David Thurton

Benjamin Shingler, David Thurton

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 could violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.Ecojustice, Canada's largest environmental law charity, says the decision marks the first time that Ontario's highest court has ruled that a government's climate actions are subject to the Charter. Ecojustice backed the seven young people who brought forward the case.

David Thurton

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 watchdog re-did its analysis of the federal carbon tax and rebates — and came to a similar conclusion.Thursday's updated report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) found that considering the average household costs of paying the consumer fuel levy, the GST that's charged and the indirect costs from the carbon tax, on average, households will see a net gain in 2030-31.The report said "broadly speaking" that its analysis showed larger net gains and lower net

David Thurton

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 Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.Ottawa announced plans back in 2021 to build what it called a "high-frequency" (HFR) rail corridor with stops in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Trois-Rivières, Laval and Quebec City. At the time, the government estimated the cost at between $6 billion and $12 billion.

David Thurton

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 in half by 2035.The Net Zero Advisory Body is calling on the government to amp up its ambitions and slash climate-cooking emissions by up to 55 per cent below 2005 levels by 2035.

David Thurton

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 water on calls for Canada to ramp up natural gas exports to Europe.In a briefing for journalists at Germany's embassy in Ottawa on Friday, Jennifer Morgan, the country's state secretary and special envoy for international climate action, warned that Germany and Europe will require less natural gas from countries like Canada in future.

David Thurton

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 northern Ontario likely was the work of an amateur.A rapid analysis conducted by Toronto Metropolitan University's Social Media Lab (SML) concluded the bot campaign does not have the fingerprints of a sophisticated actor, but didn't say who might have been behind it.

David Thurton

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 commitment Wednesday for projects in Eastern Canada.Ottawa is investing up to $300 million to support hydrogen exports to Germany, Europe's biggest economy, while the German government is matching the contribution.

David Thurton, Raffy Boudjikanian

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 roundtable Friday evening in Toronto about anti-Palestinian racism, to study whether this type of discrimination should be part of the federal government's recently updated anti-racism strategy, CBC News has learned.

David Thurton

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 and get homeowners and businesses to switch to heat pumps over the next several years.The finalized Canada Green Buildings Strategy, which is being released today, outlines Ottawa's priorities for decarbonizing buildings — the third-largest source of climate-altering carbon emissions in Canada.

David Thurton

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 Carbon Rebate.Many eligible Canadians will receive another quarterly rebate from the federal government today to compensate them for paying the federal fuel charge, commonly known as the carbon tax.In the past, these rebates appeared in consumers' accounts under generic labels like "federal payment" or "EFT Canada," leaving recipients clueless about the source.

David Thurton, Holly Cabrera

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 Human Rights Commission, used to make controversial social media posts.A spokesperson for the PCO said in a statement to CBC News on Monday that "an administrative oversight resulted in the aliases not being searched by PCO."In June, Dattani was named the CHRC's chief commissioner, making him the first Muslim or racialized person to head the organization.

David Thurton

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 see the governing party's weakness as an opportunity.Anne McGrath, principal secretary to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in the House of Commons, told CBC News the party thought the outcome of the Toronto St Paul's byelection would be close but not a Conservative upset.

David Thurton

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 he used to make controversial social media posts — after it initially claimed that information was never shared before he was hired.Justice Minister Arif Virani's spokesperson confirms that Dattani did pass on the alias to "public servants as part of the security assessment of Mr. Dattani." The minister's press secretary, Chantalle Aubertin, added that the name was not provided to Virani's office.

David Thurton

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.They say they fear trade sanctions could make EVs more expensive, delaying Canada's transition to a low-carbon economy.Less than a week after the federal government announced it was considering imposing trade restrictions on cheaper Chinese-made EVs, groups like Environmental Defence are urging Ottawa to consider the ramifications of such a move.

David Thurton

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 change within days of a weather event.The federal department says that its scientists now have the ability to estimate the degree to which human-induced climate change played a role in a heat wave or extreme heat event within a week of it happening.

David Thurton

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 it was accused by the opposition Conservatives of muzzling an officer of Parliament.The modelling, created by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) for the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) in May and released today, projects carbon pricing's impacts on emissions and the gross domestic product (GDP).

David Thurton

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 federal government — a figure well short of the hundreds of thousands the government said the benefit would help when it introduced the legislation in 2022."We have an opportunity in the House to bring about a once-in-a-generation change and lift hundreds of thousands of working-age Canadians with disabilities out of poverty," Carla Qualtrough, then the minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion, told the House of Commons on September 21, 2022.

David Thurton

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 of Commons this week, with the Conservatives and Liberals arguing over how much the proposal would actually save Canadian families.After the Liberals and some experts questioned how much the Conservative proposal would really save Canadians, the Tories shared their math with CBC News. But academics and at least one gas price analyst are still questioning how realistic those estimates are.

David Thurton

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 a "false premise" pulled from a "flawed" Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) study.On Wednesday — after the PBO acknowledged it had made a error in its economic analysis of carbon pricing and promised to correct the record — Guilbeault called on the Conservatives to abandon their line of attack.

