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Emmerson Jull

@emmersonj.bsky.social
63 followers 25 following 19 posts

freelance reporter | climate & politics for Canada’s National Observer

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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
After 20+ years of lobbying, the Canadian insurance industry is crossing their fingers for an earthquake plan to be included in the upcoming federal budget. Here’s why insurers say they need government backing for an extreme earthquake that probably won’t happen in your lifetime:
nationalobserver.com
Insurers ‘very hopeful’ public-private earthquake coverage plan could be included in federal budget
Experts say a major earthquake will eventually affect Canadians. Insurers are lobbying the federal government to come up with a plan that will help pay for any damages.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Butting heads at Toronto’s mayoral debate last night: Chow promises to expand public services; Bradford vows to slash water bills and land transfer taxes. Chow is “fear-mongering,” Bradford is “flip-flopping,” and Chris Alexander has officially dropped out of the race @nationalobserver.com
nationalobserver.com
Chow and Bradford butt heads on budget and affordability in latest mayoral debate
A mayoral debate on Tuesday showed Toronto’s leading mayoral candidates at odds on how to make life in the city more affordable — an election-defining issue — as advance voting opened across the city.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Incredible multimedia story by @sonalg.bsky.social!
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Jimmy Thomson @jameswsthomson.com · 01/10/2026
Excellent work by @zoemas0n.bsky.social making a complicated topic very understandable. This is a very big deal that's completely buried within the coverage of C-39.
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Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 01/10/2026
The letter calls on the province to allow municipalities to make their own decisions regarding bike lanes and urges Ford to stop the project, arguing that bike lanes protect the health and safety of everyone on the road.
nationalobserver.com
Medical professionals urge Ford to reconsider Toronto bike lane removal
More than 600 healthcare workers have signed an open letter demanding the Ontario premier stop his plan to remove three major bike lanes in Toronto.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Ontario doctors have serious concerns about Ford’s plan to remove bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge, and University Ave. The removal is expected to cost $48 million and could increase collisions by as much as 54 per cent — with no promise of reducing traffic congestion.
nationalobserver.com
Medical professionals urge Ford to reconsider Toronto bike lane removal
More than 600 healthcare workers have signed an open letter demanding the Ontario premier stop his plan to remove three major bike lanes in Toronto.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Hi, just to clarify that 1.5 line! Canada’s Changing Climate Report projects the national avg temperature at +2.7C by 2040, while the global avg is projected at +1.5C for the same period. Canada is warming twice as fast as the global avg!
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
A mix of expected and unconventional attendees & sponsors at Canada’s national climate adaptation conference. Reporting from the event in Toronto for @nationalobserver.com #climate #canpoli
nationalobserver.com
Toronto climate adaptation conference brings together experts, advocates and industry to talk climate resilience
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Tasting room closures, harvest losses and abandoned contracts plagued Okanagan wineries this summer. Now some are calling for freeing inter-provincial trade to help the wine industry recover—a measure that could bring $3.6b in industry growth over the next 15 years. For @nationalobserver.com
nationalobserver.com
BC wineries barely survived wildfires. Now comes a trade war and provincial barriers
An unforgiving climate and rocky trade relations have pushed producers in Canada’s second-largest wine region, the Okanagan, to the brink of survival.
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Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 21/09/2026
New investigation: an Israeli app that allows political campaigns to feed supporters AI-generated arguments to use on social media has arrived in Canada. It's being used in the highest profile mayoral campaign in Canada, @rorywh.bsky.social reveals.
nationalobserver.com
Toronto mayoral candidate Bradford using Israeli app that feeds supporters AI-generated comments
The Victory App, a campaign tool built by the Israeli company LogiVote, prompted users to participate in a mission to post AI-written comments supportive of Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Local government really, really matters. My new starter pack for @nationalobserver.com is the perfect refresher as we head into municipal election season 🗳️
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Mississauga’s temporary ban on new data centres 10MW or greater took effect immediately following Wednesday’s moratorium approval. In Vaughan, where Microsoft has a multibillion dollar data centre expansion underway, councillors struck down a similar motion just one day earlier.
nationalobserver.com
Two Ontario cities, two very different answers on data centres
Councillors in Mississauga, Ont., voted 11-0 on Wednesday morning to enact a temporary ban on new data centre development in the city. But in nearby Vaughan, where a multibillion-dollar Microsoft expa...
