filed

On Monday, Alberta Energy informed Harrison that no more documents would be forthcoming.

However, Energy Minister Brian Jean said Thursday that "all documents required by the courts will be released."

"We are releasing the majority of these documents once FOIP reviews have been completed on the unreviewed sections," Jean said in a statement.

"We are filing a limited appeal on a small number of documents."

Jean said any information required will be released once that process is complete.

Alberta Energy has not yet filed court documents outlining its grounds for appeal.

Secrecy invites speculation, saysNotley

Drew Yewchuk, a legal researcher and information law expert, suggested an appeal of Teskey's ruling will be difficult. He said the government, in effect, would be asking for the court's help in defying freedom of information law.

"If you want to come to the court and ask that fairness be done, you have to comply with the law in the first place," he said. "If you didn't comply with the law in the first place, don't come asking the courts to help make sure the law is followed."

Nevertheless, he said there are no consequences to the government for further delaying the information release.

"What do they care?" he asked.

Do they even know what the frick they're doing?They're wasting Albertans' time and money.- Rancher John Smith

Premier Danielle Smith promised in the legislature that Teskey's ruling would be followed.

"We will abide by the decision of the court," Smith said last week. "We will make whatever documents available that the court requires."

New Democrat Opposition Leader Rachel Notley said Thursday the decision to appeal breaks that promise.

"Danielle Smith was lying," she said.

Notley said keeping the information secret invites speculation about what they contain.

"I suspect there's lots of inappropriate conversations between lobbyists and representatives of certain coal companies and political staff and ministers, trying to cut a deal," she said. "I think we're going to find evidence [companies]were conspiring to work around the rules and [government]giving them advice on how to do that."

Ranchers 'dumbfounded,' but vow not to give up

She called on the government to follow the information commissioner's original ruling and release what the ranchers asked for.

Notley pointed out the decision to appeal comes as the province's energy regulator plans a hearing into a coal exploration proposal in the Rockies a proposal Jean has directed the regulator to consider.

"We have a right to this information," Notley said. "This is a matter of great public interest."

Laura Laing and John Smith, two of the ranchers behind the request, took a break from calving Thursday to express disbelief the government intends to extend their four-year fight.

WATCH | See what the couple had to say about the fight 3 years ago:

More voices join Corb Lund's call to rethink Alberta's new direction on coal

3 years ago

Duration 3:12

Opposition to open-pit mining is starting to gain traction months after the Alberta government cancelled a decades old coal policy preventing development of land on the eastern slopes of the Rockies. Ranchers, municipalities and well-known Albertan musicians are sounding the alarm, asking the government to reconsider.

"Danielle standing in the legislature saying we're going to co-operate, then Brian Jean saying something else do they even know what the frick they're doing?" asked Smith. "They're wasting Albertans' time and money."

Laing, who said the appeal has left her "dumbfounded," added they have no intention of giving up.

"Maybe that's the strategy, to exhaust individuals. But they've picked the wrong ones," she said.

"They call themselves a transparent government? It's laugh or go insane."