Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The federal Liberals are sending mixed messages about their climate commitments after a recent combination of harsh words and generous gifts for the oil and gas industry.
Continue reading Mixed messages: Carney Liberals pledge money for LNG while bridling against industry demands
By Keith Stewart, originally published on Greenpeace
When Mark Carney became our Prime Minister, I asked myself: Can a former Goldman Sachs executive and central banker save Canada and the climate?
Then I realized: That’s the wrong question. To quote from the 19th century anti-slavery activist Frederick Douglass: “Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
We shouldn’t look to politicians like Mark Carney – or Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre – as top-down saviours. We should be asking: what kind of political space will there be for us as bottom-up organizers to advance our demands and win a better future?
Continue reading Mark Carney versus Pierre Poilievre on climate change policy (and other stuff)
If there were an election today, the polls show that Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative party would probably form the next government. This isn’t what is necessarily going to happen. I like to think of polls as ‘point in time’ snapshots which may be 100% accurate right now, but the situation can be very different tomorrow.
One of the trends I have noticed on 338Canada, which gleans data from many polls, is that support for the Liberals has been tacking upwards since Trudeau resigned (6 points), while support for the Conservatives and NDP has gone down (4 points each). If the Liberals pick a popular leader, we can expect their popularity to rise even higher in the polls – all of which is just to say that the as yet undeclared election is too far away to be certain.
Anyway Max Thaysen, one of our thought leaders here on Cortes, has been watching what Donald Trump, a Conservative leader in the United States, is doing and getting anxious about what this latest rendition of Canada’s Conservative Party might be like if it comes to power.
Continue reading Donald Trump, Canada’s Conservatives and uncertainties of the 2025 election
By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Wildfire season is never really over.
When infernos subside in one region, they begin somewhere else. As the world continues to heat up and the climate changes, forested areas like British Columbia will experience greater wildfire impacts year-round, including on the physical and mental health of frontline firefighters.
Continue reading 3 things you need to know about wildfires in BC
By Bhagyashree Chatterjee, The Squamish Chief, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As home insurance costs increase due to climate change, mitigation efforts can help residents stabilize their costs.
“We’re seeing more wildfires, floods, and storms driving up insurance costs,” said Justine Bowman, branch manager at Westland Insurance Group.
Over the past decade, the cost of claims related to natural disasters in Canada has tripled, reaching over $2 billion annually on average, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).
Continue reading How climate change impacts insurance costs
