Natasha Bulowski

Court strikes down Ford plan to remove Toronto bike lanes Transportation advocates are celebrating after an Ontario judge has ruled that the Ford government’s plan to remove bike lanes from three major Toronto roads is unconstitutional, citing risks to publi...

An Ontario judge rejected Doug Ford's plan to rip out Toronto bike lanes on Wednesday, citing safety risks as well as the government's lack of evidence the plan would even achieve its goal of reducing traffic.

Landmark court ruling a stark rebuke of Canadian position on climate change The ICJ finding is a watershed moment in the fight against climate change that should send shivers down the spine of the fossil fuel industry, while threatening to upend the legality of Prime Minister...

Huge climate win from the ICJ that sharply rebuked Canada which argued it was not bound by international law to seriously fight climate change.

Going forward “Canada's pursuit of mega fossil fuel expansion projects stands in stark defiance of the ICJ." www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/23/n...

More legal battles likely as First Nations launch first lawsuit against new federal, provincial laws Legal experts say the federal and Ontario governments’ refusal to consult on new legislation to fast-track mines and major infrastructure has left Indigenous communities with no other option and more ...

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Ontario Superior Court by nine First Nations, argues both pieces of legislation violate constitutional rights, treaty obligations and Canada’s international commitments. @matinsarfraz.bsky.social reports www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/16/n...

Snubs and scrambles ahead of Carney's major projects meeting with First Nations Many First Nations leaders see the haste with which the July 17 meeting regarding Bill C-5 was assembled as a reflection of the flaws in the bill itself.

“First Nations are united in an understanding that we have always supported economic development and prosperity for all,” said Cindy Woodhouse-Nepinak. “But not at the expense of our rights.” www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/15/n...

Nova Scotia pushes to develop offshore natural gas The call for exploration bids includes 13 parcels along the central Scotian Shelf and Slope, one of the most fished areas of the Atlantic Ocean known for its abundance of marine life.

The Nova Scotia government wants to restart fossil fuel activity off the coast. The call for exploration bids includes 13 parcels along the central Scotian Shelf and Slope, one of the most fished areas of the Atlantic Ocean, @cloelogan.bsky.social reports www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/08/n...

We're on the hunt for Canada's best splash pad Canada’s National Observer is digging into splash pads in the age of unbearably hot summers and wants to hear from you about your local splash pad. Is there one keeping you and your family cooler? Wha...

In the age of unbearably hot summers, @cloelogan.bsky.social is digging into splash pads and is on the hunt for the best one! If there's a great splash pad in your area, send your submissions to splashpad@nationalobserver.com by July 11. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/03/n...

Ford government proposes new powers to control who gets electricity access The Ford government is pushing ahead with legislation that would give it sweeping new powers to decide which companies — particularly data centres — can connect to Ontario’s electricity grid. Critics ...

Ontario's new proposed legislation would override existing laws that require utilities to connect all data centres indiscriminately and give the government sweeping new powers to decide which companies can plug in, writes @matinsarfraz.bsky.social www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/03/n...

Nain microgrid project lays the foundation for Labrador to get off diesel This month, the Newfoundland and Labrador government put forward $3 million for the microgrid project, a much-needed boost that will help the project reach completion.

A microgrid project in Nain, which will consist of two wind turbines and a battery storage system, is set to displace at least half of the fossil fuel consumed by the community each year. @cloelogan.bsky.social reports for @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/02/n...

As the party is currently operating “we are not only failing to uphold democratic values — we are failing the very people who elected us to represent them,” NDP Quebec representative Samah Khandker wrote in her resignation letter sent to party brass www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/26/n...

According to the email correspondence, the lowest entry fee proposed by the party brass is $75,000 (the last leadership race had a $30k fee, for context).That amount is unacceptable to members of the Indigenous Peoples’ Commission, said co-chair Zarbatany.

NDP grassroots buck against 'top-down' leadership race With the NDP reduced to seven seats, former MP Charlie Angus and party activists want to scrap data-driven or social media strategies and return to old-school organizing.

I wrote a bit about the leadership contest concerns with @rochellebaker1.bsky.social earlier this month.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/12/n...

Another thorny issue is around setting rules for the leadership race to repalce Jagmeet Singh. In the emails Gazan and executive member Ashley Zarbatany said the party brass unilaterally drafted leadership contest rules without giving time for input from executive members, let alone the grassroots

Some recent examples include the appointment of interim leader Don Davies -- Gazan was clear the issue is in the "flawed process" the executive used to select Davies, not an issue with Davies himself. The seven-person caucus has voiced their support of Davies.

