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

Green Party leader sounds alarm on Canada's 'humanitarian crisis'

The solutions to fix dire conditions in long-term care homes already exist — however the political will is missing, according to experts and politicians who spoke at an emergency town hall on Monday.

Yasmine Ghania

January 5th 2021

Climate denial mixing with other disinformation, analysis shows

A new coalition is monitoring the overlap of climate denial with other conspiracy theories online, and one of its founders says Canada is not immune from this new “wave of disinformation.”

Carl Meyer

January 5th 2021

Child-care advocacy group pushes feds for equitable, well-funded national system

Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen, in charge of bringing the national child-care system to life, has said it’ll need an influx of federal funds to make daycare fees more affordable and expand the number of spaces.

Yasmine Ghania

December 30th 2020

How homeowners can save energy, money from the federal government’s climate plan

In an effort to meet Canada's 2030 emissions reduction targets under the Paris Accord, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other ministers announced a plan on Dec. 11 that includes an investment of $2.6 billion over seven years to help homeowners.

Yasmine Ghania

December 29th 2020

Canada keeps options open on future U.S. auto emissions alignment

Automakers are looking to see if president-elect Joe Biden will be able to land a deal on strict new auto rules — ones that Canada could adopt.

Carl Meyer

December 24th 2020

4 environment-focused bills making their way through Parliament

An NDP MP also wants to see a national strategy on fresh water, while a Liberal MP wants another national strategy to redress environmental racism.

Carl Meyer

December 23rd 2020

Health Canada warns against unlicensed PPE company

Health Canada is urging Canadians to immediately get rid of products from an Ontario-based company selling unauthorized personal protective equipment and medical devices online.

Yasmine Ghania

December 23rd 2020

5 environment-focused bills making their way through Parliament

Several MPs are currently sponsoring bills meant to hold the government to account on its climate commitments.

Carl Meyer

December 22nd 2020

Tory MP says Liberals ‘failed’ to comply with motion on Huawei, foreign interference

Conservative MP and shadow foreign affairs critic Michael Chong said the Liberal government has “failed” to comply with a motion regarding Canada’s relationship with China adopted by the House of Commons last Friday.

Yasmine Ghania

December 22nd 2020

Boaters defying whale protections got warnings, not fines

Transport Canada confirms it has issued 159 written warnings and logged 51 verbal warnings as of this month, and that those represented the entirety of the enforcement actions it took so far this year, pending some cases still “under review.”

Carl Meyer

December 21st 2020

Automakers see juiced EV sales from closer North American co-operation

Union says cutting tailpipe emissions is worthy, but effort must include strategy that is fair to Canadian workers

Carl Meyer

December 18th 2020

Health Canada to study impact of online food ads on children

Health Canada says the main focus will be on social media “because it is a significant source of children’s exposure to food marketing … in particular on social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram.”

Yasmine Ghania

December 18th 2020

Hydrogen firm hopes federal strategy will raise technology’s profile

Hydrogen is being touted as a path to lower carbon pollution, but dozens of environmental groups are concerned Canada's new strategy relies too much on the fossil fuel industry.

Carl Meyer

December 17th 2020

Help developing nations avoid fossil fuel 'lock-in,' study urges

There will only be a “relatively modest impact” on global temperature rise if less developed countries don’t cut their emissions for now — compared to much greater consequences if developed countries delay their own decarbonization, scientists have found.

Race Against Climate Change

Carl Meyer

December 16th 2020

Senators wrestle with scope, constitutionality of assisted dying bill

The controversial Bill C-7 would expand the number of people who can access medical assistance in dying — an amendment opposed by many Conservative MPs in the House of Commons last week.

Yasmine Ghania

December 16th 2020