Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 25/09/2026There are a lot of eyes on Donald Trump's threats to Canadian sovereignty right now — and rightfully so. But our own politicians are also articulating a new vision for Canada. And The Narwhal is keeping tabs on what it means for the natural places we cherish — places like Lake *Ontario*. 🧵 13921
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 21/09/2026As I reported last week in @thenarwhal.ca , the Ontario government is announcing today that Pickering nuclear plant, which produces 10% of the province's energy, is being shut down for refurbishments that will take 5-7 years Here's everything you need to know: thenarwhal.ca/ontario-pick... #onpolithenarwhal.caPickering’s nuclear plant unplugs next week. Here’s what that means| The NarwhalOne of Ontario’s major nuclear plants shuts down for refurbishments next week. That means the province will burn more natural gas for power 4169
Reposted by Fatima SyedFatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 17/09/2026NEW: Pickering nuclear station, which produces 10% of Ontario’s energy, goes fully offline next week, OPG's CEO told the Canada Investment Summit. The ensuing energy crunch will be covered by gas, storage & imports from America (even amid a trade war). thenarwhal.ca/ontario-pick... #onpolithenarwhal.caPickering’s nuclear plant unplugs next week. Here’s what that means| The NarwhalOne of Ontario’s major nuclear plants shuts down for refurbishments next week. That means the province will burn more natural gas for power 02415
Reposted by Fatima SyedElaine Anselmi @elaineanselmi.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Despite current tensions, Canada and the U.S. have actually had a pretty incredible partnership when it comes to cleaning up the Great Lakes. Here's an example of that: thenarwhal.ca/ontario-lake...thenarwhal.caOnce polluted by industry, a Lake Superior bay is now in the clearFor decades, Canada and the U.S. have had an agreement to clean up the most polluted sites on the Great Lakes. Nipigon Bay is one of the success stories 1258
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 17/09/2026The Pickering Nuclear plant, which produces a tenth of Ontario’s power, will shut down next week for refurbishment. @fatimabsyed.bsky.social looks at how the low-emissions power source will largely be replaced with natural gas, and what it means for Ontarians. thenarwhal.ca/ontario-pick...thenarwhal.caPickering’s nuclear plant unplugs next week. Here’s what that means| The NarwhalOne of Ontario’s major nuclear plants shuts down for refurbishments next week. That means the province will burn more natural gas for power 32218
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 17/09/2026NEW: Pickering nuclear station, which produces 10% of Ontario’s energy, goes fully offline next week, OPG's CEO told the Canada Investment Summit. The ensuing energy crunch will be covered by gas, storage & imports from America (even amid a trade war). thenarwhal.ca/ontario-pick... #onpolithenarwhal.caPickering’s nuclear plant unplugs next week. Here’s what that means| The NarwhalOne of Ontario’s major nuclear plants shuts down for refurbishments next week. That means the province will burn more natural gas for power 02415
Reposted by Fatima SyedDrew Anderson @drewanderson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026According to a leaked document, the government of Alberta is considering a massive overhaul of natural gas pipelines in the province, and billions in spending, to help drive an AI data centre boom. #abpoli #cdnpoli thenarwhal.ca/alberta-ai-d...thenarwhal.caLeaked doc suggests Alberta has sprawling plans to pave the way for AI data centres, more oil productionRewriting laws, creating Crown corporations that could rival TC Energy, building new natural gas pipelines and increasing prices for consumers: what a leaked document says about Alberta’s AI data centre and oil push 34931
Reposted by Fatima SyedFatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 10/09/2026After Ontario replaced the Endangered Species Act, ministry biologists were told they couldn't review developers' plans. We found that over 12 have since left, feeling their jobs "stopped feeling meaningful." Here's our latest investigation: thenarwhal.ca/bill-5-endan... #onpolithenarwhal.caInside Ontario’s endangered species office after Bill 5 | The Narwhal‘We were essentially silenced’: current and former Ministry of Environment officials say they were powerless after Doug Ford killed the Endangered Species Act 610577
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 10/09/2026Former and current staff at Ontario’s Ministry of Environment tell @fatimabsyed.bsky.social and @leahbortskuperman.bsky.social that Bill 5, and the death of the Endangered Species Act, left them powerless in protecting at-risk species. “We were essentially silenced.”thenarwhal.caInside Ontario’s endangered species office after Bill 5 | The Narwhal‘We were essentially silenced’: current and former Ministry of Environment officials say they were powerless after Doug Ford killed the Endangered Species Act 39774
