Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Canada's National Observer

@nationalobserver.com

20K followers 430 following 430 posts

Canada's National Observer (CNO) delivers vital reporting on the defining crisis of our time: climate change. Through rigorous investigation and compelling storytelling, we expose the forces shaping Canada's climate future.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 1h

It’s not just that Smith isn’t going to win with the Coastal First Nations when it comes to a Northern Gateway redux. She’s also at risk of losing the carefully constructed support among said Nations for LNG projects in that part of the province, @maxfawcett.bsky.social writes.

Alberta is forgetting the hard-won lessons of Northern Gateway

If Danielle Smith wants to build another pipeline across British Columbia, she might want to spend some time actually trying to understand what makes it tick first.

www.nationalobserver.com

Reposted by Canada's National Observer

Jimmy Thomson @jameswsthomson.com · 3h

In Trent Hills, the mayor said he felt Ford was “throwing us under the bus.”

In the township of Springwater, a councillor said a speed camera has changed his own driving behaviour for the better.

An hour away, another said his phone has been blowing up with residents in favour of cameras.

CNO's new tool showed me how Ontario is responding to Ford’s speed camera ban

Councillors from across Ontario are fretting about the speed camera ban and what it will mean for public safety and local funding. As a former local reporter I would have spent all day tracking this s...

www.nationalobserver.com

Reposted by Canada's National Observer

John Woodside @woodsideful.bsky.social · 1h

It’s really impossible to understand NL politics without grappling with the long ugly history of hydro boondoggles. So in a sense, it’s not surprising that the guy who said let’s not rush into a new one without an independent review ended up winning.

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 19h

NL Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham secured a majority government promising to independently review, and put to a referendum, any future hydroelectric project with Quebec — effectively throwing a potential major project onto shaky ground.

Legacy of hydro boondoggles tipped Newfoundland and Labrador election

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham secured a narrow majority government promising to independently review, and put to a referendum, any future hydroelectric proje...

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 19h

NL Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham secured a majority government promising to independently review, and put to a referendum, any future hydroelectric project with Quebec — effectively throwing a potential major project onto shaky ground.

Legacy of hydro boondoggles tipped Newfoundland and Labrador election

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham secured a narrow majority government promising to independently review, and put to a referendum, any future hydroelectric proje...

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 1d

Good news out of Toronto: a single-use plastics bylaw has dropped waste by a third, with more reductions planned.

Toronto slashes single-use waste by third, plans to expand bylaw

The city wants to expand its successful Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy and Bylaw to large events, sports venues and restaurants that still rely on throwaway containers for dine-in se...

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 1d

Between grade 12 classes, Aarahay Anand and Kunru Li have been working on a rapid test for PFAS exposure. An expert in the dangerous chemicals is skeptical, but says there is a need for such a test.

The teenage inventors trying to keep us safe from PFAS

Existing tests for the chemicals in water, air or foods rely on expensive mass spectrometry lab equipment and technicians and can take days. Aarahay Anand and Kunru Li are trying to develop a more rap...

www.nationalobserver.com

Reposted by Canada's National Observer

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 2d

Just west of Fort Qu’Appelle in Saskatchewan, the Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation is working across the US border to revive centuries-old trade routes as part of a new Indigenous-governed trade corridor.

From our friends at @nationalobserver.com:

Indigenous nations plan a tariff-free trade corridor across the US-Canada border

“We’re not begging for crumbs anymore. We’re demanding what’s rightly ours."

www.motherjones.com

Reposted by Canada's National Observer

Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) @cajournalists.bsky.social · 2d

This is an incredible tool built by @nationalobserver.com that will help foster enhanced transparency at the local level.

All CAJ members can join Civic Searchlight....NOW!

A big thanks to @jameswsthomson.com for this. Contact him ASAP! HT to @rorywh.bsky.social @davidmckie.bsky.social and team

Jimmy Thomson @jameswsthomson.com · 8d

Today, @nationalobserver.com is launching a tool to search municipal meeting transcripts across Canada. The tool has already helped us unearth a climate denial network targeting towns and cities, report on AI data centers, measure our impact and more.

Journalists and researchers, sign up for free!

Canada’s National Observer unveils a powerful tool for fighting disinformation

Civic Searchlight brings together municipal meeting transcripts from across Canada into a searchable database for the first time. It has already been used to fight disinformation, report on impact, di...

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 5d

Dawn Farrell, the former CEO of Trans Mountain who now leads the federal government's Major Projects Office was asked whether the oil pipeline contributes to the fight against climate change.

“The answer is yes,” she replied.

Head of Carney’s Major Projects Office thinks Trans Mountain is good for climate

Dawn Farrell, the former CEO of Trans Mountain who now leads the federal government's Major Projects Office told the House of Commons environment committee that the oil pipeline helps fight climate ch...

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 5d

Introducing Canada's Business Observer—a weekly newsletter on climate action that actually makes business sense.
Low-carbon homes.

EV supply chains. Clean tech startups. Critical minerals. We're covering the companies building a cleaner economy. Sign up!
www.nationalobserver.com/newsletters/...

Canada's Business Observer newsletter | Canada's National Observer: Climate News

A weekly climate business newsletter.

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 7d

Ontario ratepayers are seeing hikes in their gas bills. Meanwhile, Enbridge shareholders are getting up to $45 billion back over the next five years. @woodsideful.bsky.social reports.

Enbridge investors to get billions as gas giant expands into small-town Ontario

Enbridge executives know Ontario ratepayers are a cash cow for its gas business, and in recent calls with investors they said they plan to milk it for all its worth.

