Matt Simmons

Canadian LNG exports could make your heating bill go up | The Narwhal The Canadian LNG export industry is ‘really late to the party — and that party is almost over’: expert

All of the promises around B.C.’s nascent liquefied natural gas, or LNG, industry are big, reporter @writermjs.bsky.social writes.
But what does it actually mean for the Canadian economy? And for your gas bills?
He asked an expert to explain: thenarwhal.ca/canadian-lng...

Last week, we asked our readers to chip in $60,000 to cover some of the costs of our press freedom lawsuit against the RCMP. Never in our wildest dreams did we think more than 1,500 of you would step up, pitching in a total of … 🥁🥁🥁 … $140,000! 🎉

“We’re seeing this big push towards LNG expansion to diversify Canada’s exports beyond the United States, but these are multi-billion dollar and multi-decade projects … Investing in LNG as a supposed transition fuel in the meantime would be a long, costly detour.”

More at @thenarwhal.ca

Kitimat residents adjust to life alongside new LNG Canada plant | The Narwhal LNG Canada has loaded and shipped the first of at least 170 ships with liquefied natural gas destined for overseas markets

B.C. town ‘built by industry’ adjusts to life with LNG: my latest from The Narwhal on how the northwest is changing.

thenarwhal.ca/kitimat-lng-...

On contradictions A multitude of truths and opening ourselves to the beauty of complexity

On contradictions and an argument in favour of confusion aspenmag.ca?p=127

Tree planting is a microcosm of broader society — sexual violence is everywhere. And the culture and situational factors at play in the industry, where remoteness and isolation crash into a work hard, play hard atmosphere, increases the risk of assault, especially for young women. Read with care.

The truth about sexual violence in tree-planting | The Narwhal Drop a group of young people into a tree-planting camp and some will find fun and freedom. Others will face sexism or even assault

Tree-planting puts a young workforce in remote camps for weeks or months at a time. From bush parties to much-anticipated days off, it’s an environment that can foster sexual violence — a difficult truth the industry is now facing, @writermjs.bsky.social reports thenarwhal.ca/tree-plantin...

CNRL broke deal to deactivate B.C. pipelines | The Narwhal Documents reveal that oil and gas giant Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (CNRL) failed to follow its own plan to deactivate thousands of B.C. pipelines

SCOOP: One of Canada’s biggest oil and gas companies needed to decommission thousands of pipelines. It failed to deliver, and the BC Energy Regulator didn’t levy any financial penalties, docs show. VIA @writermjs.bsky.social & @zakvescera.bsky.social with @theijf.org thenarwhal.ca/bc-energy-re...

Listening is quiet resistance | Aspen In stillness, little words and quiet truths.

aspenmag.ca?p=111

humans are seasonal creatures - Aspen New research from the University of Michigan explains how our cells connect with seasonal cycles.

aspenmag.ca?p=96

Bill C-5: Canada’s push to fast-track projects | The Narwhal Canada’s Bill C-5, B.C.’s Bill 15 and Ontario’s Bill 5 all promise to speed up development, from highways to clean energy. Why the rush?

From Canada’s Bill C-5 to B.C.’s Bill 15 and Ontario’s Bill 5, new laws to fast-track major projects are suddenly popular with Canadian politicians. Why are they in such a rush? And what do we risk by building big things fast? via @sobittersosweet.bsky.social #bcpoli thenarwhal.ca/thenarwhal-c...

on connection, and community | aspen In a world where our connections with each other and with the natural world are tenuous, we can find solace in community.

“Like the aspen spreading out across this hillside, reaching for the warmth of the sun with its many arms, we are all connected.”

The first words from my new project are out this morning, a reflection on connection and community and learning from the natural world.

aspenmag.ca?p=69

It was a small gathering hosted by SFU’s Mitigating Wildfire Initiative and McGill’s Max Bell school of public policy, with support from UBC.

Spent the past few days with an incredible group of ppl talking about wildfire and journalism — difficult, important conversations we need to have. Feeling inspired and honoured to be in the room. Grateful to the folks who organized, everyone who was there and all those on the frontlines

Some personal news, as they say… As fulfilling as my work at The Narwhal has been (and continues to be, I’m not leaving) I’ve been missing literary/essay writing.

