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.

809 Articles

After Meng ruling, Trudeau stresses Canada’s ‘independent judicial system’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comments came after the Chinese Embassy expressed its “firm opposition” to the Meng ruling and accused Canada of acting as an “accomplice” of the United States, urging the nation “not to go further down the wrong path.”

Carl Meyer

May 29th 2020

Meng Wanzhou denied early exit from extradition process by B.C. court

The 23-page ruling avoids the larger question of the Crown’s allegations of fraud connected with the Chinese tech giant executive.

Carl Meyer

May 27th 2020

Canada Post tests the waters for postal banking with pilot projects, funding for study

Canada Post will allocate up to $500,000 to a committee that will look at how rural post offices in places like the B.C. islands could offer services such as money transfers or cashing government cheques.

Coronavirus in Canada

Carl Meyer

May 26th 2020

Airports say they are mostly shut out from new loan program

The Vancouver Airport Authority, one of only four airports that does qualify, according to the Canadian Airports Council, won't be taking advantage of the program "at this time," it confirmed to National Observer.

Coronavirus in Canada

Carl Meyer

May 22nd 2020

Airports could benefit from new large business loan program, says Morneau

Airports were singled out multiple times by government sources on Wednesday as Finance Minister Bill Morneau unveiled the details of the federal Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility.

Coronavirus in Canada

Carl Meyer

May 21st 2020

Three provinces start to reopen

A rundown of the different ways Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia are opening up.

Coronavirus in Canada

May 19th 2020

B.C. prepares for phase 2 of reopening as U.S. border remains shut

For businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry, the uncertainty over when the border will reopen is making it hard to plan for the future.

Coronavirus in Canada

Carl Meyer

May 15th 2020

B.C. gun groups want courts to clear the air after Trudeau firearms ban

“Who are we to believe? The law? Different authorities’ different interpretations of the law?" wondered a vice-president of the BC Wildlife Federation.

Carl Meyer

May 15th 2020

B.C. special prosecutor ‘stands behind’ decision against charges in political donors probe

Democracy Watch had called on Butcher to reverse his decision, arguing he had “exaggerated” the RCMP's own conclusions about its investigation.

Carl Meyer

May 13th 2020

Wood pellets from clear-cut, old-growth forests may not be carbon neutral

Clear-cutting old-growth forests to produce wood pellets to replace fossil fuels in electricity generation would release more carbon into the atmosphere than it would save “for many decades,” according to a new scientific study.

Race Against Climate Change

Carl Meyer

May 12th 2020

Use pandemic to 'future-proof' against climate crisis, academic group urges

"You’re taking a population that’s been suffering this year, and then you don’t want to put that population more at risk," says a biology professor who organized initiative.

Coronavirus in Canada

Carl Meyer

May 7th 2020

B.C. hopeful COVID-19 restrictions will mean fewer human-caused wildfires

“Definitely this year, with a possible change in human activity, we might have a possible change in fire numbers and area burned," says one federal fire research analyst.

Coronavirus in Canada

Carl Meyer

May 6th 2020

Feds vow to fix gap in commercial rent-relief program

The gap in the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program was highlighted on Tuesday by two members of Parliament during a meeting of the House of Commons government operations committee.

Coronavirus in Canada

Carl Meyer

May 5th 2020

B.C. groups divided by Trudeau’s ‘assault-style’ firearms ban

Trudeau's move is being praised by a Vancouver-based anti-violence group as a “long overdue” step but denounced by hunting and fishing clubs as a wrong-headed approach to public safety.

Carl Meyer

May 2nd 2020

Energy regulator calls Coldwater's TMX hearing concerns ‘premature’

Coldwater Chief Lee Spahan has asked the federal government to intervene with an aquifer study, saying Trans Mountain was moving ahead despite the reserve being on lockdown due to COVID-19.

Trans Mountain

Carl Meyer

May 1st 2020