When built, the proposed facility could generate up to 4,800 megawatts of electricity — enough to power about 4.8 million homes. for @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2026/05/07/n...

The Trump administration has seized $120M USD owned by the Canadian pension fund earmarked for a wind development — and demanding the pension-backed company invest in fossil fuels instead.

NEW for @nationalobserver.com The chair of the Toronto Liberal Caucus says even if the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act passes as expected, the province “cannot unilaterally change how the airport operates.”

NEW: An open letter from Alberta scholars of politics, law, public administration, and democratic governance regarding the potential misuse of the province's voters list.

Calgary got a quarter-billion dollars from Ottawa to increase density, and then moved forward with a broad rezoning. Then, in early April, Calgary city council voted to roll back its efforts. What happens to the money now?

I'm excited to share the trailer for our new podcast for @nationalobserver.com called Beyond Ecological Grief. I have been quietly toiling away on this for more than a year with the excellent journalist Amy Romer. Check out the trailer and subscribe to the pod. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

If you care about Canadian cities providing more badly needed housing choices, AND not cheating Federal funding programs, read this. I supported Federal funding for cities doing good housing moves. But Feds NEED to send the message that cities gaming the system “need not apply” for future funding.

Abegweit First Nation has a population of about 400, and like many small communities, it faces real capacity constraints in planning and responding to emergencies. But in some ways, being such a tight-knit community has been a benefit in times of crisis.

Calgary is backing out of its housing commitments — commitments that landed it $251 million from the federal government. Will it have to pay the feds back?

"The United Nations has been anything but a friend to the caucasian world" and other gems.

here’s my latest for @nationalobserver.com Alberta separatism is the latest niche for disinformation merchants www.nationalobserver.com/2026/05/06/o...

With the Alberta separatists in the news again, it's worth revisiting this batshit interview @arnokopecky.bsky.social did with their leader, Mitch Sylvestre.

Welp. This is a hell of a story. Canadian Mining Journal published what appeared to be an entirely fabricated deep-sea mining paper, with quotes from fictional people and a source paper that does not exist.

Have you tried Civic Searchlight's new map-based interface yet? It's the biggest improvement since Civic Searchlight first launched six months ago.

Jeff Ballingall and Mobilize Media Group created Canada Proud and Ontario Proud, two of the most influential right-wing social media accounts in the country. A new website from the firm, The Future of Public Influence, explains that accounts like Canada Proud are product offerings for clients.

The Canadian Mining Journal retracted a lengthy article that quoted made-up people and cited made-up facts about deep-sea mining. Observers aren't surprised.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said that she wants to wait until the results of the investigations by the RCMP and Elections Alberta are complete before “commenting further,” but that isn’t nearly good enough, @maxfawcett.bsky.social writes — we need a public inquiry into the voter data scandal.

In my latest newsletter (subscribe!): why Alberta's separatists just backed Danielle Smith into her biggest corner yet, and how the oil and gas industry's leaders continue to bury their heads in the oil sands. #cdnpoli www.nationalobserver.com/newsletters/...

A new website from the firm, The Future of Public Influence, explains that accounts like Canada Proud are product offerings for clients. It describes multiple other “surrogate online communities” — with no disclosure of who paid for them.

The website has been taken down, but @rorywh.bsky.social captured a screen recording beforehand.

This is an incredible resource for social science research: a free searchable database of municipal government transcripts.

ICYMI: Civic Searchlight is now more intuitive and powerful than ever, with a built-in map, visual timeline and more. Go try it, it's free.

Once the expansion is complete, the facility would become one of the largest incinerators in North America, burning waste from across the Greater Toronto Area and potentially beyond.

The fossil fuel capital of Canada is so loyal to oil and so myopic about the future, it is doing everything it can to deter solar installation, even for residents willing to foot the entire cost themselves.https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/05/04/opinion/alberta-solar-panels-fee-renewables-smith

I was interested in where people are mentioning the Partners for Climate Protection program, which has been subject to many conspiracy-laden deputations. You can now see the spread of coordinated campaigns at a glance.