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 10/09/2026After Ontario replaced the Endangered Species Act, ministry biologists were told they couldn't review developers' plans. We found that over 12 have since left, feeling their jobs "stopped feeling meaningful." Here's our latest investigation: thenarwhal.ca/bill-5-endan... #onpolithenarwhal.caInside Ontario’s endangered species office after Bill 5 | The Narwhal‘We were essentially silenced’: current and former Ministry of Environment officials say they were powerless after Doug Ford killed the Endangered Species Act 610577
Reposted by Fatima SyedDrew Anderson @drewanderson.bsky.social · 03/09/2026In July, I was invited to tour an operational coal mine in Alberta's foothills. A rare oppotunity, offered by a company that says it's trying to do better. But even if it strives to be better than its peers, can a coal mine be good? #abpoli thenarwhal.ca/alberta-rock...thenarwhal.caA glimpse inside an active Alberta coal mine, nestled in the RockiesIn a rare move, one company gave The Narwhal a tour of its coal mine in Alberta, as the province grapples with the future of the industry 1112
Reposted by Fatima SyedStephanie Carvin @stephaniecarvin.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Wake up, babe. The Prime Minister just dropped “hydronym”. 282115232170
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Trump renamed Lake Ontario on World Lake Day. you can't make this stuff up. 1111
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 25/08/2026As trade tensions reignite, Doug Ford is reviving a threat from an earlier phase of the Canada-U.S. trade war: cutting off electricity exports to the U.S. Can he really do that? What would the impact be? And how much power does Ontario export anyway? @fatimabsyed.bsky.social has answers:thenarwhal.caFord’s threat to cut power to U.S. amid trade war, explained | The NarwhalWith Canada-U.S. trade war escalating, Ontario Premier Doug Ford could use electricity as leverage against U.S. President Donald Trump 63113
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 20/08/2026With cities across Ontario pushing back against AI data centre proposals, the Doug Ford government has released its plan for dealing with the new developments — and it’s open for public comment. Here’s @fatimabsyed.bsky.social with the details:thenarwhal.caOntario’s AI data centre plan, explained | The NarwhalAs cities like Mississauga and Oakville, Ont., vote to block data centre development, the Doug Ford government has released its own playbook for the AI infrastructure 84847
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 20/08/2026It’s been the summer of data centre controversies in Ontario. From Armour Township to Oakville, councils are raising alarms about the few rules governing these huge facilities or the enormous resources they consume. Now, Ontario has a playbook I unpack it all: thenarwhal.ca/ontario-ai-d... #onpolithenarwhal.caOntario’s AI data centre plan, explained | The NarwhalAs cities like Mississauga and Oakville, Ont., vote to block data centre development, the Doug Ford government has released its own playbook for the AI infrastructure 35129
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 07/08/2026A Michigan court ruled Enbridge's Line 5 (which proposes to tunnel under two Great Lakes) needs to be assessed again for environmental impacts. Doug Ford used that decision to pitch a new Canadian pipeline, even as Ontario's reliance on U.S. oil & gas grows thenarwhal.ca/doug-ford-li... #onpolithenarwhal.caFord pitches Canadian pipeline as Michigan halts Line 5 update | The NarwhalWith Enbridge project on hold, Premier Doug Ford re-upped new Alberta-Ontario oil pipeline plan, while deepening ties to U.S. natural gas 1133
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 31/07/2026It's getting harder and harder to tell well-informed stories across Canada, but patience and persistence still pay off. In this week's newsletter, a behind-the-scenes look at how @fatimabsyed.bsky.social's latest scoop came about ⤵️thenarwhal.caGetting the story, when governments won't talkIt’s increasingly difficult to tell well-informed stories across Canada. But a recent Narwhal investigation shows patience and persistence still pay off 14216
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 30/07/2026The Doug Ford gov't got >17,000 responses on its plan to weaken species-at-risk law. Internal analysis shows 98.98% opposed, warning of "negative impacts on Ontario’s biodiversity and ecological integrity." The government moved ahead anyway Exclusive @thenarwhal.ca thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enda...thenarwhal.ca98.98% opposition to Doug Ford’s new endangered species law revealed | The NarwhalInternal Ministry of Environment analysis shows ‘confusion’ and concerns about ‘negative impacts on Ontario’s biodiversity’ raised over the Species Conservation Act, under Bill 5 77055
