Ottawa Insider

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

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808 Articles

A marmot stands up on its hind legs with its front legs on a box

Canada outlines state of wild species ahead of Montreal biodiversity conference

At least 2,253 species are at risk of being wiped out, according to a comprehensive new report on the status of wild plants, animals, insects and fungi in Canada.

Natasha Bulowski

November 29th 2022

portrait of a man wearing a jacket and scarf with the background out of focus

Updated lobbyists' code sent to House committee. Critics say changes ‘gut ethical lobbying rules’

Proposed changes to the Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct are ready to be examined and approved by the parliamentary ethics committee before coming into force after two years and three rounds of consultations.

Natasha Bulowski

November 29th 2022

Hydrogen project, lithium company net cash from feds' net-zero accelerator

A hydrogen project and an Alberta-based lithium company are the two most recent beneficiaries of federal funding aimed at helping industries with high greenhouse gas emissions cut back on pollution and develop clean technology.

Natasha Bulowski

November 29th 2022

photo of the ontario teachers' federation sign

Ontario teachers decry new pension board members with oil and gas ties

The boards of Canada’s largest pension funds are already inundated with fossil fuel connections and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is about to add a former executive with ongoing ties to the industry to the mix.

Financing disaster

Natasha Bulowski

November 28th 2022

An older man stands in a black raincoat and gestures, with a great expanse of flooded land visible in the background.

Canada’s $1.6-billion climate adaptation plan includes updated flood maps, preventing wildfires, and helping you battle extreme heat

Canada’s much-anticipated roadmap to weather the impacts of climate change is out, and it includes $1.6 billion in new spending to fortify infrastructure, protect human health and predict future risks.

Natasha Bulowski

November 24th 2022

Feds to provide money upfront for lower-income Canadians who want to trade oil heating for electric

The federal government recently announced a new grant to help lower-income homeowners switch from carbon-intensive oil heating to efficient heat pumps by removing cost barriers and layering programs.

Natasha Bulowski

November 23rd 2022

The Green Party has two new leaders. Will their shared vision get the party back on its feet?

Low voter turnout in its leadership race reflects the multiple challenges the federal Green Party has faced in recent years, political scientists say.

Natasha Bulowski

November 22nd 2022

A herd of sea lions poke their heads out of the water

Feds to tweak underwater noise rules for sea lions after West Coast LNG project complains

Construction on the Woodfibre LNG project in Squamish, B.C., is set to take off in 2023 but the “curious and gregarious” nature of sea lions could make the construction “neither technically nor economically feasible.”

Natasha Bulowski

November 21st 2022

Canadian Gas Association under investigation for alleged greenwashing

A prominent natural gas industry lobby group is being investigated by Canada’s Competition Bureau for alleged greenwashing one month after health-care workers raised the alarm over one of its advertising campaigns.

Climate of denial

Natasha Bulowski

November 10th 2022

A clean-shaven man in a blue suit speaks, with a woman slightly out of focus in the background

Trudeau government takes first steps to cement its cornerstone climate policy

The fall economic statement included the first concrete steps to future-proof Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s key climate legacy: carbon pricing.

Natasha Bulowski

November 8th 2022

No gusher of cash for carbon capture in feds’ fall fiscal update

Oil and gas companies that pushed the federal government for more funding for carbon capture technology will be sorely disappointed by the fall economic statement.

Natasha Bulowski

November 4th 2022

A woman standing at a podium gestures with one arm, pointing forwards as she speaks

Will Freeland’s fall fiscal update spell relief for sticker-shocked Canadians?

Canada’s finance minister will present a fiscal look-ahead Thursday as Canadians grapple with high inflation and an impending recession.

Natasha Bulowski

November 2nd 2022

A person suffers in Vancouver's extreme heat, a blue cooler is visible in the background.

Our fossil fuel addiction is killing us

Persistent overdependence on fossil fuels — globally and at home — is jeopardizing the health of Canadians and people in all corners of the world, researchers warn.

Natasha Bulowski

October 25th 2022

Close up of a checkout at a grocery store, with the cashiers hands visible scanning items

Competition Bureau to take a hard look at grocers as Canadians face high food prices

Canada’s Competition Bureau is launching a study on the grocery store sector as food prices rise at the fastest rate in 40 years.

Natasha Bulowski

October 24th 2022

An aerial photo showing deforestation, with heavy mahcinery clearing round on one side of a road and vegetation on the other side

Company set to gobble up another Canadian forestry operation is controlled by Indonesian conglomerate: report

A massive wood pulp producer with ties to a conglomerate responsible for destroying huge swaths of Indonesian rainforest is set to acquire yet another Canadian forestry company in two weeks' time.

Natasha Bulowski

October 24th 2022