Politics · Canada · 2 hrs ago
Auditor general says Canada quietly dropped work on coal export ban
Canada committed in 2021 to ban thermal coal exports by 2030.
Thermal coal is burned to generate electricity and is among the most polluting fuels for power generation.
An audit found that Environment and Climate Change Canada stopped work on enforcing the ban in November 2024, after lobbying by the coal industry.
The department did not publicly announce the change, and auditors found no record of an official direction to stop the work at that time.
The decision was formalized in August 2025 as the federal government sought cost savings, but auditors found no clear record that the minister was told what stopping the work could mean.
Thermal coal exports were higher in 2025 than in 2021, the audit found.
The auditor general said the lack of public updates makes it harder for provinces, industry, workers and others to plan for a transition away from coal.
The sources do not say whether the government will restart work on the ban.
Canada’s auditor general says Environment and Climate Change Canada stopped work on a promised ban on thermal coal exports without informing the public.
The audit found the work ended in November 2024 after lobbying from the coal industry.
Canada had committed in 2021 to ban thermal coal exports by 2030.
The decision was formalized in August 2025, but the audit found no evidence of an official direction to stop the work in 2024.
Thermal coal exports were higher in 2025 than in 2021.
- Who
- Environment and Climate Change Canada stopped the work. Auditor General Karen Hogan’s report criticized the decision.
- What
- Work on a ban on thermal coal exports was halted without a public announcement.
- When
- The work stopped in November 2024. The decision was formalized in August 2025, and the report was tabled on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Canada.
- Why
- The audit said the work stopped after lobbying from the coal industry. It found no evidence of an official direction to discontinue the work in 2024.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Canada committed to banning thermal coal exports by 2030.
Environment and Climate Change Canada stopped work on finding a way to enforce the ban.
The decision to stop the work was formalized as the federal government sought cost-saving measures.
The auditor general’s report was tabled and criticized the government’s handling of the work.
- Ban commitment
- Canada committed in 2021 to ban thermal coal exports by 2030.
- Work stopped
- November 2024
- Decision formalized
- August 2025
- Exports
- Thermal coal exports were higher in 2025 than in 2021.
- Report tabled
- October 29, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
The lack of public information and updates on the government’s current approach is concerning.
Transparency in decision making provides certainty and enables interested parties, such as provincial and territorial governments, coal mining companies, transportation authorities, shipping terminals, and the labour force to contribute to a just transition.