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Cloe Logan @cloelogan.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Yesterday, protesters marched in Toronto, rallying against their government opening up public resources to the world’s wealthiest while prioritizing fossil fuel expansion. Today, Carney is pitching projects to major investors. Photos + words for @nationalobserver.com with @emmersonj.bsky.social
nationalobserver.com
More than 1,000 march in Toronto against Carney's investment summit
As Prime Minister Mark Carney's government geared up to pitch projects from LNG pipelines to gold mines, hundreds of protesters were downtown in hopes of crashing the night’s opening gala.
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Cloe Logan @cloelogan.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
And one from @emmersonj.bsky.social on data centres, which I expect to be especially helpful! We have more cooking. Let us know if there are questions you want answered/topics you'd like to see.
nationalobserver.com
Starter Pack: Data Centres
Households could see higher energy bills as a result of new data centres. The facilities can supply their own energy (usually by burning gas) or draw from the public grid, which is most common. When a...
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Cloe Logan @cloelogan.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
It's back-to-school time! Today, @nationalobserver.com is launching our 'Starter Pack' project. These are entry-level explanations that give you the basic knowledge you need to understand the biggest stories in Canada.
nationalobserver.com
Introducing Starter Packs by Canada’s National Observer
For students and educators, new Canadians and anyone who feels left behind by the news: an entry point into our national conversations.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Fish didn’t stand a chance
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Municipalities are cautiously optimistic about Ford’s draft playbook, which could complement the regulations that municipalities have been working towards or supersede them entirely. My latest in our Data versus Democracy series @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2026/08/20/n...
nationalobserver.com
Ford’s data centre playbook leaves municipalities wary of government’s heavy hand
The Ontario government's proposal includes little detailed information and no indication of whether this new framework will complement the data regulations that municipalities have been working toward...
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Cloe Logan @cloelogan.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Today, Ford spoke at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario con, reiterating what he said about Ontario having a "choice" re data centres. He said ON can build out the industry or "get left behind + risk Canadians' data being sent to the U.S. + into the hands of President Trump." Last week:
nationalobserver.com
Ford to municipalities opposing data centres: 'Either we do it, or Donald Trump's going to do it'
Ontario's premier was in Guelph at a provincial data centre to announce the province’s framework for its Data Centre Playbook, which is open for public comment for 30 days.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Oakville’s interim control bylaw is the first in Ontario to take effect. Latest for @nationalobserver.com with @rorywh.bsky.social
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Cloe Logan @cloelogan.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
A proposed municipal pause on AI data centres in Hamilton seemed like a done deal. All but 1 of the 16 elected officials in the city voted in favour of bringing the bylaw forward. Then, the majority flipped. Here's what happened + what implications it could have for other municipalities.
nationalobserver.com
Hamilton's mysterious data centre reversal haunts other municipalities
All but one of the 16 elected officials in the city had voted in favour of a bylaw that would put a pause on new data centres in the city for a year. Then, at a council meeting the following month whe...
