The federal government is making it more difficult to develop thermal coal in Canada with a new policy that says all such mines create B次元官网网址渦nacceptable environmental effects.B次元官网网址�

The move erects another roadblock for Coalspur Mines and its Vista mine expansion in Alberta, the only such mine in Canada currently before regulators.

Federal Environment Minister Jonathon Wilkinson said the move was made because of the need to stop burning coal for power B次元官网网址� the single greatest source of greenhouse gases in the world.

B次元官网网址淧hasing out thermal coal is the most critical climate change issue right now,B次元官网网址� he said.

The policy, released Friday, does not rule out such development. But approvals will be tough to get.

B次元官网网址淭he government of Canada considers that any new thermal coal mining projects, or expansions of existing thermal coal mines in Canada, are likely to cause unacceptable environmental effects,B次元官网网址� it says. B次元官网网址淭his position will inform federal decision making on thermal coal projects.B次元官网网址�

It says the federal cabinet must consider sustainability and climate change in weighing any new projects, regardless of size.

B次元官网网址淲hat weB次元官网网址檙e saying is this is something that does not fit from a public policy perspective,B次元官网网址� Wilkinson said. B次元官网网址淎 proponent can continue on through the process, but thatB次元官网网址檚 a pretty high bar to surmount.B次元官网网址�

CoalspurB次元官网网址檚 Vista mine expansion project near Hinton, Alta., which would be the largest thermal coal mine in North America, has filed an application to the provincial regulator. Wilkinson has ruled the project should face a federal environmental assessment, although Coalspur is challenging that decision in court.

The company has been informed the new policy will apply to it, Wilkinson said. He added the policy gives more certainty to other companies considering similar projects.

Wilkinson said he believes the new policy lies within federal power despite its impact on natural resources, a provincial jurisdiction.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e comfortable this is something within our purview to do,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he vast, vast, vast majority of Canadians would think that this is something thatB次元官网网址檚 a no-brainer.B次元官网网址�

Canada is a founding member of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a group of countries trying to reduce the use of thermal coal around the globe. Wilkinson said permitting new mines would harm CanadaB次元官网网址檚 efforts in that forum.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been the leader in the international community telling other countries that they should be phasing out thermal coal B次元官网网址� and then we approve new thermal coal mines? People would say that doesnB次元官网网址檛 make any sense.B次元官网网址�

The new policy does not affect metallurgical coal, the type of coal found in most of the controversial new coal exploration projects in the Alberta foothills.

The federal government has been asked to step in on many of those projects. Wilkinson has until July 1 to decide if he will request a federal assessment for Montem ResourceB次元官网网址檚 Tent Mountain mine.

Wilkinson called emissions from steelmaking a different issue.

B次元官网网址�(Thermal coal) is a short-term issue,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淥ur commitment with other countries is to help them phase out (coal) nine years from now. ThatB次元官网网址檚 not much time.B次元官网网址�

Canada has promised to phase out the burning of coal for power by 2030.

B次元官网网址擝ob Weber, The Canadian Press