Those who were hoping to get answers about the future of coal mining in Canada last week were likely disappointed, but what they did receive was a chance to share their thoughts for someone willing to listen.
The Task Force for the Just Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities rolled through the Energy City on Tuesday. They listened to concerns from the public about coal-fired power and how the demise of coal would affect this area.
Members did what a good government task force should do. They explained why they were there, they met with a variety of groups, they listened to questions from the public, and they answered some questions.
They heard that people who work at the mines and the coal-fired power stations are proud of their jobs, they want to continue with their work, and they want to be in the Estevan area. They don’t want a handout, and they don’t want to work in another community.
So now the task force will take what they heard in Estevan, as well as in Regina the previous day and in Coronach the day after appearing in Estevan, and create a final report for the federal government, likely before the end of this year.
The biggest complaint shouldn’t be with the task force’s efforts. It should be with its composition, at least from a Saskatchewan perspective. It would have been nice to have someone on that commission who is well known for working in the coal mining sector in Saskatchewan. The closest might be John Wright, the former president and CEO of SaskPower who would obviously know a thing or two about the value of coal.
You obviously couldn’t have someone who works at a coal mines now, since that would be a conflict of interest, but there are lots of worthy candidates who worked at the mines at one time, and would know about the importance of coal mining to communities.
The input of an intelligent mine worker would have been invaluable for this task force.
Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen was understandably upset that he wasn’t notified of the meeting, and that he was told of the meeting by an outside source. Task forces should have told local MPs and MLAs of meetings that have a direct impact on their constituencies.
The day is coming in which conventional or compliant coal will come to its end in Canada. The Conservatives, when they were in power, pegged that date as 2042. The Liberals have fast-tracked that date to 2030, although an equivalency agreement between the provincial and federal governments could extend conventional coal’s lease on life.
At this point, carbon capture and storage is not affected by the government’s phase out of coal. That might change; after all, governments do change their mind. But the Liberals have praised the technology used at the Boundary Dam Power Station in the past, which is encouraging.
(It would be even more encouraging if the Liberals would step forward with money for CCS retrofits at other SaskPower facilities).
Hopefully, when the task force releases its findings late this year, the picture will become a little clearer for Estevan, Bienfait, Coronach and the other affected communities.
But for now, there are lots of lingering questions.
