Alberta Taxpayers Hit with $143M Bill in First of Multiple Coal Policy Settlements
ALBERTA, CANADA, JUL 23 – Atrum Coal settled for $142.8 million after Alberta reversed coal mining policies twice, causing lawsuits from companies claiming land expropriation, with Alberta facing $16 billion total claims.
- The government of Alberta has agreed to a settlement exceeding $140 million with Atrum Coal to resolve one of five active lawsuits related to its coal mining regulations as of July 2025.
- The lawsuits arise from Alberta’s decision to unexpectedly reinstate a previous coal mining policy in 2022—less than two years after it had been removed—leading several companies to seek compensation for investments made based on earlier regulatory conditions.
- Atrum Coal reached a settlement to drop its legal action and return the land to the province, receiving nearly $137 million upfront and an additional $6 million contingent on completing reclamation work.
- Opposition leader Naheed Nenshi stated "Albertans should be outraged," while Environmental Defence manager Stephen Legault called the payout a "phenomenal waste of taxpayers’ money."
- The settlements address some of the legal disputes, but Alberta still faces four additional lawsuits valued at $16 billion, with government officials committed to resolving these issues appropriately while keeping details confidential.
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The Fund could lose up to $140 million due to the insolvency of a real estate complex located in Edmonton, Alberta.
·Montreal, Canada
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left6Leaning Right3Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 25%
R 25%
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