Emma McIntosh
Reporter | Toronto |
English
About Emma McIntosh
Emma McIntosh has covered environment, energy and national news. She covered misinformation and disinformation in the 2019 federal election. She has reported for StarMetro Calgary, the Toronto Star and the Calgary Herald as well as Canada's National Observer. A former Seattle-ite and dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, Emma graduated from Ryerson University's undergraduate journalism program in 2018.
She has focused on investigative journalism since 2017. Emma also covered the Alberta provincial election in April 2019. Projects she's worked on have been shortlisted for multiple national awards, including a National Newspaper Award, the Canadian Hillman Prize and CJF Jackman Award for Excellence.
Ford government approves 6 new zoning orders despite public backlash
Three of the new ministerial zoning orders involve environmental concerns, an Observer analysis shows. “We will never stop issuing MZOs for the people of Ontario,” Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday.
Developer donated to PCs days before bill cleared the way for Durham Live
The developers behind the controversial Durham Live project donated nearly $5,000 to the Progressive Conservatives days before the government made two moves to enable a warehouse to go on top of a protected wetland. Meanwhile, environmental groups asked a court Monday to block the developers from receiving a permit.
The developer behind bid to build on a protected Ontario wetland
The contentious Durham Live project was proposed by a billionaire family keen on building a ‘mini Las Vegas.’ Before that, they were best known for a failed bid to turn the Silverdome arena in Detroit, Mich., into the home of a soccer franchise.
Ontario expanding zoning powers to dodge lawsuit: internal document
On Thursday, the Ford government introduced a bill that would expand its ability to use controversial land zoning orders. An internal document obtained by Canada’s National Observer shows the move is aimed at quashing a lawsuit that seeks to halt a casino development on a protected Pickering wetland.
Alberta doctor who blew the whistle on cancer in the oilsands wins award
Dr. John O’Connor faced years of backlash after raising concerns in 2006 about unusually high numbers of cancer cases in communities downstream of the oilsands. Now, he has been awarded the first-ever Peter Bryce Prize for whistleblowing from Ryerson University's Centre for Free Expression.
How communities are fighting Doug Ford’s special zoning orders
As more Ontario communities contend with unwanted ministerial zoning orders, a playbook for how to oppose them is emerging: build a coalition, do your own research and keep the pressure high.
Ford government, opposition spar over Line 5 pipeline
The NDP, Greens and Liberals questioned why the PCs would want to spend the afternoon talking about Line 5 while key questions about COVID-19 vaccine rollout remained unresolved. Though the Ford government pointed to the need to preserve petrochemical jobs, critics said vaccines are the best way to help the economy.
Ford government defends use of controversial land zoning orders
Under fire during question period Tuesday, the Ford government didn’t address criticism about the environmental impact of MZOs, the subject of a Canada's National Observer investigation released last week. But PC MPP Parm Gill said the government “will not apologize.” Later, the government announced renewed funding for the Greenbelt Foundation, which critics said was a distraction.
Opposition parties vow to undo Ford’s conservation authority changes
The Ford government gutted the powers of conservation authorities in 2020. The Ontario Liberals, NDP and Greens have all pledged to undo that change if they win the next election, and to revoke any permits issued under the weaker rules.
Ford government announces plan to expand Greenbelt
The announcement comes the day after an investigation by Canada’s National Observer showed the Ford government has been using a controversial special zoning order to give the green light to developments in environmentally sensitive areas. Several allowed projects in close proximity to the Greenbelt, which experts say can degrade the protected land.