Alberta’s former energy minister will be questioned Wednesday about her government’s flip-flop on provincial mining policies.
Five coal companies are suing the province for first saying they could mine the Eastern Slopes — and then for backtracking after public outcry.
On Wednesday, Sonya Savage will be questioned at a Calgary law firm about her role in the coal controversy.
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Savage, who has since left government, is slated to testify in the trial in late April.
The $13.8B lawsuit stems from the province’s 2020 decision to get rid of a long standing land-protection policy and allow mining in the Rockies.
That led to intense backlash and eventually, a government decision reversal. But the rethink meant existing leases were canceled, and four companies that had already spent millions of dollars developing plans are now suing.
Cabin Ridge Holdings Ltd. and Cabin Ridge Project Ltd., Black Eagle Mining Corp., Atrum Coal Ltd. and its subsidiary Elan Coal Ltd. and Evolve Power Ltd. are involved in the damages claim.
Originally, the former energy minister wasn’t going to be compelled to testify, but that decision was successfully appealed by the coal companies.
The province is still holding out hope the Supreme Court of Canada will reverse that decision before proceedings get underway April 28.
