Jun 14 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — Pipeline incidents like oil spills are on the rise across Canada, and an aging Montreal-Ontario line that has been plagued with safety problems and leaks is a major reason why, says a new report released Thursday. In 2017, there were 41 per cent more pipeline incidents nationwide than in 2016 — 173 compared to 122 […]
Jun 5 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — Environmental policy experts are watching to see if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can deliver a strong outcome on climate change at this week’s G7, as the U.S. continues to avoid consensus deals and Canada faces backlash over its pipeline purchase announcement. The issue of climate at the summit in Charlevoix, Que. remains front and centre […]
May 31 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — A Crown corporation that provides support for Canadian exports is trying to figure out what to do next after the government announced the agency would help taxpayers buy a controversial oil pipeline system on the west coast that is slated to expand. The Government of Canada reached out to Export Development Canada (EDC), the agency […]
May 30 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — With less than two weeks to go before Canada hosts the world’s seven big economies, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is being urged to push the United States over its climate change stance and stop the Trump administration from blowing up the summit. An environmental group that witnessed pre-summit talks on Monday said that Canada […]
May 23 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — The pro-pipeline signs unloaded in bulk from a car in front of Parliament Hill were too many for those in the small crowd who wanted to hold one, and unused ones kept getting blown over in the wind. Still, the blustery weather didn’t deter Bernard Hancock, a former roughneck in Alberta’s oil patch, from stepping […]
May 22 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Newswatch — Alberta’s environment minister says there is a steadfast, “non-factual, vicious form” of climate denial among those on the right of the political spectrum. But she insists that most Albertans are “progressive folks” who share the government’s view that climate change is real and action is warranted.
May 14 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — Facebook has suspended roughly 200 apps out of thousands it has investigated, as it continues to try and dig itself out from the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. The social media giant gave an update Monday on its investigation, first announced March 21, into applications that vacuumed up large amounts of personal information from its platform […]
May 10 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — Alberta is rolling out an advertising campaign primarily targeting British Columbians to drum up support for the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion. Premier Rachel Notley announced Thursday that the province is spending $1.2-million to convince the public that Texas-based Kinder Morgan’s proposed pipeline linking Alberta oil producers to a terminal in Metro Vancouver would benefit […]
Apr 26 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — Canada’s fossil fuel industry will soon have to make sure a potent form of its carbon pollution doesn’t escape from its operations, in order to protect the environment, clean the air and save over 10 billion dollars in avoided climate change costs, according to new federal rules. The Trudeau government published long-awaited regulations on fossil […]
Apr 20 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — Large portions of Canada’s vast boreal forest could be at risk of dying off by the end of the century, as climate change will dramatically aggravate the risk of wildfires, drought and insect infestations, say government scientists in a groundbreaking new study.
Apr 19 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — Ontario’s Green Party leader says he has something in common with Elizabeth May, and it’s not just their political allegiance. Speaking to National Observer in a recent interview, Mike Schreiner said that he, too, is willing to be arrested to stop proposed mega-projects that could impact sensitive ecological areas.
Apr 11 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — Salwan Bahia smiled warmly on a cold winter day. “It’ll be a lot more convenient,” said the 18-year old university student, as he waited for his bus from a downtown Ottawa shopping mall on Dec. 18, 2017. “There’ll be no more traffic, so it’ll be better for me.”
Apr 6 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — Facebook says it has suspended Canadian political consultancy AggregateIQ from its platform, after reports emerged alleging its involvement in a global controversy over misuse of personal social media information for political ends.
Apr 2 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — The Trump administration has announced new plans to weaken environmental rules that could place the Trudeau government in a climate change bind. The announcement by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt, that proposes to weaken tailpipe pollution standards on new cars, delivers another Trump-era shock to Canada, which has worked for years with the […]
Mar 27 2018 — Carl Meyer — National Observer — Canada’s chief science advisor wants to send Canada’s public servants back to school so they can learn how to properly use evidence in their decisions and policies. Mona Nemer, brought on by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government to safeguard public access to government science, said in an interview Monday her office is working with […]