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 7d

Smith seems determined to keep turning up the political temperature in a debate that demands cooler heads, @maxfawcett.bsky.social writes

Danielle Smith wants a fight with Canada, not a new pipeline

Alberta's premier has opened the door in her party and province to separatists. Now, she's claiming that other people are the ones threatening Canada's future.

www.nationalobserver.com

Reposted by Canada's National Observer

Elisha Dacey 🎤🏳️‍⚧️ @elishadacey.bsky.social · 7d

REPORTERS/RESEARCHERS/POLICY NERDS:

@nationalobserver.com has released a tool that automatically transcribes council meetings in 550 Canadian municipalities.

THIS Is how you use AI in the newsroom!

Check it out: civicsearchlight.nationalobserver.com

CivicSearchlight - by Canada's National Observer

Search transcripts of municipal meetings across Canada. Find discussions about topics that matter to your community with Canada's National Observer's search tool.

civicsearchlight.nationalobserver.com

Reposted by Canada's National Observer

Jimmy Thomson @jameswsthomson.com · 8d

As climate disinformation groups move into the shadows, @nationalobserver.com has developed an unprecedented new tool: Civic Searchlight. To build it, we assembled a database of council meetings in more than 550 municipalities.

How Canada's National Observer tracked a climate misinfo group going 'under the radar'

As KICLEI's campaign moves into the shadows, Canada’s National Observer has developed an unprecedented new tool: Civic Searchlight. To build it, we assembled a database of council meetings in more tha...

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 8d

That's coming!

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 8d

You can sign up directly at civicsearchlight.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 8d

We're going public today with a powerful new tool for researching, following and reporting on local governments across Canada.

It’s dragging cities and towns into the 21st century by making 550 municipalities’ public meetings easy to search, all in one place, for the first time.

Canada’s National Observer unveils a powerful tool for fighting disinformation

Civic Searchlight brings together municipal meeting transcripts from across Canada into a searchable database for the first time. It has already been used to fight disinformation, report on impact, di...

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 8d

Only two days left to register! Oct 9, 2PM ET: Learn how Canada and the EU are coordinating on wildfire prevention and response from those leading the charge, including EU Ambassador Geneviève Tuts. @euincanada.bsky.social

us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Stronger Together Against Wildfires: Canada and the EU . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

In partnership with Canada’s National Observer, the Delegation of the European Union to Canada will host a panel discussion on cooperation against wildfires. The event aims to highlight EU-Canada alig...

us06web.zoom.us

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 9d

As wildfire seasons grow longer and more destructive, Canada and the EU are strengthening their partnership on prevention and response. Oct 9, 2PM ET: Hear from EU Ambassador Geneviève Tuts, EU and Canadian officials shaping international wildfire policy. Register now
us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Stronger Together Against Wildfires: Canada and the EU . After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

In partnership with Canada’s National Observer, the Delegation of the European Union to Canada will host a panel discussion on cooperation against wildfires. The event aims to highlight EU-Canada alig...

us06web.zoom.us

Reposted by Canada's National Observer

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 9d

"We’re operationalizing our old corridors—taking ancient trade routes our elders told us about and articulating them in a modern context."

Indigenous nations plan tariff-free trade corridor across US-Canada border.

From our friends at @nationalobserver.com:

Indigenous Nations Plan Tariff-Free Trade Corridor Across US-Canada border

“We’re not begging for crumbs anymore. We’re demanding what’s rightly ours."

www.motherjones.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 10d

That thud you might have heard on Sept. 29 was the fall of a Canadian giant that has been staggering around for some time. But it was once Canada’s largest oil company, helping drive virtually every major innovation in Canadian oil and gas since the late 19th century, @rossbelot.bsky.social writes.

The fall of a Canadian giant

The new Imperial Oil is essentially a collection of operating plants run out of “global business centres.” That is, not run from Canada or by Canadians. This isn’t just a corporate restructuring. It’s...

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 10d

First Nations leaders say MLA Anna Kindy and MP Aaron Gunn’s social media comments undermine reconciliation and echo harmful narratives, while BC NDP slams “dog whistle politics.”

BC Conservatives face renewed accusations of residential school denialism

First Nations leaders say MLA Anna Kindy and MP Aaron Gunn’s social media comments undermine reconciliation and echo harmful narratives, while BC NDP slams “dog whistle politics.”

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 12d

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is wielding a series of deceptive statements, from environmental regulations shutting-in production to Ottawa stopping pipeline construction, to make her case for a new oil pipeline to the coast.

Breaking down the justification behind Danielle Smith’s ‘pipeline to nowhere’

Oil production in Canada hit record highs last year, the Trans Mountain expansion pipeline is in operation, and more fossil fuel infrastructure keeps getting built, yet in Alberta Premier Danielle Smi...

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 13d

David Suzuki counts Jane Goodall among his top inspirations, but he isn't grieving her death.

He’s grieving she never got to see the big changes to the political, economic and legal systems that destroy nature and must be reformed.

Jane Goodall died before the world caught up, Suzuki says

David Suzuki counts Jane Goodall among his top inspirations, and said he isn't grieving her death — he's grieving the political, economic and legal systems that destroy nature have not been changed th...

www.nationalobserver.com

Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 13d

Danielle Smith is daring Mark Carney to rubber-stamp another pipeline to the West Coast. If she actually wants it to get built, she'll need to put more on the negotiating table than just threats and political rhetoric, @maxfawcett.bsky.social writes.

How Alberta could actually get its pipeline

If Danielle Smith actually wants to advance the prospects of a new oil pipeline, she needs to do more than just rattle her well-worn sabre at Ottawa.

www.nationalobserver.com