Fatima Syed
@fatimabsyed.bsky.social
Ontario reporter for The Narwhal. Vice-president of the Canadian Association of Journalists. Springsteen, space, sports, sweets
Pinned
Fatima Syed
@fatimabsyed.bsky.social
· Jan 14
The Death of an Asylum Seeker and the Shelter Crisis in Peel | The Local
The number of asylum seekers and refugees needing shelter has surged in recent years, leaving officials in suburban municipalities like Peel scrambling to respond.
thelocal.to
Since 2023, Peel Region—west of Toronto—has struggled to house a ⬆️number of asylum seekers in overwhelmed shelters: two have died, a third this weekend
My #longreads for @thelocal.to explores Peel's fight to help while handcuffed by forces that will bring more asylums 🧵
thelocal.to/refugee-shel...
My #longreads for @thelocal.to explores Peel's fight to help while handcuffed by forces that will bring more asylums 🧵
thelocal.to/refugee-shel...
Reposted by Fatima Syed
Buried deep in the omnibus bill for its fall economic statement, the Doug Ford government has moved to repeal its own law requiring a climate plan and emissions reduction targets be established, via @fatimabsyed.bsky.social and @meyer.bsky.social
#ONpoli
thenarwhal.ca/ford-repeals...
#ONpoli
thenarwhal.ca/ford-repeals...
Doug Ford’s government is abandoning climate targets | The Narwhal
Ontario is moving to repeal aspects of a law that require the government to create a climate plan and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets
thenarwhal.ca
November 6, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Buried deep in the omnibus bill for its fall economic statement, the Doug Ford government has moved to repeal its own law requiring a climate plan and emissions reduction targets be established, via @fatimabsyed.bsky.social and @meyer.bsky.social
#ONpoli
thenarwhal.ca/ford-repeals...
#ONpoli
thenarwhal.ca/ford-repeals...
Upon taking office, the Doug Ford gov't introduced a law to cut the "carbon tax" which also obliged the government to create a climate plan & emissions targets. Now, they’ve repealed that duty—Ontario’s government no longer has to consider climate action.
thenarwhal.ca/ford-repeals...
thenarwhal.ca/ford-repeals...
Doug Ford’s government is abandoning climate targets | The Narwhal
Ontario is moving to repeal aspects of a law that require the government to create a climate plan and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets
thenarwhal.ca
November 6, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Upon taking office, the Doug Ford gov't introduced a law to cut the "carbon tax" which also obliged the government to create a climate plan & emissions targets. Now, they’ve repealed that duty—Ontario’s government no longer has to consider climate action.
thenarwhal.ca/ford-repeals...
thenarwhal.ca/ford-repeals...
Minister of Finance Peter Bethlanfalvy just responded by citing Prime Minister Mark Carney: "it's not about targets it's about results."
To my knowledge, Canada still has emissions-reduction targets. Ontario no longer will.
To my knowledge, Canada still has emissions-reduction targets. Ontario no longer will.
A month ago, Ontario’s Auditor General told Doug Ford’s government to create a public, accountable climate plan with emissions-reduction targets — as courts have also ordered.
Today, the government’s fall economic statement eliminates all legal obligation to do so. #onpoli
Today, the government’s fall economic statement eliminates all legal obligation to do so. #onpoli
November 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Minister of Finance Peter Bethlanfalvy just responded by citing Prime Minister Mark Carney: "it's not about targets it's about results."
To my knowledge, Canada still has emissions-reduction targets. Ontario no longer will.
To my knowledge, Canada still has emissions-reduction targets. Ontario no longer will.
A month ago, Ontario’s Auditor General told Doug Ford’s government to create a public, accountable climate plan with emissions-reduction targets — as courts have also ordered.
Today, the government’s fall economic statement eliminates all legal obligation to do so. #onpoli
Today, the government’s fall economic statement eliminates all legal obligation to do so. #onpoli
November 6, 2025 at 6:49 PM
A month ago, Ontario’s Auditor General told Doug Ford’s government to create a public, accountable climate plan with emissions-reduction targets — as courts have also ordered.
