Catherine McKenna

Environmental groups have given the Trudeau government a passing grade on their efforts to restore protections to Canada's natural habitats — which the Liberals say are in jeopardy if the Conservatives return to power following this fall's federal election.

Ecojustice, acting on behalf of Environmental Defence staff, said it has launched the case seeking to hold the federal environment minister accountable.

A government source assembled a full list of the cancelled projects and shared it exclusively with National Observer. The leaked list reveals a wide range of initiatives set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that lost their funding, including schools, hospitals, small businesses and several social housing providers.

From our archive: National Observer spoke to several scientists about their experiences with environmental assessments on major industrial projects that got approved after their proponents submitted dubious evidence in their applications. The consultants all experienced similar pressure to overlook evidence.

The federal Liberal government is providing $15 million over four years to rescue the 50 Million Tree Program, which is the first Ontario-based environmental initiative to be funded through the Low Carbon Economy Fund. The fund had earmarked $420 million for the province to provide to energy efficiency programs and other measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Canada has become the first country to sign on to the Drive to Zero Pledge, an international initiative aimed at increasing the number of zero and low emission vehicles in the medium- and heavy-duty transportation sector.

Premier Jason Kenney, a former federal cabinet minister in the Stephen Harper government, insisted that he was a “proud Canadian” and not advocating Alberta separatism, but federal ministers suggested his claims were false and irresponsible, provoking polarization.

The federal government of Justin Trudeau took the initiative on Jason Kenney's first day in power in Alberta, offering to exempt a list of specific oilsands operations from environmental assessment if the new UCP government sticks to Rachel Notley​​​​​​​'s 100 megatonne emissions cap.

Loblaw Companies denies that the grant to make their fridges more energy efficient was awarded because of lobbying or preferential treatment, and the lobbyists in question say they never lobbied the government over the program on behalf of the company.

On a cold morning in February, dedicated elementary students gathered lichen for caribou who live in the Revelstoke maternity pen. They were told these actions are creating hope for the future — they were lied to.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has been considering an “emergency” warning from scientists about an endangered species for more than a year in a case that could have serious implications for the proposed construction of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project.

On a particularly windy Friday afternoon, thousands of students gathered outside Canada to demand a better future. Their chants echoed through the air: “We are unstoppable. Another world is possible,” they roared.

Canada passed a law to reduce emissions and waste from its operations late on Thursday, after rejecting a bid to link public servant pay to meeting environmental targets.

Canadian Environment Minister Catherine McKenna is planning to award a multimillion dollar grant to a non-profit organization that will take on a watchdog role, holding the federal government to account for its climate change commitments and policies, says a spokeswoman from her office.

As the federal and provincial governments gear up for a tense legal and political battle over climate change, Ottawa announced that it has selected an Ontario company as the first recipient of funds under its climate plan.