So I’ve decided to start putting out words via a new thing, which I’m calling Aspen. To read the occasional thing, drop your email here

A Son, a Scientist, and the Secret of Bioluminescence | The Walrus My father spent a career decoding how fireflies make light. Now, as dementia sets in, he is grappling with life’s final mystery

Beautiful writing by @arnokopecky.bsky.social here: thewalrus.ca/a-son-a-scie...

‘Dirty dozen mines’ spotlight B.C.'s fast-track gamble on gold and silver projects | The Narwhal Mining regulations and environmental assessments in B.C. are supposed to protect the environment and public health and safety, but that’s not always what happens

As B.C. prepares to fast-track mining projects, a watchdog warns that foregoing regulations and environmental assessments could harm land, water, public health and relations between First Nations and the provincial government. thenarwhal.ca/mining-dirty...

B.C. approves PRGT pipeline, setting stage for conflict | The Narwhal The green light for the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline could mean a ‘long, hot summer’ of conflict, one Indigenous leader warns

B.C. has approved the PRGT pipeline, paving the way for construction to start — and setting the stage for what one First Nations leader warns could be a “long, hot summer” of conflict. #bcpoli via @writermjs.bsky.social @sobittersosweet.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/prgt-pipelin...

B.C. approves PRGT pipeline, setting stage for conflict | The Narwhal The green light for the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline could mean a ‘long, hot summer’ of conflict, one Indigenous leader warns

BREAKING: The British Columbia government just granted the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline a designation permanently securing its environmental approval, paving the way for construction to start this summer. Conflict on the ground could soon follow

thenarwhal.ca/prgt-pipelin...

Why are First Nations closing B.C. parks? | The Narwhal Two popular parks have been closed in B.C. and the public backlash is missing the point: Indigenous Rights

For @thenarwhal.ca, I considered why people feel so entitled to parks. Public space! My tax dollars! Racism! Good news, I address all that here: thenarwhal.ca/bc-parks-fir...

A collage of a photo of a firefighter and a forest fire in the background, an image of the CJF Awards prize bowl, and red text on a multi-coloured background

CJF Award for Climate Solutions Reporting Finalist Spotlight: @thenarwhal.ca‬ was shortlisted for the story “The Healing Power of Fire,” which explores how Indigenous fire stewardship presents a path towards tackling one of the biggest climate emergencies facing humanity: wildfires. /1

Beneficial fire: the case for letting more B.C. wildfires burn | The Narwhal Experts say prescribed fire, cultural burning and other ‘beneficial fire’ are key to reducing wildfire risk and restoring ecosystems in B.C.

As bigger and hotter wildfires become part of the fabric of life on earth, some wildfire experts argue we need to find a way to get more “beneficial fire” on the landscape. It will take a shift in our thinking and relationship with fire, writes @writermjs.bsky.social:

thenarwhal.ca/beneficial-f...

Beneficial fire: the case for letting more B.C. wildfires burn | The Narwhal Experts say prescribed fire, cultural burning and other ‘beneficial fire’ are key to reducing wildfire risk and restoring ecosystems in B.C.

Latest from me, on how we think about wildfires — and why we might need to shift our thinking to accommodate more fire on the landscape. thenarwhal.ca/beneficial-f...

New from me: a story about fighting wildfire misinformation with humour and compassion!

How BC Wildfire Service is fighting misinformation | The Narwhal The BC Wildfire Service is trying a new approach to engaging on social media: kindness

The BC Wildfire Service is fighting misinformation with compassion as B.C. heads into the 2025 wildfire season. #bcpoli VIA @writermjs.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/bc-wildfires...

Why you won’t see IndigiNews among those sharing in the $100M Google news fund As the CJC hands out millions to ‘Canadian’ media under the federal Online News Act, our Indigenous newsroom is left behind

Why you won’t see IndigiNews among those sharing in the $100M Google news fund

As the CJC hands out millions to ‘Canadian’ media under the federal Online News Act, our Indigenous newsroom is left behind

indiginews.com/first-person...

🔥🔥🔥

It’s a huge honour to receive this nomination, alongside some serious heavy hitters in Canadian journalism. Grateful to my colleagues who I worked closely with on this series and the whole team at The Narwhal who pulled out all the stops to support the reporting.

New from me, in the wake of legislative changes introduced yesterday #bcpoli