https://thenarwhal.ca Deep Dives, Cold Facts, & Pointed Commentary en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal hourly 1 https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-source-protection-conservation-authorities/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:41:14 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=158393 The groups were set up following the contamination crisis in Walkerton, Ont., and are still waiting for ‘clarity’ on how their work will continue after conservation authorities consolidate Fatima Syed and Matt McIntosh Investigation Conservation authorities fresh water Great Lakes Ontario Photo: Laura Proctor / The Narwhal A stream flows through a forested area in early spring, before the buds or any green vegetation has emerged. https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-old-oil-gas-wells-explainer/ Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=144463 An investigation by The Narwhal revealed Ontario can’t afford to plug its old gas wells and isn’t collecting enough from companies to ensure future well-capping costs don’t also fall to the taxpayer Matt McIntosh Explainer Great Lakes oil and gas Ontario Illustration: Shawn Parkinson / The Narwhal Black text explaining that the cost to plug oil and gas wells in Ontario is more than the financial security the province requires of operators, over top of an image of files on a table https://thenarwhal.ca/old-gas-wells-ontario/ Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=144367 The provincial government doesn’t have the funds to safely plug old wells — and it isn’t collecting enough from operators should it need to cap new ones Matt McIntosh Investigation oil and gas Ontario An oil well is seen, surrounded by a dusty brown farmer's field. https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-grass-carp-great-lakes/ Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=124780 Canada and the U.S. are working together to stop a massive fish from gobbling up Great Lakes greenery Matt McIntosh In-Depth Great Lakes Ontario Photo: Supplied by Fisheries and Oceans Canada A fishing boat on the Bay of Quinte next to a small island with one tree on it and another laid out across the water https://thenarwhal.ca/crop-breeding-climate-change-resilience/ Mon, 12 Aug 2024 11:03:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=115387 Bioengineering can help protect crops from extreme weather and pests. Climate change is making this more important than ever, but controversy and underfunding make crop-breeding a challenge Matt McIntosh Analysis climate adaptation climate change farming food security solutions Photo: Matt McIntosh Flat grey stones are stacked in long lines delineating homes long ago abandoned, on a grassy field under foggy skies https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-lake-erie-greenhouse-algae/ Mon, 16 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=89782 Experts say nutrient-rich water from greenhouse farms could be harming Lake Erie, but Ontario’s Environment Ministry has issued very few fines for potential algae-causing infractions since 2019 Matt McIntosh In-Depth farming Great Lakes Ontario urban development Photo: Kati Panasiuk / The Narwhal A greenhouse in the Ontario region of Windsor Essex https://thenarwhal.ca/farmers-restore-ontario/ Mon, 01 May 2023 11:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=77052 As a sixth-generation farmer in Ontario’s Essex County, I know the desire to restore wetlands and woodlands is real. But so are the barriers of time, money and political creativity Matt McIntosh Analysis biodiversity farming Ontario Photo: Matt McIntosh Trees and other greenery along farmer's fields and drainage ditches help prevent soil erosion and flooding. But farmers are unlikely to put time and money into growing them since municipalities have a habit of pulling them out: these Essex County trees are now gone.Trees and other greenery along farmer's fields and drainage ditches help prevent soil erosion and flooding. But farmers are unlikely to put time and money into growing them since municipalities have a habit of pulling them out: these Essex County trees are now gone.