Today, the government’s fall economic statement eliminates all legal obligation to do so. #onpoli
Today, the government’s fall economic statement eliminates all legal obligation to do so. #onpoli
I've been on vacation and just came back to news the Doug Ford gov't is amalgamating 36 conservation authorities into 7. This is a HUGE change and just the latest in a long tense relationship b/w this government and the unique agencies.
But first: LETS GO BLUE JAYS 💙
thenarwhal.ca/newsletter-o...
But first: LETS GO BLUE JAYS 💙
thenarwhal.ca/newsletter-o...
A five-year battle comes to an end in Ontario | The Narwhal
Time and again, the Ford government has tried to weaken the role of conservation authorities. The changes are coming soon
thenarwhal.ca
October 31, 2025 at 7:06 PM
I've been on vacation and just came back to news the Doug Ford gov't is amalgamating 36 conservation authorities into 7. This is a HUGE change and just the latest in a long tense relationship b/w this government and the unique agencies.
But first: LETS GO BLUE JAYS 💙
thenarwhal.ca/newsletter-o...
But first: LETS GO BLUE JAYS 💙
thenarwhal.ca/newsletter-o...
Reposted by Fatima Syed
Piping plovers — tiny, lively and endangered birds — have visited Wasaga Beach every summer since 2007.
But things may be changing — and what happens here could be a sign of what’s to come elsewhere in Ontario.
#endangeredspecies #wasagabeach
But things may be changing — and what happens here could be a sign of what’s to come elsewhere in Ontario.
#endangeredspecies #wasagabeach
October 9, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Piping plovers — tiny, lively and endangered birds — have visited Wasaga Beach every summer since 2007.
But things may be changing — and what happens here could be a sign of what’s to come elsewhere in Ontario.
#endangeredspecies #wasagabeach
But things may be changing — and what happens here could be a sign of what’s to come elsewhere in Ontario.
#endangeredspecies #wasagabeach
Reposted by Fatima Syed
A decade ago, Mark Carney gave a speech pointing out how biz and political leaders had no day-to-day incentive to address climate change, yet it was up to governments. Today, Carney is leading one, but finds himself consumed with responding to the many crises of the day thenarwhal.ca/mark-carney-...
How Mark Carney is complicating Canada’s climate progress | The Narwhal
From cancelling the carbon tax to pausing the EV mandate, Mark Carney’s government is making sweeping changes to Canada’s environmental rules
thenarwhal.ca
October 7, 2025 at 1:46 PM
A decade ago, Mark Carney gave a speech pointing out how biz and political leaders had no day-to-day incentive to address climate change, yet it was up to governments. Today, Carney is leading one, but finds himself consumed with responding to the many crises of the day thenarwhal.ca/mark-carney-...
First Nations asked the Doug Ford gov't for oversight measures over special economic zones (law-free areas for trusted proponents & designated projects). They asked for a public registry, an appeals process on cabinet decisions and time limits.
The government said no
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-bill...
The government said no
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-bill...
Ontario’s draft rules for special economic zones limit oversight | The Narwhal
The Doug Ford government’s draft regulations for special economic zones under Bill 5 empower ministers and dismiss First Nations’ request for oversight
thenarwhal.ca
October 2, 2025 at 9:11 PM
First Nations asked the Doug Ford gov't for oversight measures over special economic zones (law-free areas for trusted proponents & designated projects). They asked for a public registry, an appeals process on cabinet decisions and time limits.
The government said no
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-bill...
The government said no
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-bill...
Reposted by Fatima Syed
A large drilling rig near the shore of Georgian Bay has some Meaford, Ont., residents concerned about what’s to come. @fatimabsyed.bsky.social went looking for answers. thenarwhal.ca/tc-energy-dr...
Why is there a drilling rig on Georgian Bay? | The Narwhal
TC Energy is drilling into the Georgian Bay lakebed near Meaford, Ontario, as it plans for a $4.5-billion pumped storage energy project
thenarwhal.ca
October 2, 2025 at 12:19 PM
A large drilling rig near the shore of Georgian Bay has some Meaford, Ont., residents concerned about what’s to come. @fatimabsyed.bsky.social went looking for answers. thenarwhal.ca/tc-energy-dr...
