David Thurton

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from David Thurton.

Out on a limb: Ottawa is falling behind on its promise to plant 2 billion trees

Out on a limb: Ottawa is falling behind on its promise to plant 2 billion trees

The federal government did not meet the targets for its program to plant two billion trees during the program's third...

Greenpeace protesters arrested outside Poilievre's official residence

Greenpeace protesters arrested outside Poilievre's official residence

Greenpeace activists chained themselves to a mockup of oil-extraction equipment outside the official residence of the Official Opposition leader Thursday...

Internal report describes a 'cesspool of racism' in the federal public service

Internal report describes a 'cesspool of racism' in the federal public service

An internal report on workplace racism and harassment at the highest levels of the federal public service shows that not...

China, Saudi Arabia should pay up to help the planet cope with climate change: Guilbeault

China, Saudi Arabia should pay up to help the planet cope with climate change: Guilbeault

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said Wednesday he wants China and Saudi Arabia to contribute money to international efforts to help...

Oil and gas emissions cap at risk if Bloc and NDP trigger early election, Guilbeault warns

Oil and gas emissions cap at risk if Bloc and NDP trigger early election, Guilbeault warns

Environment minister to announce more details on Monday about draft regulations. As regulations for the federal government's oil and gas...

What a ruling by Ontario's top court could mean for the future of climate litigation

What a ruling by Ontario's top court could mean for the future of climate litigation

In what some have called a game-changing decision, an Ontario court has ruled that the provincial government's weakened climate target...

Canada's budget watchdog re-ran the numbers on the carbon tax - and found the same thing

Canada's budget watchdog re-ran the numbers on the carbon tax - and found the same thing

Parliamentary Budget Officer re-did its analysis after it made an 'inadvertent error.' After making an "inadvertent error," Canada's independent budget...

Canada 'seriously' considering high-speed rail link between Toronto and Quebec City: minister

Canada 'seriously' considering high-speed rail link between Toronto and Quebec City: minister

The federal government is "seriously" considering building the country's first high-speed rail link between Quebec City and Toronto, says Public...

Canada should slash carbon emissions by up to 55 per cent, says climate advisory body

Canada should slash carbon emissions by up to 55 per cent, says climate advisory body

A panel of experts advising the federal government on climate policy says Canada should at minimum cut its carbon emissions...

Germany warns Canada that Europe's appetite for natural gas is set to shrink

Germany warns Canada that Europe's appetite for natural gas is set to shrink

Berlin’s climate envoy says Germany wants green energy from Canada — particularly hydrogen. A top German envoy is pouring cold...

Bot campaign backing Pierre Poilievre looks the work of an amateur, experts say

Bot campaign backing Pierre Poilievre looks the work of an amateur, experts say

Academics who study social media say a suspected bot campaign associated with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's recent speaking event in...

Canada, Germany commit $600M for hydrogen export in Atlantic Canada

Canada, Germany commit $600M for hydrogen export in Atlantic Canada

The Canadian and German governments are taking the next step to launch Atlantic Canada's hydrogen export industry, announcing a multimillion-dollar...

This Liberal threatened to take a stand over Gaza. Now she's leading talks on anti-Palestinian racism

This Liberal threatened to take a stand over Gaza. Now she's leading talks on anti-Palestinian racism

MP Salma Zahid had threatened to resign from committee roles but now staying on. Two Liberal MPs are holding a...

Ottawa unveils plan to phase out oil-fired furnaces and support heat pumps

Ottawa unveils plan to phase out oil-fired furnaces and support heat pumps

The federal government says it has a plan to start phasing out the use of oil-fired furnaces in new construction...

Banks to start identifying carbon tax rebates as the 'Canada Carbon Rebate' starting today

Banks to start identifying carbon tax rebates as the 'Canada Carbon Rebate' starting today

Starting today, most banks are expected to start clearly identifying quarterly direct deposits of carbon tax rebates as the Canada...

PCO says it didn't search new human rights chief's online aliases, blames 'administrative oversight'

PCO says it didn't search new human rights chief's online aliases, blames 'administrative oversight'

The Privy Council Office (PCO) says it did not search the aliases Birju Dattani, the new head of the Canadian...

New Democrats say they see opportunity in Liberals' Toronto byelection loss

New Democrats say they see opportunity in Liberals' Toronto byelection loss

An NDP insider says New Democrats were surprised by the Liberals' loss in the recent Toronto byelection — and now...

Government now says new human rights chief did disclose key information about controversial social media posts

Government now says new human rights chief did disclose key information about controversial social media posts

The federal government now says Birju Dattani, the new head of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, did disclose the alias...

A trade war with China over EVs could slow Canada's low-carbon transition, groups warn

A trade war with China over EVs could slow Canada's low-carbon transition, groups warn

Environmental groups are calling on the federal government to avoid getting into a trade war with China over electric vehicles...

Environment Canada says it can now rapidly link high-heat weather events to climate change

Environment Canada says it can now rapidly link high-heat weather events to climate change

Environment and Climate Change Canada says it's now able to publicly identify links between episodes of extreme heat and climate...

Following Conservative attacks, government releases internal data on the impact of carbon pricing

Following Conservative attacks, government releases internal data on the impact of carbon pricing

The federal government has released its estimate of the impact of carbon pricing on the size of the economy after...

Canada Disability Benefit won't lift 'hundreds of thousands' out of poverty, new numbers confirm

Canada Disability Benefit won't lift 'hundreds of thousands' out of poverty, new numbers confirm

The new Canada Disability Benefit will lift about 25,000 adults out of poverty, according to new numbers released by the...

