A couple of southern Alberta MDs have expressed grave concerns over what they say is the provincial government's move to dismantle some water allocations.

The MD of Ranchlands and the MD of Pincher Creek have written to their MLA Roger Reid and are asking other municipalities to weigh in.

High River Mayor Craig Snodgrass says the water allocation ties into proposed coal mines.

"Our MLA Roger Reid has been in the news talking about, 'we need to do all this stuff' (water allocation changes) but don't worry there's lots of water' those are false statements," Snodgrass says. "There is not an exorbitant amount of water anywhere."

He says the town, along with other communities is watching the government but says there's a lot of push back on the issue.

"It's one more thing that the government's done that's all in the favour of the coal companies and nobody else," the mayor says.

Council didn't join in yet because it's not in the town's watershed, but it will come back affecting the Highwood watershed in the years to come because, he says, if they can do this there, they can do it anywhere.

Meantime, the mayor says he's spoken to Energy Minister Sonya Savage about the coal policy consultations.

He expects once the committee is set up it'll take six to eight months for the consultation.

"They are still taking their time and I feel they're doing this portion of it properly right now, but we've got our eyes wide open as to how this is continuing, but right now it's going good," Snodgrass says.

 

Questions, comments or story ideas? e-mail news@okotoksonline.com