Reposted by Fatima Syed
ICYMI, read @fatimabsyed.bsky.social on Ford's plans for Wasage Beach Provincial Park
What’s going on at Wasaga Beach? It’s a question our readers have been asking us to look into for months. So we sent @fatimabsyed.bsky.social and @a1please.bsky.social to Wasaga to document a town — and an ecosystem — at a crossroads. thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach... (1/6)
The uncertain future of Wasaga Beach | The Narwhal
The Ontario government is handing part of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park over to the town, leaving many wondering what will be left to protect it
thenarwhal.ca
October 1, 2025 at 5:08 PM
ICYMI, read @fatimabsyed.bsky.social on Ford's plans for Wasage Beach Provincial Park
I’ve reported on the Doug Ford gov’t’s environmental record for 7 years and I remain concerned that Ontario’s only climate plan is a 2018 draft the auditor says isn’t evidence-based — and the gov’t now admits it won’t release a new plan or set stronger emissions-reduction targets
October 1, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I’ve reported on the Doug Ford gov’t’s environmental record for 7 years and I remain concerned that Ontario’s only climate plan is a 2018 draft the auditor says isn’t evidence-based — and the gov’t now admits it won’t release a new plan or set stronger emissions-reduction targets
Reposted by Fatima Syed
Super excited to be a part of this Cited Media panel with the incredible @fatimabsyed.bsky.social next Thursday, October 2nd!
Click the link to grab tickets and to also see a photo of me from 10 years ago: citedpodcast.com/2025/09/19/o...
Click the link to grab tickets and to also see a photo of me from 10 years ago: citedpodcast.com/2025/09/19/o...
October 2nd: Green Dreams Live Event - Cited Podcast
We have a live event for our new season, Green Dreams. Toronto-based Cited fans, you should come out. We'll be having a mix-and-mingle, and hosting a climate journalism panel. It is October 2nd, 2025,...
citedpodcast.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Super excited to be a part of this Cited Media panel with the incredible @fatimabsyed.bsky.social next Thursday, October 2nd!
Click the link to grab tickets and to also see a photo of me from 10 years ago: citedpodcast.com/2025/09/19/o...
Click the link to grab tickets and to also see a photo of me from 10 years ago: citedpodcast.com/2025/09/19/o...
Reposted by Fatima Syed
Spain’s PM Sánchez has imposed sweeping measures against Israel, including a total arms embargo, to “stop the Gaza genocide” and “support the Palestinian population.”
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/tcopvq
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/tcopvq
September 8, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Spain’s PM Sánchez has imposed sweeping measures against Israel, including a total arms embargo, to “stop the Gaza genocide” and “support the Palestinian population.”
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/tcopvq
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/tcopvq
Reposted by Fatima Syed
What’s going on at Wasaga Beach? It’s a question our readers have been asking us to look into for months. So we sent @fatimabsyed.bsky.social and @a1please.bsky.social to Wasaga to document a town — and an ecosystem — at a crossroads. thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach... (1/6)
The uncertain future of Wasaga Beach | The Narwhal
The Ontario government is handing part of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park over to the town, leaving many wondering what will be left to protect it
thenarwhal.ca
September 3, 2025 at 6:11 PM
What’s going on at Wasaga Beach? It’s a question our readers have been asking us to look into for months. So we sent @fatimabsyed.bsky.social and @a1please.bsky.social to Wasaga to document a town — and an ecosystem — at a crossroads. thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach... (1/6)
Reposted by Fatima Syed
Take a minute on over your long weekend to read this beautiful story about what exactly is going on at Wasaga Beach and why it's oh, so complicated. #ONpoli
The Ontario government is giving a portion of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park to the town to boost the local economy. @fatimabsyed.bsky.social visited on a late August weekend to understand the precedent this sets and how the piping plover and its summer home might fare.
