Canada's National Observer: News & Analysis

Unchecked climate change puts Canada’s West Coast in hot water

Accelerating climate impacts on the ocean outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have localized and serious ripple effects along the B.C. coast, particularly in the Salish Sea.

Rochelle Baker

Pierre Poilievre is ‘making it fun’ for these young people to be conservative

Leader Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada are “making it fun and exciting to be a conservative again,” says one young conservative at the annual Canada Strong and Free Networking conference.

Natasha Bulowski

Today's must read

Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper gives keynote address at True North Strong and Free gathering in Ottawa on March 22, 2023. Photo by: Natasha Bulowski

John Woodside

Stephen Harper defends populism, takes aim at 'liberal elites' at Conservative gathering

The Canadian Press

Toronto MP Han Dong leaves Liberal caucus after Chinese interference allegations

Bob Weber

Alberta information commissioner to investigate oilsands tailings leak notifications

Who benefits from Ottawa’s plan to tackle food insecurity?

The Canadian Press

Pierre Poilievre to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden in Ottawa

Alberta just stepped on a rake — again

Mark Zacharias & Daniel Breton

Automakers have good reason to hate Canada’s EV target

Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood & David Macdonald

Whither the NDP-Liberal agreement?

Features

Health experts warn the strain of avian influenza viruses is changing in ways that raise concerns it could potentially drive another pandemic. Photo by Martin Vorel

Abdul Matin Sarfraz

Avian flu is spreading in wild animals. Here’s how to stay safe

Wanjohi Kabukuru

African nations contemplate swapping debt for climate funding

Matt Reynolds

Don’t just save the adorable animals

Canada Now

June Sekera

Carbon capture won’t fix our climate problem

Federal Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault responded to UN Secretary General António Guterres' call for wealthy countries to accelerate their net-zero commitments. File photo by Natasha Bulowski / Canada's National Observer

Natasha Bulowski

Canada will take a ‘long, hard look’ at upping its climate target, Guilbeault says following IPCC report

Canada’s only underground coal mine is back in business — and emissions rules don’t apply

Nova Scotia's Donkin coal mine reopened this week. But it won't be required to follow federal cap-and-trade rules, meaning greenhouse gas emissions from the site will continue unchecked.

Cloe Logan

These Nova Scotians can hear their neighbour — a coal mine — 8 kilometres away

Cloe Logan

The B.C.-based Very Good Food Company, once a darling of Canada's plant-based meat scene, closed last month, prompting worries about the industry's future. Photo provided by Mitchell Scott

The collapse of the Very Good Food Company

Marc Fawcett-Atkinson

Researchers have found that adding some types of seaweed to cattle feed can help reduce the methane emitted from their gut. Photo by Jesse Winter/National Observer

Debt-plagued Trans Mountain Corp. bought carbon credits from obscure seaweed cattle feed company that isn’t operating

Marc Fawcett-Atkinson

Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard reads his budget speech, on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at the legislature in Quebec City. Photo by The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot

Jacob Serebrin

Quebec cuts taxes and predicts drop in economic growth

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith leaves following a meeting on health care with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada's premiers, in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Ottawa. File photo by The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Dean Bennett

Alberta premier promises change to ensure prompt reporting of oilsands spills

The Canadian Press

B.C. salmon farms file court challenge to federal shutdown

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, February 13, 2023. File photo by The Canadian Press/ Patrick Doyle

Nojoud Al Mallees

Climate group urges Ottawa to step up with home grown U.S. Inflation Reduction Act

Investigation: Past safety violations loom large over reopening of Canadian coal mine

More than a dozen roof cave-ins, 152 warnings, 119 compliance orders, 37 administrative penalties and a series of provincial stop-work orders. Nova Scotia's Donkin coal mine reopened this week, begging the question: what has changed?

Cloe Logan

When Sheryl McCumsey set out to learn about the health and environmental impacts of pesticides used in Canada, she did not expect a wild goose chase. Photo provided by Sheryl McCumsey

Cross-country flights, confidentiality affidavits and handwritten notes. One woman’s Byzantine quest to see Ottawa’s pesticide data

Marc Fawcett-Atkinson

Canada's plastics problem