The Supreme Court of Canada says it won’t hear an appeal by the Alberta government regarding a decision to have its former energy minister questioned in a multibillion-dollar coal mining lawsuit.
The $15 billion lawsuit, launched in 2023, argues five coal companies were left with land they couldn’t use after Alberta reimplemented its long-standing coal mining policy following public backlash.
Reinstating the policy meant coal mining was restricted or banned in certain areas where companies bought land after the policy was first lifted in 2020.
The companies sought to have former energy minister Sonya Savage and then-environment minister Jason Nixon appear for questioning, but an initial ruling meant neither had to testify.
Earlier this year, the Alberta Court of Appeal ruled that Savage needed to appear, as she was best able to explain why the policy decision was made.
The Alberta government appealed to Canada’s highest court, which now says it won’t hear the case.