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
The uncertain future of Wasaga Beach | The Narwhal
The Ontario government is handing part of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park over to the town, leaving many wondering what will be left to protect it
thenarwhal.ca
August 30, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Take a minute on over your long weekend to read this beautiful story about what exactly is going on at Wasaga Beach and why it's oh, so complicated. #ONpoli
Reposted by Fatima Syed
This long weekend, consider the future of Wasaga Beach: a provincially protected environment, home to the endangered plovers, that the Doug Ford gov't wants to transfer to the town's ownership to boost tourism. It's a complicated and possibly precedent-setting tale.
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
The uncertain future of Wasaga Beach | The Narwhal
The Ontario government is handing part of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park over to the town, leaving many wondering what will be left to protect it
thenarwhal.ca
August 30, 2025 at 4:49 PM
This long weekend, consider the future of Wasaga Beach: a provincially protected environment, home to the endangered plovers, that the Doug Ford gov't wants to transfer to the town's ownership to boost tourism. It's a complicated and possibly precedent-setting tale.
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
Reposted by Fatima Syed
The Ontario government is giving a portion of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park to the town to boost the local economy. @fatimabsyed.bsky.social visited on a late August weekend to understand the precedent this sets and how the piping plover and its summer home might fare.
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
The uncertain future of Wasaga Beach | The Narwhal
The Ontario government is handing part of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park over to the town, leaving many wondering what will be left to protect it
thenarwhal.ca
August 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The Ontario government is giving a portion of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park to the town to boost the local economy. @fatimabsyed.bsky.social visited on a late August weekend to understand the precedent this sets and how the piping plover and its summer home might fare.
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
This long weekend, consider the future of Wasaga Beach: a provincially protected environment, home to the endangered plovers, that the Doug Ford gov't wants to transfer to the town's ownership to boost tourism. It's a complicated and possibly precedent-setting tale.
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
The uncertain future of Wasaga Beach | The Narwhal
The Ontario government is handing part of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park over to the town, leaving many wondering what will be left to protect it
thenarwhal.ca
August 30, 2025 at 4:49 PM
This long weekend, consider the future of Wasaga Beach: a provincially protected environment, home to the endangered plovers, that the Doug Ford gov't wants to transfer to the town's ownership to boost tourism. It's a complicated and possibly precedent-setting tale.
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
Reposted by Fatima Syed
Genocide news: Israel has assassinated four more journalists, targeting them at Nasser hospital. Meanwhile famine has been declared in Gaza - caused by Israel's denial of humanitarian aid AND destruction of food/water sources. This is the first time famine confirmed outside Africa
August 25, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Genocide news: Israel has assassinated four more journalists, targeting them at Nasser hospital. Meanwhile famine has been declared in Gaza - caused by Israel's denial of humanitarian aid AND destruction of food/water sources. This is the first time famine confirmed outside Africa
Reposted by Fatima Syed
Wrote a column thenarwhal.ca/seasonal-dep... and talked to CBC's Allie Jaynes www.cbc.ca/radio/frontb... about how wildfires, smoke, extreme heat and other effects of climate change are making summer a bummer, and why I'm trying to push past my sadness about it to tap into my anger, and love.
I have seasonal depression in the summer now | The Narwhal
Extreme heat, wildfires and pests — fuelled by climate change — threaten to make summer the worst season in Canada. It’s time to talk about it
thenarwhal.ca
August 20, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Wrote a column thenarwhal.ca/seasonal-dep... and talked to CBC's Allie Jaynes www.cbc.ca/radio/frontb... about how wildfires, smoke, extreme heat and other effects of climate change are making summer a bummer, and why I'm trying to push past my sadness about it to tap into my anger, and love.
Here are some honest reflections on the challenges of being an energy reporter in Ontario.
There is a deep fear in the industry about the repercussions of having frank conversations about what it would take to move away from fossil fuels. But we need to
There is a deep fear in the industry about the repercussions of having frank conversations about what it would take to move away from fossil fuels. But we need to
“The hardest part about being an energy reporter in Ontario is that very few people in the industry actually want to talk to me,” @fatimabsyed.bsky.social writes.
