Crowsnest Pass mayor wants proposed coal mine sooner than later [Video]

A mayor in southwestern Alberta is hoping for an immediate meeting with Premier Danielle Smith to discuss a coal project his community has voted in favour of being built. 

“The sooner the better,” said Crowsnest Pass Mayor Blair Painter. “Let’s do this.” 

Residents of the municipality, which saw its last coal mine close four decades ago, voted 72 per cent “yes” to a simple referendum question: “Do you support the development and operations of the metallurgical coal mine at Grassy Mountain?” 

The result isn’t binding and has no influence on regulatory or legal challenges. But many in the municipality are hoping the steelmaking coal project proposed by Australia-based Northback Holdings will provide a much needed economic boost. 

“Council at some point in the near future will have discussion on how we move forward with this,” Painter said.

“We will be meeting with the minister of energy and hopefully with the …