Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre used a wide-ranging speech in Toronto on Thursday to argue that slow permits, high taxes, changing rules and development “bans” weakened Canada’s trade position. by @matinsarfraz.bsky.social www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/26/n...
This would be ironic if it weren't just so common as to be inevitable, given the lack of interest in safety for non-car road users.
Israeli company LogiVote is pitching strategists and politicians an AI-powered campaign tool that turns voters into "digital fighters" as six provinces gear up for municipal elections in 2026. Investigation by @rorywh.bsky.social www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/24/i...
How Doug Ford is spreading surveillance tech throughout #Ontario
After scrapping speed cameras, Ford has overseen the expansion of a province-wide, cloud-based surveillance network — handing private firms control over public space.
New from @terraloire.bsky.social:
ricochet.media/labour/class...
Toronto is covered with road salt right now, which will eventually end up in the city's waterways, where it disrupts ecosystems. To get an idea of how much we're talking, I got salt figures from the city going back to the 80s: nearly 5 million tonnes. For @nationalobserver.com
The Supreme Court of Canada has overturned a one-vote win for the Liberals in Quebec's Terrebonne riding via @michelsaba.bsky.social www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/13/n...
Some great debunking work here by @natashabulowski.bsky.social and Marc Fawcett Atkinson. Just because something agrees with how you see the world, doesn't mean it's correct.
PM Carney's new auto strategy dropped Feb. 5. Out: the EV availability standard (which would have required 100% EV sales by 2035). In: a $2.3B EV rebate program and more stringent tailpipe emissions regs (aiming for 75 per cent adoption rate by 2035) www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/05/n...
"’Backwards’ was my first thought," said Cathy Holtslander, director of research and policy at the National Farmers Union. "Obviously, they made these cuts without knowing what they were doing."
I was reminded of this investigation I did with @ethancox.bsky.social and @brishti.bsky.social the other day, watching police indiscriminately attack protesters and then make up excuses after the fact. It happens here, too.
Here's what went down in court yesterday, as the province + cycling advocates both had their say before three judges at the Court of Appeal. The province was appealing a previous ruling, which found that the removal of three major bike routes in Toronto is unconstitutional. For @nationalobserver.com
Nearly 86,000 marine animals were caught up in “ghost gear” between 2020 and 2023, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) data obtained by Canada’s National Observer through an access to information request, via @rochellebaker1.bsky.social www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/16/n...
Amber Bracken & The Narwhal are suing the RCMP for wrongfully arresting and detaining her while on assignment and violating both her and the publication’s Charter rights in a high-stakes press freedom case set to unfold over the course of five weeks via @natashabulowski.bsky.social
The people demand shoe scene details!
Tim Hodgson's briefing materials reveal points of leverage and opportunities for collaboration, offering an unprecedented view into the complex terrain of major project negotiations. @woodsideful.bsky.social reports on what the provinces and territories want most.
Catherine Hickson was trying to save her geothermal company from certain death just as Kevin O'Leary was coming to town.
Then, with the announcement of the Wonder Valley data megaproject — to be powered in part by geothermal — she thought her prayers were answered.
They weren't.
This morning in Vancouver, Amber Bracken will take on the RCMP in a historic lawsuit brought by @thenarwhal.ca over her arrest while working in the field. @arnokopecky.bsky.social on why this lawsuit matters.
Job alert!! @nationalobserver.com is hiring for a backfill reporter position from Feb to October. Ottawa-based. Application link here.
The time honoured Canadian tradition of sitting in one's bathrobe, numbly watching the United States sleepwalk into something evil and stupid
green donation bar on blue backdrop showing that Canada's National Observer is 89% of the way to the $250,000 fundraising goal
Last day of the @nationalobserver.com fundraiser! We're $27,000 short of our goal for the Climate Solutions Reporting Project. If you've been thinking about donating, today's the day. Help us get this across the finish line: www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/124263
We had an awesome year @nationalobserver.com! So excited for the work we have planned for the New Year!!
NEW FROM ME:“We have a federal [industrial pricing] backstop that we should be willing to enforce if provinces aren't willing to do what they're supposed to,” said @stevenguilbeault.bsky.social “It's in federal law. I don't understand why we're not doing it." www.nationalobserver.com/2025/12/18/n...
This story is such a great example of one of the use cases for Civic Searchlight. By searching across municipalities, @natashabulowski.bsky.social was able to build a far more comprehensive picture of data centre debates than we could have done even a year ago.
Check out our Civic Searchlight tool ⬇️
civicsearchlight.nationalobserver.com#/register
Others, like Parkland County, forged ahead with bylaw amendments despite residents' dissent. @nationalobserver.com's Civic Searchlight tool helps journalists connect national and provincial policy to real people and communities. It helps us see the direct impact of policy.
It was eye-opening to see the different perspectives and similar struggles these towns and municipalities are weighing. At the same time, in regions like Rocky View County, residents' concerns about land and water use were heard loud and clear and council responded by rejecting a project proposal
"It's like the second coming of the oilpatch,” Johnson told his fellow councillors. Others I spoke to were less certain of AI data centres due to power and water consumption, but said the tax revenue -- any tax revenue -- is too significant for communities to dismiss the idea altogether.
Civic Searchlight led me to Newell County Coun. Neil Johnson, who believes AI data centres offer an opportunity too good to pass up, largely because property tax revenue (even at a favourable rate) would be a huge boon to the county's stretched budget.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's stance on AI data centres clear but municipalities & counties are a different, far more complicated story. @nationalobserver.com's Civic Searchlight tool allowed me to scan council meeting transcripts for data centre discourse: the pros, the cons and the questions
