Ottawa Insider

Natasha Bulowski reports from Ottawa with a slant on how federal policy is impacting British Columbians.

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814 Articles

Brick buyildings and smoke stacks of the Chalk River nuclear laboratory are visible from the river on a bright, sunny day

Radioactive waste site in Chalk River a go

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has greenlit a proposed nuclear waste storage facility in Chalk River, Ont., after a years-long battle waged by concerned citizens, environmentalists and First Nations.

Natasha Bulowski

January 9th 2024

a group of muddy looking people walking through a thin forest carrying bags of tree saplings to be planted

Improving the path to plant two billion trees

One-fifth of tree-planting projects funded by the federal government's two billion trees program are Indigenous-led, and there will soon be more thanks to a new funding stream specifically for Indigenous project proposals.

Natasha Bulowski

January 9th 2024

three construction workers wearing hard hats and sunglasses talking

Climate training for construction workers coming soon

Canada’s Building Trades Union is setting out to up the entire building industry’s climate knowledge with a new training initiative focused on the role of the trades in addressing and adapting to climate change.

Natasha Bulowski

December 28th 2023

a playground in the foreground and Enbridge oil and gas terminal in the background

Ford fights energy board on behalf of developers

Doug Ford’s government is pledging to reverse an Ontario Energy Board decision that would disincentivize the use of gas in new housing developments.

Natasha Bulowski

December 22nd 2023

Hot-potato bill on farm fuel back on MPs’ docket in new year

A bill that would exempt fuels used for heating livestock barns, greenhouses and drying grain from the carbon pricing regime has been amended to only apply to grain drying. The proposed exemption will now end after three years instead of eight.

Natasha Bulowski

December 18th 2023

a man in a suit sits at a wooden table before a committee meeting begins

Imperial Oil CEO gets third degree at federal committee

As Brad Corson was grilled at the federal environment committee for a second time, the CEO of Imperial Oil continued to insist a massive tailings leak in northern Alberta did not harm drinking water or wildlife.

Natasha Bulowski

December 15th 2023

New guide shows feds the path to sustainable jobs future

While the sustainable jobs act moves through the House of commons, Canada’s largest labour organization and an Alberta-based think tank have set their sights on what comes next.

Natasha Bulowski

December 14th 2023

The oily backroom campaign to sink the federal emissions cap

The federal government faced fierce external pressure to abandon or weaken its plan to cap oil and gas sector emissions from provincial governments and industry lobby groups in the lead-up to its announcement last week.

December 13th 2023

Nature protection targets to become law

The federal government’s pledge to protect a third of Canada’s land and water by 2030 will be put into legislation next year, says federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault.

Natasha Bulowski

December 12th 2023

Sustainable jobs act heads back to the House after chaos in committee

During a chaotic, eight-hour-long natural resources committee meeting, the sustainable jobs act was amended and sent back to the House of Commons for debate.

Natasha Bulowski

December 8th 2023

Alberta premier’s methane outrage mystifies oilsands group

The alliance head of Canada’s major oilsands producers says he is "a bit mystified" by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s reaction to the federal government's plan to cut methane emissions.

Natasha Bulowski

December 7th 2023

Canada’s new methane regulations ‘critical’ step despite years of delay

Canada set a high bar globally when the country announced new standards Monday to crack down on planet-warming methane emissions, say observers.

Natasha Bulowski

December 5th 2023

Canada’s competition laws need more power over green claims

A handful of proposed changes to Canada's Competition Act are good first steps to crack down on corporate greenwashing, but it still needs enforcement measures with teeth, environmental groups say.

Climate of denial

Natasha Bulowski

December 4th 2023

Liberal motion will ensure Conservative stalling won’t stop sustainable jobs act

The Liberal government is trying to get its sustainable jobs legislation through a month-long Conservative filibuster as frustration mounts among MPs and labour unions.

Natasha Bulowski

November 30th 2023

Déjà vu and heavy criticism for Alberta Energy Regulator at federal environment committee

Critical questions about tailing pond leaks at Imperial Oil’s Kearl facility are still unanswered after the second round of testimony by the Alberta Energy Regulator president, say some MPs.

Natasha Bulowski

November 29th 2023