Get the inside scoop on new reporting from The Narwhal in our latest newsletter: thenarwhal.ca/newsletter-e...
Get the inside scoop on new reporting from The Narwhal in our latest newsletter: thenarwhal.ca/newsletter-e...
Inside The Narwhal’s reporting on Enbridge in Ontario
Building trust with people in power is the hardest part of reporting on Enbridge in Ontario, writes Fatima Syed, energy reporter for The Narwhal
thenarwhal.ca
August 15, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Here are some honest reflections on the challenges of being an energy reporter in Ontario.
There is a deep fear in the industry about the repercussions of having frank conversations about what it would take to move away from fossil fuels. But we need to
There is a deep fear in the industry about the repercussions of having frank conversations about what it would take to move away from fossil fuels. But we need to
The Israeli military has a special unit called the “Legitimization Cell" assigned to identify Gaza-based journalists it could portray as undercover Hamas operatives, in an effort to blunt growing global outrage over Israel’s killing of reporters.
I'm going to be sick
www.972mag.com/israel-gaza-...
I'm going to be sick
www.972mag.com/israel-gaza-...
Israeli army unit tasked with linking Gaza journalists to Hamas
Treating the media as a battlefield, a secretive intelligence squad scoured Gaza for material to bolster Israeli hasbara — including questionable claims that would justify the killing of Palestinian r...
www.972mag.com
August 14, 2025 at 11:50 PM
The Israeli military has a special unit called the “Legitimization Cell" assigned to identify Gaza-based journalists it could portray as undercover Hamas operatives, in an effort to blunt growing global outrage over Israel’s killing of reporters.
I'm going to be sick
www.972mag.com/israel-gaza-...
I'm going to be sick
www.972mag.com/israel-gaza-...
"It was a moment when I hated everything. I hated journalism – now a lie for a world that does not hear us or see us, a world that waits for our deaths, waits for us to become the news instead of delivering it."
www.aljazeera.com/features/202...
www.aljazeera.com/features/202...
‘I knew these giants, Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Qreiqeh and Anas al-Sharif’
I met Mohammed and Anas during our coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza, and we were all in awe of them.
www.aljazeera.com
August 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
"It was a moment when I hated everything. I hated journalism – now a lie for a world that does not hear us or see us, a world that waits for our deaths, waits for us to become the news instead of delivering it."
www.aljazeera.com/features/202...
www.aljazeera.com/features/202...
Reposted by Fatima Syed
Buildings contribute 24% of Ontario’s emissions. Enbridge, with a near-monopoly on gas distribution here, is shuttering its clean energy arm for developers. Sources told @fatimabsyed.bsky.social Enbridge Sustain could have had a massive impact on building greener homes: thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enbr...
Enbridge Sustain shuttering commercial business | The Narwhal
Enbridge Sustain, the fossil fuel giant’s foray into clean technology in Ontario, is reducing low-emissions offerings and, sources say, laying off workers
thenarwhal.ca
August 14, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Buildings contribute 24% of Ontario’s emissions. Enbridge, with a near-monopoly on gas distribution here, is shuttering its clean energy arm for developers. Sources told @fatimabsyed.bsky.social Enbridge Sustain could have had a massive impact on building greener homes: thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enbr...
Reposted by Fatima Syed
In 2022, natural gas giant Enbridge launched Sustain, offering low-emissions technology to homeowners, developers and commercial customers. Now it's dropping the commercial arm, curtailing its commitment to help reduce emissions from Ontario's new builds.
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enbr...
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enbr...
Enbridge Sustain shuttering commercial business | The Narwhal
Enbridge Sustain, the fossil fuel giant’s foray into clean technology in Ontario, is reducing low-emissions offerings and, sources say, laying off workers
thenarwhal.ca
August 13, 2025 at 12:28 PM
In 2022, natural gas giant Enbridge launched Sustain, offering low-emissions technology to homeowners, developers and commercial customers. Now it's dropping the commercial arm, curtailing its commitment to help reduce emissions from Ontario's new builds.
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enbr...
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enbr...