NDP MP Leah Gazan weighed in, saying she, too, has "felt very disheartened with our party over the last while and its failure to uphold our constitution and democratic principles."
She wrote of facing racism, sexism, misogyny from the Party since her election in 2019 & need to change this to rebuild

"Let it be known: the NDP’s commitment to democracy often ends where its internal power structures begin," Khandker wrote in the resignation email.

"I can’t keep defending a structure that no longer reflects the values I hold."

The federal NDP is going through *very* rocky times marked by dissent among the federal executive, emails reveal. Full story coming soon!!

Samah Khandker (Quebec rep on Federal Executive & Federal Council) just resigned, citing concerns about a lack of transparency, democracy, and accountability

Bill C-5 passes the House of Commons vote after accelerated process The bill will give cabinet enhanced powers to approve and accelerate projects it deems to be in the national interest. It now goes to the Senate for final approval, where it is expected to pass.

Despite intense backlash from environmentalists and Indigenous rights holders, Carney got his way on the expedited major projects bill. @natashabulowski.bsky.social has been all over this file.

www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/20/n...

A ‘best offer’ is never actually that. Keep at ‘em CPers, you deserve more after years of sacrifice!

A US climate conspiracy has spread to Canada — and local politicians haven’t been warned Councillors have been left scrambling to warn their colleagues before more municipalities abandon their net-zero commitments, after conspiracy theories resurrected from the US Tea Party swamped their ...

Multiple councillors have told CNO that they did not receive warnings from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities about KICLEI's misinformation campaign, even though it knew politicians were being exposed.

Fascinating piece here from @rorywh.bsky.social www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/18/i...

From ice to inferno: Alaska issues historic heat advisory The state is warming more than twice as fast as the global average.

Alaska's historic heat advisory is a serious warning for a state where most people don’t have the coping mechanisms taken for granted elsewhere—shaded porches, central air, even knowing the signs of heatstroke.

“They're missing the whole point in that we're seeing more fires, a longer fire season, more intense fires, more severe fires, because the climate is changing due to human activities,” said fire expert Mike Flannigan.

“It's a serious omission, and that's being very polite.”

In 'serious omission,' G7 leaders release wildfire charter with no mention of climate change The discussions that led to the statement’s specific wording were not public. But governments of most G7 nations recognize the role of human activity in climate change, as well as the role of climate ...

G7 leaders released a joint statement on Tuesday about wildfires that did not include any reference to climate change.
“It's a serious omission, and that's being very polite," said fire and climate professor Mike Flannigan.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/17/n...

Conservatives supported the Liberals' move to rush C-5 through Parliament. A federal committee now gets two meetings to study/amend the bill (which, among many other things, would authorize cabinet to override a bunch of laws/regs to get major projects built)
t.co/P0teDMAjH6

Toronto builds net-zero leisure centre as Ford pushes private waterfront spa Unlike the Ford government’s Therme deal — criticized for its lack of public consultation — the City of Toronto is basing its first net-zero aquatic and community centre on three years of community in...

As controversy swirls around the Ford government’s secretive deal to hand over part of Toronto’s public waterfront for a massive private spa, the City of Toronto is moving in a different direction for its own pool. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/16/n...

Statement from CWA President Claude Cummings Jr.:

Members of our union and other journalists have been targeted by law enforcement with less-lethal rounds and tear gas and detained while covering the protests in Los Angeles.

Thank you all SO MUCH for your support. Our incredible Bargaining Committee worked into the night for us and reached a Tentative Agreement at around 5am! 🙏💪🥳🎉

As of now there will be NO STRIKE! Please continue enjoying all our work, knowing you all helped us get here! #unionstrong #voxunion #1u

Honoured to have won the Canadian Journalism Foundation's 2025 Climate Solutions Reporting award for @nationalobserver.com’s #BigGreenBuild series. My thanks to the #CJF and to the award's sponsor Intact for this recognition. Read all our coverage here: www.nationalobserver.com/special-repo...

NDP grassroots buck against 'top-down' leadership race With the NDP reduced to seven seats, Former MP Charlie Angus and party activists want to scrap data-driven or social media strategies and return to old-school organizing.

With the NDP reduced to seven seats, Former MP Charlie Angus and party activists are pushing back against a "top-down approach" to the NDP leadership race and instead are advocating for a return to grassroots organizing. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/12/n...

‘Harper’s dreams coming true’: MPs slam Carney’s fast-tracking plan Both the NDP and Greens are against the federal government's proposed legislation to fast-track major projects, while Patrick Bonin, Bloc Québécois environment and climate change critic, called Carney...

“Once a project is on that list, it's not a question of if it's going to move forward, but how,” Alexandre Boulerice, NDP critic for environment and climate change, said. “It's like Stephen Harper’s dreams coming true." www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/10/n...

(It's quite an exercise to imagine the potential ripple effects of any labour disruption at CP.)