Ottawa Insider

Natasha Bulowski reports from Ottawa with a slant on how federal policy is impacting British Columbians.

Canada's National Observer is a proud participant of the Local Journalism Initiative, which supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of underserved communities across Canada.

828 Articles

Enviro groups ask feds to adopt environmental racism bill

More than 20 environmental organizations are calling on the government to reintroduce and prioritize a bill that would address environmental racism in Canada when Parliament reconvenes on Nov. 22.

Natasha Bulowski

October 22nd 2021

Reducing oil and gas production is Canada’s ‘only possible lever’ to hit 2030 climate goals

Two reports released Wednesday reveal Canada is lagging far behind its climate goals, with both studies making clear the only option left is reducing the production of fossil fuels.

John Woodside

October 19th 2021

Enviro groups want feds to step in after report reveals Alberta’s tailings ponds are growing

Environmental groups are calling on the federal government to step in after oilsands tailing ponds grew by 90 million cubic metres in 2020 despite a drop in oil production, according to a report released last week by the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER).

Natasha Bulowski

October 18th 2021

Poll finds most Canadians want a just transition — and not a dollar more for TMX

A new poll from Abacus Data shows Ottawa lagging behind what a majority of Canadians want when it comes to climate action.

John Woodside

October 15th 2021

Grassroots groups call on Parliament to create just transition act in first 100 days

This week, grassroots organizations across the country are mobilizing to demand community-led just transition legislation within the first 100 days of Parliament as part of a “Climate Code Red” week of action.

Natasha Bulowski

October 15th 2021

IEA outlook paints grim reckoning for fossil fuel industry

The International Energy Agency’s latest projection is casting new doubt on Canadian megaprojects like the Trans Mountain expansion that experts say should force a reckoning in the country’s oil industry.

John Woodside

October 14th 2021

Canada supports global pledge to slash oil and gas methane

Canada is committing to slashing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector as part of a global effort to curb the powerful greenhouse gas.

John Woodside

October 13th 2021

Pandora Papers’ bombshells have MPs calling for action

MPs and the non-profit Canadians for Tax Fairness are calling for the Canadian government to take action after the Pandora Papers investigation found hundreds of world leaders and public officials have used offshore tax havens to hide enormous fortunes.

Natasha Bulowski

October 12th 2021

‘The climate crisis in action’: WHO urges world leaders to avoid health disaster

The World Health Organization is calling on world leaders to phase out fossil fuels ahead of COP26 to help save millions of lives around the globe.

COP26: Uniting the World to Tackle Climate Change

John Woodside

October 11th 2021

Enviro debate organizers holding MPs to their promises

Organizers of the GreenPAC 100 Debates for the Environment will hold the 56 candidates ultimately elected to Parliament accountable for their climate promises.

Natasha Bulowski

October 8th 2021

Any way you slice it, Canada is one of the worst emitters on the planet

A new ranking of the planet’s largest polluters has Canada in the top 10 for total emissions, which climate advocates say gives the country an even greater responsibility to align itself with a climate-safe future.

John Woodside

October 7th 2021

Industry and climate groups face off over just transition consultation

Oil and gas industry groups and climate advocacy organizations in Canada are squaring off to shape the federal government’s just transition strategy.

John Woodside

October 6th 2021

SFU students threaten hunger strike to force fossil fuel divestment

Students at SFU are threatening the school with a hunger strike until it commits to a full divestment of fossil fuels by 2025.

John Woodside

October 5th 2021

‘We can’t truly have reconciliation until we have that truth’

As Canada marked its first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Thursday, two of Canada’s newly elected Indigenous MPs reflected on what the federal government — and all Canadians — can do to further reconciliation.

Natasha Bulowski

October 4th 2021

Can Canada scale up international climate financing?

Scaling up international climate financing is critical to the success of COP26 and Canada is playing a key role.

COP26: Uniting the World to Tackle Climate Change

John Woodside

October 1st 2021