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

Fighting climate change and inequality go hand in hand, NDP’s Laurel Collins says

Canada’s National Observer asked federal NDP environment and climate change critic Laurel Collins about key issues in the upcoming federal election, and how Canada can respond to the climate crisis.

Election 2021

Natasha Bulowski

September 1st 2021

What you need to know about the Fairy Creek protests

The Fairy Creek protests over old-growth logging on Vancouver Island are quickly becoming the face of a much broader conflict between environmental goals and economic forces. How did it get to this point?

Election 2021

John Woodside

August 31st 2021

Liberals pledge $2 billion to aid just transition

The Liberal Party’s climate plan includes commitments for a just transition and new funding to support fossil fuel-reliant provinces, but one oilpatch worker-led organization says the plan falls short of what is needed.

Election 2021

Natasha Bulowski

August 31st 2021

At risk of another arrest, Maxime Bernier will steer clear of most of Atlantic Canada

People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier is on an East Coast tour, but because he chooses not to be vaccinated, is unable to campaign in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, or Prince Edward Island without following COVID-19 isolation rules.

Election 2021

John Woodside

August 27th 2021

Annamie Paul wants voters to back a ‘green rush’ to climate action

Canada’s National Observer asked federal Green Party Leader Annamie Paul about hot-button issues in the upcoming election, and what Canada needs to focus on to tackle the climate crisis.

Election 2021

Natasha Bulowski

August 25th 2021

Feds pledge support for B.C.’s old-growth forests as RCMP crack down on activists

As activists opposed to old-growth logging were dragged and pepper-sprayed by the RCMP in Fairy Creek over the weekend, the federal Liberal Party promised to protect old-growth forests in British Columbia.

Election 2021

John Woodside

August 25th 2021

Jagmeet Singh promises to kill fossil fuel subsidies

If elected, the federal NDP would identify fossil fuel subsidies, eliminate them “once and for all,” and spend the money on the renewable energy sector, Leader Jagmeet Singh said on the campaign trail Monday morning.

Election 2021

Natasha Bulowski

August 23rd 2021

Justin Trudeau promises $6B for health care. NDP says it’s heard that before

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau was in Halifax on Monday promising $6 billion in new health-care spending if re-elected to be used to hire thousands of doctors and reduce wait times.

Election 2021

John Woodside

August 23rd 2021

Annamie Paul talks net-zero plans, but critics push for more details on climate

Green Party Leader Annamie Paul stressed the importance of Canada quickly reaching net-zero emissions at a press conference Friday, but critics say they want to see more details from the climate-focused party.

Election 2021

John Woodside

August 20th 2021

Nova Scotia election proved voters looking past the pandemic

Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative win over the Liberals on Tuesday night has officially toppled any notion that incumbents can coast to re-election.

Election 2021

John Woodside

August 19th 2021

Election 2021: Your last-minute guide to where the parties stand on climate action

Climate change will almost certainly be top of mind in the upcoming election after a summer of intense heat waves has left apartment dwellers roasting with no relief and wildfires are sweeping through Ontario and B.C.’s rural communities.

Election 2021

Natasha Bulowski

August 18th 2021

Canada’s oil and gas sector filled up on federal COVID emergency cash

At a time when climate science demands a rapid transition off fossil fuels, Ottawa approved more than $1.3 billion for oil and gas companies through the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

Race Against Climate Change

John Woodside

August 13th 2021

Innu Nation sues N.L. and Canada over Muskrat Falls deal

In the wake of the massive Muskrat Falls bailout, the Innu Nation is suing the federal and Newfoundland and Labrador governments in an attempt to protect benefits the nation negotiated from being wiped out.

John Woodside

August 12th 2021

Since Paris was signed, our banks have funded climate chaos to the tune of $700B

Canadian banks have financed oil, gas, and coal companies to the tune of nearly $700 billion since the Paris Agreement was signed, and could be more at risk than they’re letting on.

Race Against Climate Change

John Woodside

August 11th 2021

Wait time for MRIs, imaging services have Canadians paying for their pain

Facing unbearable hip pain and more than a year-long wait list for an MRI in 2020, Judy Duchscher felt she had no choice but to pay $1,500 to get the scan done privately.

Natasha Bulowski

August 10th 2021