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 30/07/2026SCOOP: The Doug Ford government received 98.98% opposition to its plan to replace Ontario’s Endangered Species Act with weaker legislation, according to an internal analysis viewed by @fatimabsyed.bsky.social. The bill passed anyway. thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enda...thenarwhal.ca98.98% opposition to Doug Ford’s new endangered species law revealed | The NarwhalInternal Ministry of Environment analysis shows ‘confusion’ and concerns about ‘negative impacts on Ontario’s biodiversity’ raised over the Species Conservation Act, under Bill 5 21321210
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 24/07/2026“This is a dream that could truly change the world. Friends, the era of empty rhetoric on the environment is over. We’re taking real action that will produce real, tangible results.” — Stephen Harper, 2007 @meyer.bsky.social on 19 years of carbon capture promises: thenarwhal.ca/newsletter-c...thenarwhal.caCanada’s carbon capture chronicle | The NarwhalTo catalogue Canadian leaders’ promises on carbon capture, I had to go through national archives. The story is one of big dreams, with little results 54119
Reposted by Fatima SyedFatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 23/07/2026In 2021, First Nations in northern Ontario gave Doug Ford an 82-page wildfire emergency plan. Five years later, two First Nations have burned to the ground, hundreds evacuated — and the province still can't answer "how many beds do you have?" thenarwhal.ca/ontario-igno... #onpolithenarwhal.caFirst Nations gave Doug Ford a wildfire plan. Ontario ignored it | The NarwhalIndigenous leaders and the auditor general gave Ontario several emergency management recommendations over the years. Little progress was made 15037
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 23/07/2026In 2021, Premier Doug Ford was personally presented with 20 recommendations to improve emergency management in northern Ontario. The auditor general later offered another 30. Little progress was made before the deadliest wildfire season on record. thenarwhal.ca/ontario-igno...thenarwhal.caFirst Nations gave Doug Ford a wildfire plan. Ontario ignored it | The NarwhalIndigenous leaders and the auditor general gave Ontario several emergency management recommendations over the years. Little progress was made 1014899
Reposted by Fatima SyedElaine Anselmi @elaineanselmi.bsky.social · 23/07/2026Nishnawbe Aski Nation handed Premier Doug Ford a plan to support First Nations in emergency situations, like the wildfires now ravaging northern Ontario. “That was five years ago,” Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler tells @fatimabsyed.bsky.social. “There’s been no response.” thenarwhal.ca/ontario-igno...thenarwhal.caFirst Nations gave Doug Ford a wildfire plan. Ontario ignored it | The NarwhalIndigenous leaders and the auditor general gave Ontario several emergency management recommendations over the years. Little progress was made 0149
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 23/07/2026In 2021, First Nations in northern Ontario gave Doug Ford an 82-page wildfire emergency plan. Five years later, two First Nations have burned to the ground, hundreds evacuated — and the province still can't answer "how many beds do you have?" thenarwhal.ca/ontario-igno... #onpolithenarwhal.caFirst Nations gave Doug Ford a wildfire plan. Ontario ignored it | The NarwhalIndigenous leaders and the auditor general gave Ontario several emergency management recommendations over the years. Little progress was made 15037
Reposted by Fatima SyedCarl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026I wanted to show the political claims, year by year. Most of it is online on government or parliamentary websites. I also went to the national archives and found a Harper speech from soon after he became PM. “Friends, the era of empty rhetoric on the environment is over," he said. It was 2007. 1306
Reposted by Fatima SyedCarl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026I've been reporting on federal politics since 2008. My entire career I've listened to politicians talk about using carbon capture to cut industrial emissions. Carbon capture removed 68 million tonnes over a 24-year period. The oilsands added much more, 92 million tonnes, over a single year, 2024. 38842
Reposted by Fatima SyedCarl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026It is 2006. The government wants to cut emissions with carbon capture. It is 2016. The government wants to cut emissions with carbon capture. It is 2026. The government wants to cut emissions with carbon capture. thenarwhal.ca/canada-carbo...thenarwhal.caCarbon capture promises by politicians span almost 20 years | The NarwhalIt’s expensive and unproven at scale. From Stephen Harper to Mark Carney, Canadian politicians have made promises on carbon capture — yet to be delivered 25316156
