Conservative critic calls for coal mine development in southeast B.C.
CRANBROOK, B.C. — The Conservative party’s natural resources critic is calling on the federal Liberals to move forward with the development of a coal field near Cranbrook, B.C.
Candice Bergen says the government needs to stop focusing on “endless consultations” about the Dominion Coal Blocks in the East Kootenay region and get to work on approving the divestment of the Crown lands.
The MP for Portage-Lisgar in Manitoba says there is about 700 million tonnes of coal in the area and developing the mines would create jobs.
The federal government originally acquired the land in 1905 to build the Crowsnest Pass railway, but the Dominion Coal Blocks have never been fully utilized.