Danielle Smith defending government’s involvement in coal mining project hearing [Video]

Alberta’s premier is defending her government’s involvement in a recent hearing approval for coal exploration in the Rocky Mountains.

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has granted an Australian mining company a public hearing for its open-pit steelmaking plans in southwest Alberta.

Northback Holdings wants permission to do exploratory drilling and water diversion near Crowsnest Pass.

Despite already being turned down by both federal and provincial environmental reviews, Alberta Minister of Energy Brian Jean told the AER that Northback’s proposal is, by definition, eligible to sidestep a ministerial order and should be reviewed.

The regulator subsequently accepted Northback’s applications and promised hearings on its Grassy Mountain projects.

When asked about Jean’s letter, the premier said “It’s an independent process.”

“There were four advanced projects, (and) I think the minister just wanted to provide clarity about what those four were,” Smith said. “The regulator is going through that and I’ll just let …