Before I get into the whirlwind week in politics, I have some good news to share: 230 of you have stepped up to invest in Canadian media about Canada’s greatest asset — the environment!
That means we get to keep investigating issues you have the right to know about, while keeping our reporting free from corporate influence — and free for everyone to read.
We’re just 120 members away from reaching our goal this September — which means we only have 120 Lake Ontario totes left! Will you take the plunge?Join our pod today so you can signal your virtues in style.
That’s the number of mentions “climate” gets, vaguely, in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s latest omnibus Bill C-39 — the Building Canada Strong Act — which has been lauded by industry while attracting fierce scrutiny from environmental and labour groups.
The bill, Ontario and climate investigations reporter Carl Meyer details, could have massive implications for projects of “national interest,” from pipelines to power lines. How that interest is defined or determined is still unclear (though Carney’s been Prime Minister for nearly 600 days).
The government claims C-39 will maintain “strong environmental safeguards” (though the timelines to assess risks to land, water, animals and communities are being tightened). It also says it will uphold Indigenous Rights (though the plan is to consolidate consultation processes with Indigenous groups).
When the feds first proposed some of these sweeping changes, in May, they were met with widespread concern. Over the summer, a public comment period saw 26,000 emails and 40 written submissions sent to the Carney government. While there was support for speeding up some project approvals, many also noted reform should not come at the expense of environmental protection or Indigenous Rights.
Carl, who has reported on climate policy for a decade from Ottawa, told me “people in Canada very clearly noted this could weaken accountability and diminish the independent role of scientists and Indigenous expertise — so it’s hard to reconcile with this move.”
The reverberations of the “build baby build mentality,” as one lawyer put it, are being felt across the country. In Nova Scotia, the feds declined to study the impacts of two gas-fired power plants near Pictou Landing First Nation, and decided consultation with Mi’kmaq communities is unnecessary despite their strong opposition and environmental concerns. Freelance journalist Cameron Fenton travelled from B.C. to report this story.
P.S. Journalists like Cameron are only able to spend weeks reporting out stories because of 7,600 readers like you who support our independent Canadian journalism with recurring donations. Will you join them? We’ve got 120 Lake Ontario tote bags left for anyone who becomes a member this September!
In case you missed it: we’re looking for two smart people to help us make The Narwhal even stronger for years to come!
Are you an expert in fundraising strategy? Then our director of philanthropy role might be the perfect fit for you as we look to level up the relationships we need to keep this special place thriving.
Want to be on the frontlines of supporting our members? We’re hiring for a development coordinator in the Victoria area to help make the day-to-day operations of our fundraising program shine.
The application deadline for both positions is Oct. 2. Spread the word!
This week in The Narwhal
The election is on. So is B.C.’s push for more LNG By Shannon Waters
B.C. issued a key approval for a massive expansion of FortisBC’s Tilbury LNG facility one day before David Eby’s snap election call, putting the province’s LNG push squarely in the political spotlight.
Orphan wells are an issue across Western Canada. But one province has far fewer than the others — why? By Eva Wasney READ MORE
After 167 years, this Salish woolly dog pelt has returned to B.C. By Santana Dreaver READ MORE
A border town’s drinking water hangs in the balance of a proposed U.S. mine By Shilpashree Jagannathan READ MORE
As Nova Scotia tries to kick-start uranium mining, residents worry while industry shrugs By Jeremy Hull READ MORE
‘This is an emergency’: Manitoba First Nation calls for a stop to moose hunting in its traditional territory By Eva Wasney READ MORE
Limited-edition Lake Ontario tote bags, now being lovingly prepared for delivery by Mama G, volunteer extraordinaire. Make a monthly or yearly donation today to claim yours — hot off the ironing board!
