Robert Cribb

Investigative Reporter at the Toronto Star Toronto

Robert Cribb is an investigative reporter with The Toronto Star and director of the Investigative Journalism Bureau at the University of Toronto. He has received national reporting awards and citations for investigations into offshore tax evasion, child exploitation, human trafficking, dangerous doctors and public-health threats. Reach him on Twitter @thecribby.

16 Articles

Across North America, climate change is disrupting a generation's mental health

Climate change-induced angst is helping fuel growing youth mental health instability across North America, according to a cross-border investigation involving more than 70 journalists, academics and students across Canada and the U.S.

By David McKie, Declan Keogh, Charlie Buckley & Robert Cribb | Investigations | December 2nd 2020

Liberal MPs call on government to tackle ‘national public health crisis’ of lead in drinking water

An open letter written by Hamilton MP Bob Bratina says the government “can and must” direct a portion of infrastructure spending designed to revitalize the post-COVID-19 economy into the “national public health crisis we face in the form of lead-contaminated drinking water.”

Tainted Water

By Robert Cribb | News | July 15th 2020

A key cause of high lead levels: Corrosive water

Luckily, there's a way to fix it.

Tainted Water

By Robert Cribb & Michael Wrobel | Investigations | November 4th 2019

Toxins in Saskatchewan were 'off the charts'

"Off the chart" toxic releases in Saskatchewan have been going unpunished for years. Provincial air quality standards have been breached hundreds of times since 2014, but those living nearby were not warned and oil companies responsible for some of the emissions have faced no charges or fines.

The Price of Oil

By Robert Cribb, Patti Sonntag, Michael Wrobel, Patricia W. Elliott & Carolyn Jarvis | News, Energy, Politics | October 16th 2018

Oilpatch fires 'warning shot' at Trudeau Liberals

The political implications of a new oilpatch advertising campaign has prompted at least one political insider to call it “a warning shot” from one of Canada’s largest and most powerful lobby groups for the upcoming federal election.

The Price of Oil

By Fatima Syed & Robert Cribb | Investigations, Energy, Politics | July 5th 2018

Abbotsford Conservative MP Ed Fast takes part in a development and sustainability panel during the Manning Networking Conference in Ottawa on Feb. 10, 2018. Photo by Alex Tétreault

Canada's toxic refinery emissions 'wake-up call' to MPs

The federal government is failing to protect Canadians from toxic refinery emissions pumped into the air at rates far above those in the United States, opposition politicians said Thursday in response to a Toronto Star/Global News/National Observer investigation. Federal MPs said they were shocked and troubled by the findings.

The Price of Oil

By Robert Cribb, Carolyn Jarvis, Rebecca Lindell & Trish Audette-Longo | News, Energy, Politics | May 3rd 2018

Chevron, Parkland, B.C., refineries, Canada, United States, Environment Canada

Pollution from Canadian refineries an ‘embarrassment’ compared to U.S.

The average Canadian refinery produced less oil while emitting substantially higher rates of sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides compared with the U.S. average in 2014, the data shows from a joint investigation by National Observer, Global News and The Toronto Star.

The Price of Oil

By Robert Cribb, Carolyn Jarvis & Andrew Bailey | News, Energy, Politics | May 2nd 2018

Carey Baker, Unity, Saskatchewan, Tervita

This oilpatch town was overcome by a mystery gas. Now its residents are asking, what made us sick?

“Overwhelming” one resident called it. “Disgusting,” said another who inhaled the smell wafting through this western Saskatchewan town of 2,500 on Jan. 2.

The Price of Oil

By Robert Cribb | News, Energy | January 31st 2018

Jeff Crawford, Saskatchewan, sour gas, hydrogen sulfide, Mullen, Cona Resources

Toxic gas nearly killed this oil worker. His employer never told the province

Two years after Saskatchewan government and oil and gas industry officials discovered a string of 'serious infractions' related to dangerous hydrogen sulfide gas, Jeff Crawford, an unsuspecting oilpatch worker swallowed a toxic soup containing the substance. His life has never been the same.

The Price of Oil

By Robert Cribb | News, Energy, Politics | December 21st 2017

Saskatchewan, H2S, Price of Oil, Oxbow, pumpjack, flarestack,

A call to arms for public interest journalism in Canada

For years, amid troubling emission data and oil facility failures, they debated whether to share this information with the public. In the end, it was not shared. Until we published it.

State of Journalism

By Robert Cribb | Analysis, Energy, Politics | October 24th 2017