Conservatives defend their math on proposed fuel tax holiday

Conservatives defend their math on proposed fuel tax holiday

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's call for a summer gas tax holiday became a topic of heated debate in the House...

Revisions to PBO's carbon tax analysis will 'vindicate' government, minister predicts

Revisions to PBO's carbon tax analysis will 'vindicate' government, minister predicts

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the Conservatives' attack on the federal carbon tax and its associated rebates is based on...

Rich countries have finally hit their $100B US climate finance goal, Guilbeault says

Rich countries have finally hit their $100B US climate finance goal, Guilbeault says

Canada announced Wednesday that wealthy countries have finally reached their goal of providing $100 billion US to help poorer countries...

New Democrats try out a sharper line of attack as Conservatives target NDP ridings

New Democrats try out a sharper line of attack as Conservatives target NDP ridings

New Democrats say they're rolling out a new line of attack against the Conservatives as their leader Pierre Poilievre targets...

Ottawa turns to civilian first responders as another dire wildfire season approaches

Ottawa turns to civilian first responders as another dire wildfire season approaches

Instead of sending in the troops to deal with what promises to be another dangerous wildfire season, Public Safety Canada...

Green groups outraged after Ottawa changes the rules on environmental assessments

Green groups outraged after Ottawa changes the rules on environmental assessments

Major industrial resource projects under provincial jurisdiction that spew massive amounts of carbon emissions will no longer trigger federal environmental...

NDP threatens stalling tactics, end of agreement with Liberals over slow pace of pharmacare talks

NDP threatens stalling tactics, end of agreement with Liberals over slow pace of pharmacare talks

The federal NDP has warned its Parliament Hill staff to prepare themselves for the possible sudden termination of the party's...

Carbon capture tax credit could cost taxpayers $1B more than expected, PBO warns

Carbon capture tax credit could cost taxpayers $1B more than expected, PBO warns

A controversial tax credit meant to help jump-start carbon capture projects could cost $1 billion more than the federal government...

NDP asks Liberals to start covering some medicines as parties negotiate pharmacare

NDP asks Liberals to start covering some medicines as parties negotiate pharmacare

New Democrats have asked the Liberals to begin covering a handful of essential medicines as negotiations continue behind the scenes...

NDP MPs gather in Edmonton to talk strategy and unfinished business in deal with the Liberals

NDP MPs gather in Edmonton to talk strategy and unfinished business in deal with the Liberals

The NDP is going into the next sitting of Parliament looking to cross some more items off its legislative agenda...

Apply early: budget watchdog warns Ottawa's heat pump grant faces a funding shortfall

Apply early: budget watchdog warns Ottawa's heat pump grant faces a funding shortfall

Still thinking about applying for Ottawa's heat pump incentive? Ottawa's budget watchdog warns the grant program could run out of...

Leadership shakeup at the federal NDP as party gets election ready

Leadership shakeup at the federal NDP as party gets election ready

The federal NDP is making leadership changes within its top brass to prepare for the next election. Long-time New Democratic...

Here's how a Canada-wide plastics registry could save you money

Here's how a Canada-wide plastics registry could save you money

A Canadian government plan to track plastics could help put more money into consumers' pockets and keep plastic waste out...

Ottawa looking at including used cars in federal electric vehicle incentive, report says

Ottawa looking at including used cars in federal electric vehicle incentive, report says

A government report suggests federal incentives for used electric vehicles could be in the works as Ottawa pushes to phase...

Ottawa expected to release promised EV sales regulations Tuesday

Ottawa expected to release promised EV sales regulations Tuesday

Automakers are set to get a jolt Tuesday when Ottawa unveils its promised electric vehicle regulations. CBC News has learned...

Ottawa backs listing Black and LGBTQ workers under Canada's workplace equity laws: source

Ottawa backs listing Black and LGBTQ workers under Canada's workplace equity laws: source

CBC News has learned the federal government will announce Monday that it broadly supports listing Black and LGBTQ people among...

Emission projections show Canada on track to achieve interim climate target

Emission projections show Canada on track to achieve interim climate target

The latest emissions projection data suggests Canada is on track to achieve its interim climate target and is getting closer...

Ottawa set to announce cap-and-trade framework to reduce emissions in oil and gas sector

Ottawa set to announce cap-and-trade framework to reduce emissions in oil and gas sector

The federal government will unveil its oil and gas emissions cap framework on Thursday, senior government officials have told CBC...

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he is not proposing Canada exit the Paris Agreement

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he is not proposing Canada exit the Paris Agreement

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Wednesday he is not proposing to withdraw Canada from the landmark international climate treaty —...

Some MPs are calling on Ottawa to take a bigger bite out of fossil fuel companies' profits

Some MPs are calling on Ottawa to take a bigger bite out of fossil fuel companies' profits

With their high greenhouse gas emissions and record profits, oil and gas companies are facing new pressure across party lines...

Federal NDP making moves to get an early start on the next election campaign

Federal NDP making moves to get an early start on the next election campaign

The NDP likes to say that it must always be election-ready — especially in a minority Parliament. But as the...

Jagmeet Singh justifies agreement with the Liberals ahead of key convention confidence vote

Jagmeet Singh justifies agreement with the Liberals ahead of key convention confidence vote

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh used his keynote convention speech to lay out his argument about why his agreement with the...

New Democrats set to debate pact with Liberals as party conference begins

New Democrats set to debate pact with Liberals as party conference begins

New Democrats will get their chance to give the party's leaders an earful about the confidence-and-supply agreement with the Liberals...