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Consulted with communities and workers affected by the end of coal-fired electricity generation to identify challenges and opportunities.
This engagement has been archived
Status: Completed
Ministry responsible: Economic Development, Trade and Tourism
Completed: 2017
Programs are available to help communities and workers affected by the phase out of coal-fired electricity generation. For more information visit:
Under federal regulations, coal-fired electricity generation will be phased out by 2030 and replaced with renewable and natural gas-fired electricity.
The Advisory Panel on Coal Communities met with workers and community members to hear their challenges and ideas for the long-term economic sustainability of their communities. The panel members:
These meetings helped the panel fully understand the challenges and opportunities communities and workers face to ensure their recommendations respond to concerns and align with community priorities.
The panel submitted their recommendations on an approach to support affected workers and communities.
The 35 recommendations focus on three areas: workers, communities and First Nations.
The government responded to the recommendations with additional supports for affected workers.
The panel held facilitated discussions with stakeholders and First Nations in communities most affected by the retirements of coal-fired generation facilities and associated mining operations. They met with:
Albertans and stakeholders shared their feedback through an online survey, which closed May 31.
Input from the community discussions and survey informed the panel's final report.
Two telephone town halls were held for community members and workers in the coal communities of Hanna, Forestburg, and Leduc and Parkland Counties on Monday, May 15. A total of 2,238 people participated.
Common themes included:
Elected officials visited coal communities to meet with workers and community members. These visits complemented the panel's visits and set the stage for the Alberta government to receive the panel's recommendations.
Coal community meeting handout (PDF, 1.5 MB)
The panellists have decades of combined experience working with government and stakeholders to address industry transition in response to economic and sector-based changes.