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 17/07/2026It's harrowing to compare the reflections of those self-evacuating and the assured messaging from leaders. I'm generally out of words but I had to find some for this newsletter. At some point, we have to start having serious convos about what it means to be prepared for recurring emergencies 1167
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 02/07/2026The Solutions Journalism Network lauded our immersive multimedia feature, written by @fatimabsyed.bsky.social, on Ontario’s transition away from coal power — which took third place in the multimedia category of the awards! 🥳 thenarwhal.ca/ontario-coal...thenarwhal.caOntario coal retrospective wins solutions journalism award | The NarwhalThe Solutions Journalism Network lauded an immersive multimedia feature on Ontario’s transition away from coal power 02910
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 19/06/2026Did I hear all this right? "Canada is the first team outside Europe and Africa to hit 5 goals" "the last time a world cup nation had a hatrick was England in 1965" LFG CANADA 💗 813319
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 17/06/2026Also this week, the Carney government unveiled new legislation to provide safe drinking water in First Nations. But the bill stops short of recognizing clean drinking water as a human right, and it's facing criticism from Indigenous groups, @meyer.bsky.social and @fatimabsyed.bsky.social report.thenarwhal.caCanada’s First Nations water bill C-37 faces criticism | The Narwhal‘I wish one of Canada’s major projects were to provide us clean drinking water’: Canada’s new bill stops short of recognizing First Nations right to clean water 1219
Reposted by Fatima SyedCarl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 16/06/2026Exclusive: my interview with Guilbeault - he thinks Carney believes the markets will largely take care of climate, that this govt has a "negative bias" towards regulations, and that Canada will likely be sued for violating the net-zero law if it doesn't ditch it first thenarwhal.ca/guilbeault-e...thenarwhal.caGuilbeault on Carney’s faith in a market fix for climate change | The NarwhalFormer environment minister Steven Guilbeault says he was ‘becoming a tool to justify some of the things the government is doing,’ as he leaves the Liberals 1011366
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 16/06/2026“I think it’s a deflection of responsibility, a fear of provinces, a fear of nation-building projects not coming through because our nations want to protect water.” Here's our in-depth story about the latest federal attempt to provide clean water to First Nations. thenarwhal.ca/canada-first...thenarwhal.caCanada’s First Nations water bill C-37 faces criticism | The Narwhal‘I wish one of Canada’s major projects were to provide us clean drinking water’: Canada’s new bill stops short of recognizing First Nations right to clean water 14625
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 16/06/2026"I was coming to the conclusion that by staying inside, I was becoming a tool to justify some of the things the government is doing, which I find to be unjustifiable." Read every word of Stephen Guilbeault's explosive exit interview with @meyer.bsky.social. 14919
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 29/05/2026The last time the federal government issued an emergency order to protect a species was in February 2023 to save Canada’s last spotted owls. (That was Stephen Guillbeault.) Will they do it again for the piping plovers on Wasaga Beach (which Ontario has stripped of all protections)? #onpoli 23020
Reposted by Fatima SyedCarl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 15/05/2026Don't miss this one by superstar colleague Fatima, who got her hands on a leaked recording about the Ford government's biggest disruption in 80 years to the authorities who help protect our local drinking water 054
Reposted by Fatima SyedFatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 13/05/2026The Doug Ford gov't is moving ahead with the consolidation of conservation authorities, but a leaked recording reveals ministry officials don't know the details of how drinking water protections will continue, due in part to cabinet confidentiality New 🍨 by me thenarwhal.ca/conservation... #onpolithenarwhal.caOntario clamps down on conservation authorities amid consolidation | The NarwhalA leaked meeting recording suggests many questions remain around conservation authority merger and impacts on Ontario’s drinking water 44738
