The federal government is making it more difficult to develop thermal coal in Canada with a new policy that says all such mines create 91裸聊视频渦nacceptable environmental effects.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频� the single greatest source of greenhouse gases in the world.

91裸聊视频淧hasing out thermal coal is the most critical climate change issue right now,91裸聊视频� he said.

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

91裸聊视频淭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,91裸聊视频� it says. 91裸聊视频淭his position will inform federal decision making on thermal coal projects.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淲hat we91裸聊视频檙e saying is this is something that does not fit from a public policy perspective,91裸聊视频� Wilkinson said. 91裸聊视频淎 proponent can continue on through the process, but that91裸聊视频檚 a pretty high bar to surmount.91裸聊视频�

Coalspur91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e comfortable this is something within our purview to do,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭he vast, vast, vast majority of Canadians would think that this is something that91裸聊视频檚 a no-brainer.91裸聊视频�

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 Canada91裸聊视频檚 efforts in that forum.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e been the leader in the international community telling other countries that they should be phasing out thermal coal 91裸聊视频� and then we approve new thermal coal mines? People would say that doesn91裸聊视频檛 make any sense.91裸聊视频�

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 Resource91裸聊视频檚 Tent Mountain mine.

Wilkinson called emissions from steelmaking a different issue.

91裸聊视频�(Thermal coal) is a short-term issue,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淥ur commitment with other countries is to help them phase out (coal) nine years from now. That91裸聊视频檚 not much time.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频擝ob Weber, The Canadian Press