David Thurton

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 both combat and adapt to climate change — two years behind schedule.Prior to the announcement, the international community wasn't sure the world's richest nations had kept their promise.But numbers verified by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and released Wednesday confirm wealthy nations have achieved and surpassed that goal.The report shows that climate finance reached $115.9 billion US in 2022, up from $89.6 billion US in 2021.

David Thurton

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 NDP-held ridings.On Tuesday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh started dropping a new line — "The price of Pierre Poilievre" — an echo of Poilievre's frequent references to what he calls the "Liberal-NDP costly coalition."The party is also pushing for p

David Thurton

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 is testing the capabilities of civilian-led first responders and relief providers.Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said the new program will be deployed during this wildfire season in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

David Thurton

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 assessments — a move that's angering environmental groups.The Liberal government walked back the requirement in amendments to its controversial 2019 Impact Assessment Act, parts of which the Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional in the fall.

Louis Blouin, Christian Noel, David Thurton

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 supply-and-confidence deal with the Liberals — a bipartisan cooperation agreement which may be holding off an early election.A senior NDP source who was not authorized to speak publicly told CBC News the party held a meeting Tuesday to tell staffers that, with negotiations with the Trudeau Liberals on pharmacare dragging on, the deal could be headed for an early grave.

David Thurton

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 estimated, says the independent parliamentary budget watchdog.In several federal budgets, Finance Canada forecast that the carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) investment tax credit would cost $4.6 billion between 2022-28. The Parliamentary Budget Officer now estimates the CCUS investment tax credit will cost $5.7 billion.

David Thurton

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 on developing a pharmacare system.A senior NDP source not authorized to speak publicly told CBC that the NDP has asked the Liberals to not just deliver pharmacare legislation but to also begin covering several life-saving drugs for conditions like diabetes.The senior NDP source, who is close to the negotiations, said the Liberals have agreed to cover fewer than five drugs. Health Minister Mark Holland's office would not confirm that report.

David Thurton

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 — things like a landmark pharmacare bill, anti-scab legislation and help for fossil fuel workers facing the transition to a low-carbon economy.NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and his caucus are meeting in Edmonton from Tuesday to Thursday. They'll be discussing the coming spring budget and getting the Liberal government to fulfil its remaining commitments under the supply-and-confidence agreement with the New Democrats.

David Thurton

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 money sooner rather than later.In a report released Thursday, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) says that if all eligible Canadians applied for the program — roughly 244,000 households nationwide — it would cost the government $2.7 billion.

David Thurton

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 national director Anne McGrath is stepping down as the party's top boss. McGrath will now serve as principal secretary to the party's leader in the House of Commons, Jagmeet Singh.According to a news release from the party, McGrath will play "a larger role in overseeing" progress on the NDP's supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals. In March 2022, the NDP-Liberal deal committed the Liberals to deliver on key demands from New Democrats in return for support for key pieces of Liberal legislation.

David Thurton

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 of landfills.The government announced Tuesday it's seeking input on a new national plastics registry. Experts say it could create a lucrative system that encourages companies to salvage waste plastic and reimburse Canadians and retailers for dropping off scraps.

David Thurton

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 out gas-powered cars.Canada's latest emissions reduction progress report says the federal government will "explore the potential to expand the Incentives for Zero Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program to include used vehicles." But the three lines in the report don't offer much detail.

David Thurton

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 that Ottawa will release final regulations it says will ensure that all new passenger cars sold in Canada by 2035 are zero-emission vehicles, a senior government source said.The source — who was not authorized to speak publicly — said the new regulations are meant to ensure that automakers produce enough affordable zero-emissions vehicles to meet the demand.

David Thurton

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 groups facing systemic workplace barriers under the Employment Equity Act.The Liberal government is backing the legislative change after a task force report recommended the move.

David Thurton

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 to achieving its 2030 climate goal.Environment and Climate Change Canada released new modelling on Thursday showing the country's latest emissions pathway.

Darren Major, David Thurton

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 News.The framework will be implemented through a cap-and-trade system, the officials said. Draft regulations will follow by the middle of 2024, one source said.Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson will jointly announce the cap plan. The news was first reported by the Globe and Mail.

David Thurton

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 — the Paris Agreement.As the world prepares for another climate summit, COP 28, Poilievre was asked Wednesday before heading into a caucus meeting with Conservative MPs and senators if he would withdraw Canada from the climate treaty.

David Thurton

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 on Parliament Hill.That pressure includes accusations of price "gouging" and of profiting off climate chaos. It also includes a growing number of demands for a tax on the companies' "excess" profits.

David Thurton

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 party looks ahead to 2024, many signs indicate its election machinery is gearing up.Some outside the party point out that money issues still stand in the way of getting the NDP ready for an election.

David Thurton

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 Liberals was worth it.He acknowledged that he has faced questions about why he is working with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "when he is doing such a bad job?""Well, it's not easy, and it's definitely not fun," Singh said on Saturday, referring to the supply-and-confidence agreement the party signed with the Liberals in 2022.

David Thurton

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 when NDP members meet in Hamilton today for the start of a three-day convention.It's the first such gathering of New Democrats since the party signed the confidence-and-supply agreement with the governing Liberals in 2022.