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.

815 Articles

Feds reintroduce changes to Canada’s most important environmental law

The Liberals are again pushing for changes to Canada's cornerstone environmental law, as Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced Wednesday that a bill seeking to update the legislation was introduced in the Senate.

Natasha Bulowski

February 10th 2022

To axe fossil fuel subsidies, Canada needs a new approach: report

Right now, many government policies work against Canada’s best climate, economic and social interests, and to fix this, a new report says we need to address the elephant in the room: fossil fuel subsidies.

Natasha Bulowski

February 9th 2022

Wet’suwet’en want UN spotlight on Coastal GasLink crisis

Gidimt’en land defenders are calling for the United Nations to visit Wet’suwet’en unceded territory to witness the alleged violation of Indigenous rights.

John Woodside

February 8th 2022

NDP wants to extend consultation on shipping terminal that poses risks to shorebirds

The NDP wants Canadians to have more time to weigh in on a proposed Metro Vancouver shipping terminal that Environment Canada scientists warn would have disastrous environmental impacts.

Natasha Bulowski

February 7th 2022

Jagmeet Singh calls for emergency debate on Ottawa trucker occupation

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, is calling for an emergency debate on how to handle the truckers convoy occupying the nation’s capital.

Natasha Bulowski

February 7th 2022

Elizabeth May puts environmental racism back on the House agenda

Elizabeth May is taking the fight to address environmental racism back to the House after a Liberal MP’s bill died on the order paper last fall.

Natasha Bulowski

February 7th 2022

Canadians want a clean energy economy and believe the significance of oil will recede, polling shows

Most Canadians think clean energy is critical for Canada’s economy and its importance will only grow over time while the significance of oil and gas will recede, according to a poll released Thursday.

Natasha Bulowski

February 4th 2022

Conservatives dispense with Erin O'Toole leadership in speedy, brutal ouster

Erin O’Toole’s fall from grace within the Conservative Party of Canada was no surprise, but the speed and brutality of his ousting jarred even seasoned political scientists.

Natasha Bulowski

February 2nd 2022

93-year-old father of Canadian climate science reflects on the most consequential events of his career

Since the 1950s, Jim Bruce has played a role in some of the most consequential events in climate science at home and abroad. At 93, the renowned climate scientist gives Canada's National Observer his take on what it will take to pull human society out of its death spiral.

John Woodside

February 2nd 2022

NDP MP Charlie Angus cites Canada’s ‘failure to hold the oil industry accountable for the massive amounts of taxpayer money’

The party's natural resources critic wrote to Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson on Jan. 27 after recent reports found the federal government's climate change funding for oil and gas companies amounts to little more than fossil fuel subsidies.

Natasha Bulowski

February 2nd 2022

Environment Canada warned port expansion puts shorebirds at risk, but feds withheld final comments from review panel

A document from Environment Canada that warned of disastrous environmental impacts was withheld from a key stage of an environmental assessment for a proposed Metro Vancouver shipping terminal.

Natasha Bulowski

February 1st 2022

MPs worry anti-vaxxer convoy has taken a turn for the worse

A convoy of truckers is en route to Ottawa to protest vaccine mandates, but some politicians say the protest has taken on a life of its own and are concerned about possible violence on Saturday.

Natasha Bulowski

January 28th 2022

Tories stoke ‘freedom convoy’ fire as truckers head for Ottawa

Conservative MPs are stoking the anti-vaccination fire by voicing support for a convoy of truckers driving across Canada to converge on Parliament Hill.

Natasha Bulowski

January 26th 2022

Canadians want climate-friendly home renovations — and it’s more than Ottawa can handle

Canadian homeowners are lining up for federal dollars to make their homes more energy efficient, but experts say without additional programs, there’s a risk people won’t pursue the renovations needed to help Canada cut its greenhouse gas emissions.

Natasha Bulowski

January 26th 2022

An explosive report on one of the largest carbon capture and storage facilities in Alberta

Carbon capture’s questionable numbers spell concern for Canada’s hydrogen plans

John Woodside

January 26th 2022