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 13/05/2026The Doug Ford gov't is moving ahead with the consolidation of conservation authorities, but a leaked recording reveals ministry officials don't know the details of how drinking water protections will continue, due in part to cabinet confidentiality New 🍨 by me thenarwhal.ca/conservation... #onpolithenarwhal.caOntario clamps down on conservation authorities amid consolidation | The NarwhalA leaked meeting recording suggests many questions remain around conservation authority merger and impacts on Ontario’s drinking water 44738
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 05/05/2026Mark Carney has repeatedly said Canada/the rest of the world need to do things differently to create a new world order. But internal docs show his Major Projects office operates similarly to Trump's energy "tiger team. Huge exclusive from @meyer.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/carney-major... #cdnpolithenarwhal.caHow Trump’s energy ‘tiger team’ and Carney’s fast-tracking office align | The NarwhalOfficials compared Canada’s Major Projects Office with the U.S. National Energy Dominance Council, which ushers fossil fuel projects through approval 0114
Reposted by Fatima SyedCarl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 23/04/2026When Canadians talk about affordability, the discussion often revolves around the cost of fuel. While we pay for gasoline and diesel with our credit cards, in study after study, scientists have shown we also pay with our health. We should talk about it more. thenarwhal.ca/climate-chan...thenarwhal.caHow Canadians pay for fossil fuels with our bodies | The NarwhalThe affordability crisis brings about talk of the price at the gas pump, but more Canadians are realizing the cost climate change is taking on our health 4146100
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 23/04/2026The Doug Ford gov't has passed its 2026 budget bill, which officially removes Ontario's right to know. How he governs, why decisions get made—we'll never know. The same bill consolidates conservation authorities. That's your democracy & your drinking water being impacted #onpoli 4244161
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 22/04/2026Tomorrow The Narwhal is launching something special. Hint: it has to do with everyone's favourite subject — 💸 Stay tuned. 1229
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 20/04/2026The Ford government introduced a new bill to use AI as part of its "one project, one process" — or 1P1P — system for fast-tracking mining and development projects. Here's a story about how that process works, by @fatimabsyed.bsky.social thenarwhal.ca/ontario-1p1p...thenarwhal.caInside the Doug Ford government’s mining push | The NarwhalOntario says its ‘one project, one process’ (1P1P) framework will speed mining approvals. Many First Nations leaders have questions 43020
Reposted by Fatima SyedThe Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 17/04/2026ICYMI: @fatimabsyed.bsky.social and Matt McIntosh spoke to a dozen sources, received a leaked document and interviewed Ontario’s environment minister for this story on the little-known water protection committees, tied up in the conservation authority changes: thenarwhal.ca/ontario-sour...thenarwhal.caHow conservation authority changes could affect Ontario's drinking water | The NarwhalOntario drinking water committees, formed following the Walkerton tragedy, face an uncertain future as conservation authorities amalgamate 03023
Reposted by Fatima SyedElaine Anselmi @elaineanselmi.bsky.social · 15/04/2026Ontario's plans to protect drinking water amidst the conservation authority amalgamation are "a work in progress." @fatimabsyed.bsky.social and Matt McIntosh have the story: 12113
Reposted by Fatima SyedFatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 15/04/2026We @thenarwhal.ca spent a month investigating what Doug Ford's conservation authority consolidation means for drinking water protections. 12 sources & a leaked doc reveal the system built to prvent another Walkerton crisis is in flux—and experts are worried. thenarwhal.ca/ontario-sour... #onpolithenarwhal.caHow conservation authority changes could affect Ontario's drinking water | The NarwhalOntario drinking water committees, formed following the Walkerton tragedy, face an uncertain future as conservation authorities amalgamate 07047
Reposted by Fatima SyedBlen @blenblanchard.bsky.social · 15/04/2026“The government has proposed permitting communal wells for private development… a new subdivision, for example, could draw from its own well… communal wells aren’t currently overseen by source protection committees.” Concerning when considering potential contamination or overuse. 074
Reposted by Fatima SyedCarl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 15/04/2026Are you concerned about tap water safety? "The Narwhal spoke to 12 people, including lawyers, members of three source protection committees and several conservation authority staff, many of whom spoke anonymously (...) these experts worry about the loss of local input, knowledge and protections." 024