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

Parallels drawn between police action over B.C. pipeline fights, Mi'kmaq fishers

The Sipekne’katik First Nation was exercising its constitutionally protected rights when it opened a self-regulated lobster fishery in September. Despite this, Mi'kmaq fishers have faced violence and intimidation.

Carl Meyer

October 21st 2020

New building codes under review not tough enough on energy efficiency, report warns

According to the report from Efficiency Canada, the energy components of the new codes are now "largely finalized" and expected to be published in December 2021, yet they are so far missing some significant requirements like mandatory air leak tests.

Carl Meyer

October 20th 2020

Will there be someone to fix the electric vehicle you just bought?

The British Columbia Institute of Technology has launched its own EV maintenance training program. This week, a coalition of environmental and conservation groups recommended that the federal government provide funding for a national version.

Carl Meyer

October 16th 2020

Green coalition says more federal action needed for habitat, wildlife protection

The Green Budget Coalition published a roadmap Wednesday for a federal green recovery that it says can capitalize on this “defining moment in history.”

Carl Meyer

October 15th 2020

Here’s where parties stand on LNG projects in B.C.

The BC NDP has offered qualified support for LNG development, saying that any such effort must fit into the provincial climate plan, while BC Greens say the province must stop building fossil fuel infrastructure.

Carl Meyer

October 14th 2020

New technologies show potential for renewable energy job growth in Canada

“We sometimes get obsessed with the absolute number. We should be thinking about the quality and types of jobs that end up coming into a Canadian environment," says Stewart Beck, head of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

Carl Meyer

October 13th 2020

Liberals tout electric-car manufacturing as ‘critical piece’ of climate plan

Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson’s comments come as the Parliamentary Budget Office releases its latest estimates on the federal carbon tax.

Race Against Climate Change

Carl Meyer

October 9th 2020

Greens still feel ‘hurt and confusion’ over NDP attacks last election, says Paul

Newly elected Green party Leader Annamie Paul is putting the brakes on any speculation of Green-NDP co-operation in the future. “When it comes to the next election, I think it’s going to be a very clear choice and differentiation between our two parties," she says.

Carl Meyer

October 8th 2020

Annamie Paul wonders if Toronto byelection will still be held

“You get to a point where you say, 'We do not have the conditions for a free and fair and democratic election,'" says the new Green leader.

Coronavirus in Canada

Carl Meyer

October 7th 2020

Fight COVID-19 conspiracies with science literacy, says Canada’s top scientist

Chief science adviser Mona Nemer talks to Canada's National Observer about how her work changed dramatically with the pandemic and why it is important to continue paying for fundamental science to prepare for the next crisis.

Coronavirus in Canada

Carl Meyer

October 6th 2020

Solar energy firms in B.C. say market at tipping point

Industry leaders also said the Canadian playing field has become more level after Alberta and Ontario ended government rebates on solar energy upgrades.

Race Against Climate Change

Carl Meyer

October 2nd 2020

Canada in top 10 for hydropower jobs, but doesn't rank on other renewables

Clean tech advocates say there’s more to the story, in particular when it comes to the potential for manufacturing, like a recent deal to produce electric vehicles in Ontario.

Race Against Climate Change

Carl Meyer

October 2nd 2020

New data shows extent of opioid crisis across Canada

B.C. has a high rate of death per 100,000 population related to illicit drugs including opioids, compared to other parts of the country from January 2016 to March 2020.

Carl Meyer

October 1st 2020

B.C. opioid crisis spurs cross-party outrage in throne speech response

“When will the Liberals work with the provinces to help addicts obtain treatment? ... I am not talking about just some nice words buried in this throne speech," said Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge Conservative MP Marc Dalton.

Carl Meyer

September 29th 2020

TMX could be at least two months behind schedule

The non-profit Wilderness Committee says the pipeline company’s own maps and sworn affidavits indicate that it failed to start key construction this summer. And that could push the project past its December 2022 delivery date.

Trans Mountain

E. McIntosh

September 25th 2020