The Narwhal is expanding its reach on video platforms like YouTube and TikTok. First up? An explainer on the past, present and future of carbon pricing in Canada
Some days, I admit, I’m one of those young people who turns to video apps to find out what’s going on in the world — I scroll endlessly on TikTok and Instagram (I know, I know, forgive me), and go down YouTube rabbit holes to really understand something.
It’s been nearly three years since I joined The Narwhal, and my dream (or as other editors would say, bellyaching) of having videos become a part of our storytelling is finally a reality — thanks to Manuel Baechlin, the first-ever video producer to join our small but growing publication.
The tax wasn’t supposed to be this controversial. A few more cents a litre at the gas station — to get us to think more conscientiously about fossil fuels and change our behaviour — which most people would get back in rebates, anyway. (This, mind you, is the consumer carbon tax, not to be confused with the price for big polluters.)
Now, the consumer carbon tax has been disavowed by seemingly all Canadian politicians, with Liberal Leader Mark Carney already axing it in his role as prime minister. And that industrial price I just mentioned? Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wants to axe that one, too. It’s all a big mess and, with the federal election approaching, we wanted to break it all down.
“It was just so fun, learning about all these things in greater detail and then getting to share that with others,” Manuel told me.
“I spent a long time thinking about ways to diversify the visuals for this video,” he said. “During one of our team calls we all got treated to an amazing presentation with pictures of handwritten notes and I thought, ‘Okay, I love the tangible, crafty look.’ Lots of glue, coloured paper and bad handwriting later, the carbon pricing video suddenly had stop-motion components to replace some of the digital animation.”
P.S. As Manuel told me in this Q&A, “darn good journalism is a great ingredient for making darn good videos … and I love making darn good videos.” Is there a darn good Narwhal story you’d love to see broken down into video format? Send Manuel a note so his creative brain starts cooking something up!
Apply for our 2025 Indigenous editorial fellowship
To tell stories about Indigenous nations, we need to build capacity for Indigenous journalists in Canadian media — including Indigenous editors. That’s why this year, The Narwhal is hiring an Indigenous editorial fellow to work with and learn from our team of editors and reporters for the summer.
It’s a unique opportunity to dig into the fundamentals of fact-checking and editing while working on impactful stories from Indigenous communities — we’re pretty excited about it! Applications are open until April 25. For questions about the role, drop me a line!
— Michelle Cyca, senior editor
This week in The Narwhal
B.C. quietly allowed an oil and gas giant to sidestep rules for more than 4,300 pipelines By Matt Simmons & Zak Vescera
B.C.’s energy regulator has the power to grant exemptions — without notifying the public. Experts are raising the alarm about the process, saying the regulator is playing soft with fossil fuel companies that break rules.
The Anishinaabek youth bringing land-based learning to their peers By Leah Borts-Kuperman READ MORE
Poilievre vows to grant oil and gas industry’s entire wishlist By Carl Meyer READ MORE
Docs reveal how much BC Hydro power new LNG and mining projects want. Who will pay for it? By Shannon Waters READ MORE
‘I’m fiercely pro-fur’: Vogue’s Christian Allaire schools readers on Indigenous fashion By Denise Balkissoon READ MORE
What we’re reading
Greenland is rich in minerals, which is another reason why it’s been in the crossfire of Donald Trump’s colonization dreams, Matt Simon writes for Grist. The piece is part of its latest mining series, Unearthed, which you should also check out!
There’s an underwater haven with carbon sinks nestled away in the Indian Ocean. Its seagrass habitats are being decimated by a multinational fleet of fishing ships, Ian Urbina writes for The Globe and Mail — and it desperately needs regulations. (Paywalled)
That feeling when you’re just so excited to see The Narwhal on YouTube and TikTok, and you just can’t wait to tell everyone.
Content for Apple News or Article only Get the inside scoop on The Narwhal’s environment and climate reporting by signing up for our free newsletter. This...
Your access to our journalism is free — always. Sign up for our weekly newsletter for investigative reporting on the natural world in Canada you won’t find anywhere else.
Your access to our journalism is free — always. Sign up for our weekly newsletter for investigative reporting on the natural world in Canada you won’t find anywhere else.
With headlines blaring about tariffs, a trade war and a 51st state, it can be easy to feel helpless. Here’s where I see hope: The Narwhal is reporting doggedly on issues surrounding the natural world in Canada that feel so under threat today — including the autonomy and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples. It’s why I’m a member — and why I hope you’ll be one of 400 readers who joins me this April. Sign up now and receive a Narwhal tote bag as a gift of thanks! — Tanya Talaga, journalist, author and recent Narwhal board chair
With headlines blaring about tariffs, a trade war and a 51st state, it can be easy to feel helpless. Here’s where I see hope: The Narwhal is reporting doggedly on issues surrounding the natural world in Canada that feel so under threat today — including the autonomy and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples. It’s why I’m a member — and why I hope you’ll be one of 400 readers who joins me this April. — Tanya Talaga, journalist, author and recent Narwhal board chair
