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.

808 Articles

Canada backs Line 3 pipeline as opposition mounts

Canadian Ambassador to the United States Kirsten Hillman has “underscored” to both federal and state-level U.S. officials the importance of “energy security and the free flow of resources over our shared border."

Carl Meyer

February 2nd 2021

Child-porn victim testifies during Day 1 of Pornhub discussions at committee

A victim of child pornography said it took more than a week for Pornhub to remove the video of her 14-year-old self, which was only made possible after she was asked multiple times to prove that it was, in fact, her in the video and that she was underage.

Yasmine Ghania

February 1st 2021

Canada looking at Australia’s experience in regulating social media

Forthcoming regulator will be able to impose "financial penalties" on digital platforms, minister confirmed.

Carl Meyer

February 1st 2021

Here’s what you need to know about Line 5, the latest pipeline fight

A legal battle has erupted over the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline that has spilled into the halls of Canada’s Parliament.

Carl Meyer

January 29th 2021

Social media companies should face new legal duty to 'act responsibly,' expert panel finds

“Any regulation needs to reflect the inherent complexity of the issue and the scale at which online platforms operate,” argues Google Canada.

Carl Meyer

January 27th 2021

Advocates, legal experts spot holes in proposed bill to ban conversion therapy

Bill C-6 passed second reading in Parliament with a vote of 308-7, however, witnesses at a meeting of the House of Commons' committee on justice and human rights wrestled with its wording and what it should encompass.

Yasmine Ghania

January 27th 2021

Humanity inseparable from nature, Indigenous leaders remind Canada-Mexico climate forum

The head of the UN Environment Programme called on Paris Agreement signatories to live up to their promise to help poorer nations better adapt to the climate crisis.

Carl Meyer

January 26th 2021

Opposition slams Trudeau’s pandemic response as Canada marks one year of COVID-19

Opposition leaders were quick to criticize Justin Trudeau’s handling of the pandemic on Monday, the one-year anniversary of the first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Canada.

Coronavirus in Canada

Yasmine Ghania

January 26th 2021

MPs urge Canada to sign UN treaty banning nuclear weapons

Members from across party lines joined forces Thursday to call on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to sign a United Nations treaty banning nuclear weapons, which takes effect Friday.

Yasmine Ghania

January 21st 2021

Feds warn against Chinese imports due to ‘forced labour’ of Uighur Muslims

Canadian companies are being told to ensure they’re not importing Chinese goods produced through the forced labour of the Uighur religious minority group.

Yasmine Ghania

January 20th 2021

Prairie provinces reportedly chipped in for new climate data hub ClimateWest

Scientists have shown the Prairies have had the strongest warming to date across southern Canada, in particular, during the winter.

Race Against Climate Change

Carl Meyer

January 20th 2021

How Biden’s plans for environmental justice will shape his climate policies

“Capitalism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, anti-migrant sentiment, Islamophobia, anti-Indigenous sentiment, racism — all these things really help to uphold climate change, rather than work to fix it,” says Indigenous Climate Action's Lindsey Bacigal.

Carl Meyer

January 19th 2021

Law should require disclosure of risks of harm to public, environment: info commissioner

The Treasury Board president had asked the commissioner for her input on how to improve the information disclosure regime, which is supposed to ensure the government is transparent and accountable to Canadians.

Carl Meyer

January 18th 2021

New York state wants a green energy ‘superhighway.’ Hydro-Québec says it can help

Hydro-Québec says it is now in a position to serve new contracts without having to build hydropower facilities, which has been a concern for some advocates.

Carl Meyer

January 15th 2021

Canada greenlights three offshore drilling projects off N.L. coast

“Legally binding conditions” on projects are meant to protect the environment, says Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson.

Carl Meyer

January 14th 2021