AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 26, 2026
Minister Issues Directive Against Coal-Fired Power
Yukon's Energy, Mines and Resources Minister, Ted Laking, has issued a clear directive to major government corporations: coal-fired power generation is off the table for the territory. In a letter sent earlier this week to the presidents of both the Yukon Energy Corporation and the Yukon Development Corporation, Laking emphasized the government's stance. "The government of Yukon is not pursuing or considering coal-fired power generation," he wrote. "As such we expect the Yukon Development Corporation and the Yukon Energy Corporation to continue to not pursue or consider coal-fired power generation."
Debate Surrounds Opposition Motion and Energy Policy
Laking's directive was timed just before the Yukon legislature was set to debate a motion introduced by NDP MLA Carmen Gustafson. Gustafson's motion urged the territorial government to take a firmer stand against coal power projects. Specifically, she called on the government to use its authority under section 17 of the Public Utilities Act to direct the Yukon Utilities Board to reject any applications for energy generation projects involving the use, conversion, or processing of coal.
Coal Exploration Project Raises Questions
The renewed attention to coal-fired electricity comes as Vancouver-based Strategic Metals has proposed a coal exploration project near Braeburn, Yukon. The company is examining whether locally sourced coal could be used for power generation, despite the federal government's plan to phase out coal-fired electricity by 2030. This federal coal ban underscores the tension between project proponents and ongoing energy policy discussions in Yukon.
Legislative Response and Permitting Concerns
In responding to Gustafson's motion in the legislature, Minister Laking argued that the request was unnecessary. He characterized the issue as "a figment of their imagination," stating, "Given that this motion is not timely, urgent or addressing an issue facing Yukoners immediately, we can revisit it in the future if the federal government were to repeal the federal ban on coal-fired electricity." Laking further suggested that intervening with the Yukon Utilities Board, described as a "quasi-judicial agency," would be an inappropriate use of government resources.
Gustafson maintained that her concerns were legitimate, bringing forward documents—including a land use permit application, related news stories, and Strategic Metals' project application to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board—as evidence of current interest in coal power projects. She clarified, "[The minister] directed the corporations that he's responsible for, but that doesn't really have any impact on the proponent of the project or on the permitting process that's happening." Her intention was not to interrupt existing processes, but to prevent future coal-fired electricity applications from moving forward.
Debate Adjourned Amid Federal Policy Uncertainty
Ultimately, government MLAs voted to adjourn debate on the motion. Minister Laking indicated that the issue could be revisited if federal coal policy changes in the future. The situation highlights how regional energy generation and permitting processes are shaped both by local authorities and overarching federal regulations regarding coal-fired electricity and coal power projects in Yukon.
About the Author
Dana Hatherly is a reporter at CBC Yukon, previously reporting with the Yukon News from January 2022 to 2026.
Source: cbc.ca.