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Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 04/08/2026
The province’s auditor general confirmed Friday that she is conducting a performance audit on wildland fire management.
nationalobserver.com
Not an inquiry, but an audit: Ontario to review its wildfire response
The province’s auditor general will be conducting a review of the Ministry of Natural Resources’ wildland fire management
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Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 30/07/2026
If the bylaw passes when it returns to council in September, it could set a precedent in Canada — but questions about its legality remain.
nationalobserver.com
Mississauga council votes unanimously to advance data centre moratorium
A proposed one-year pause on data centre applications was supported 11-0; the bylaw is subject to final approval in September.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Mississauga councillors vote 11-0 to support a one-year pause on data centres. If approved on Sept. 16, this could be the first interim control bylaw in Canada. It’s likely to face appeals. My latest for @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/29/n...
nationalobserver.com
Mississauga votes for data centre moratorium that could set Canadian precedent
A proposed one-year pause on data centre applications was supported 11-0; the bylaw is subject to final approval in September.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Some confusion at Mississauga’s council meeting today re: Bill 40 and who foots the energy bill for data centres. Bill 40 has the scaffolding, but no real criteria in place. I wrote about it yesterday for @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/29/n...
nationalobserver.com
Ontario says data centres will pay full energy costs — but some say power bills could still rise
Data centre companies will have to cover 100 per cent of their energy costs to connect to Ontario's power grid, Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said Tuesday — but some observers say the spike in demand ...
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Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 29/07/2026
Data centres are shaping up to be a major election issue for voters in Ontario's upcoming municipal elections.
nationalobserver.com
Where data centres are proposed, Ontario voters have questions for their local candidates
Residents are concerned over the risks presented by the developments, which are part of a global boom driven by AI. And the public backlash is starting to shape the platforms of candidates.
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Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 28/07/2026
MP Julie Dzerowicz, who represents the federal riding of Davenport, said the decision shows the government is listening to the people of Toronto — where the Liberals have an important upcoming byelection.
nationalobserver.com
Liberals back away from Ford's Billy Bishop expansion as Toronto by-election looms
MP Julie Dzerowicz, who represents the federal riding of Davenport and is the chair of the Toronto Liberal caucus, said the decision shows the Liberals are listening to the people of Toronto.
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Cloe Logan @cloelogan.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
I went through 10 years of budgets for this story to compare money allotted vs money spent. Almost every year under Ford, Ontario has significantly under budgeted the amount it spends on emergency wildfire response. Comparison chart in this story, which is not behind a paywall. #onpoli
nationalobserver.com
Ontario budgets just $150M for wildfires despite burning through almost double last year
In 2025’s budget, Ontario allotted $135 million for its Emergency Forest Firefighting fund, but the province ended up spending double that: $271 million, according to this year’s budget. The same docu...
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Today for @nationalobserver.com: Why critics are saying Ford’s promise to “spare no expense” fighting Ont fires doesn’t make up for this year’s $150mil budget.
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Canada's National Observer @nationalobserver.com · 17/07/2026
In the heat of the evacuations, and with a lack of reliable information, evacuees are hearing rumours — including fears that if their homes are razed by wildfires, it will be easier for industry to start mining in their community.
nationalobserver.com
Ontario wildfire response fans fires of distrust
With the provincial government keeping a low profile and a dearth of solid information, some of the people impacted by the wildfires raging in Ontario's north are seeking alternative explanations.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Ontario taxpayers were charged thousands of dollars for MPP hotel stays, despite them living within 50km from Queen’s Park. Is paying the money back enough? @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/16/n...
nationalobserver.com
MPPs billing taxpayers for Toronto hotels should be held accountable, opposition says
Several Ontario Progressive Conservatives charged tens of thousands of dollars in hotel stays to public despite living in or near the city.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Most recently for @nationalobserver.com, on the ground during Tuesday's record-breaking heat:
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Mississauga is just one Ontario municipality rallying against giant data centres. Footage from a town hall and councillor statements show support for a moratorium on data centre developments + concern towards current 229k sq ft Prologis proposal: www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/10/n...
nationalobserver.com
A proposed Mississauga data centre experiences growing pushback
At least six of the city's councillors are having second thoughts about a proposed data centre.
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Emmerson Jull @emmersonj.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
My first story as a freelance GTA reporter for @nationalobserver.com, on whether taxpayers will foot the bill for the newly proposed Alberta-Ontario pipeline.
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