Civic Searchlight just got even more powerful, with a new map and timeline. You can join journalists, researchers and citizens across the country and try it right now — it's free.

NEW: My full dispatch for @nationalobserver.com from a very hectic day in Alberta politics www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/30/n...

Update: RCMP now probing Alberta separatist group accused of illegal use of voters’ private information www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/30/n...

Elections Alberta has obtained a temporary injunction against a separatist organization and political party for an app that allegedly built a database of voters drawn from the province’s list of electors.

just when you thought Alberta separatism efforts couldn't get any whackier.... This! www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/30/n...

Across Ontario, municipal councillors and staff are increasingly using AI tools to support arguments, question reports and interpret policy during live debates to back up their positions. for @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/30/a...

The four nominations are Emerging Excellence; Editorial Achievement of the Year; Data Journalism; and Best News Coverage.

NEW: The Canadian government has unveiled two new oil and gas subsidies as part of its Spring Economic Update, including a carbon capture tax credit that aims to boost production from the Alberta oil patch.

My investigative series "A Canadian Arctic Port in the Shadow of Trump 2.0" for @nationalobserver.com has been nominated for a Digital Publishing Award for Best Reporting digitalpublishingawards.ca/2026nominees/ #DPA26

At a packed open house hosted by the City of Pickering on April 22, residents filed past maps and easels outlining three possible futures for the lands: all options included a mix of employment zones, a blend of housing and agriculture and an expansion of Rouge National Urban Park.

The fund is designed to support the construction of new ports, mines and energy corridors. Climate and environmental groups were quick to caution that the fund must not become a further “backdoor” subsidy for “dead-end” oil pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.

Canadians will get a first look next week at progress by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government on a host of issues, from defence spending to public service cuts.

here’s my latest for @nationalobserver.com on how it’s both smart policy and politics for the federal NDP to go after surveillance pricing www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/24/n...

NEW: The Ford gov has formally introduced legislation to take over Billy Bishop Airport. It includes taking over parts of Little Norway Park. TO council was meeting as the bill was announced, prompting response motions + strong opposition from Mayor Chow + many councillors. @nationalobserver.com

Toronto City Council met hours after the Ford government introduced the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act, which would empower the province to take over the City of Toronto’s share in the airport — and parts of the harbourfront Little Norway Park as part of the airport expansion.

Yes, we had a car flip in the "school zone" near us five years ago or so. Toronto drivers have been out of control for over a decade and speed cameras had just started to tame them again. No logic to getting rid of them, pure pandering to worst instincts. Speed "humps", don't make me laugh.

UPDATE: Ford's budget bill has just passed, which includes major scale-backs to the FOI system in ON. Bill 97 will change the freedom of information system in ON to exempt the premier, cabinet ministers, parliamentary assistants + their offices from requests. Recent story for @nationalobserver.com

Another story driven by Civic Searchlight — check it out for yourself here: civicsearchlight.nationalobserver.com

Smith’s creeping Americanization of Alberta goes well beyond culture wars and legal skirmishes, @maxfawcett.bsky.social writes. Her government has been busy with American-style attacks on healthcare, the judiciary and democracy itself.

Experts dispute the narrative that a pipeline through southern BC would face less Indigenous and environmental opposition than one through the province's north.

In Ottawa a car flipped upside down in front of an elementary school where a speed camera had previously been installed. @cloelogan.bsky.social reports on the ripple effects of Ford's speed camera ban.

Buying a private jet is a let-them-eat-cake kind of move a Premier makes when he feels invincible. My take on Doug Ford's private plane purchase for @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/23/o...

Renewables have outstripped coal. But in Canada, renewable energy plant construction has dropped, leaving wind and solar power accounting for just nine per cent of the country’s electricity mix — less than half the average among the G7.

The Town of Wasaga Beach says a section of protected piping plover habitat was mistakenly disturbed earlier this month, a day after environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit alleging damage to the endangered migratory shorebird’s nesting grounds.