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Fatima Syed

@fatimabsyed.bsky.social
13K followers 348 following 232 posts

Ontario reporter for The Narwhal. Vice-president of the Canadian Association of Journalists. Springsteen, space, sports, sweets

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Reposted by Fatima Syed
The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 25/09/2026
There 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*. 🧵
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
As 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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
Pickering’s nuclear plant unplugs next week. Here’s what that means| The Narwhal
One of Ontario’s major nuclear plants shuts down for refurbishments next week. That means the province will burn more natural gas for power
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
NEW: 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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
Pickering’s nuclear plant unplugs next week. Here’s what that means| The Narwhal
One of Ontario’s major nuclear plants shuts down for refurbishments next week. That means the province will burn more natural gas for power
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
Elaine Anselmi @elaineanselmi.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Despite 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.ca
Once polluted by industry, a Lake Superior bay is now in the clear
For 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
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 17/09/2026
The 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.ca
Pickering’s nuclear plant unplugs next week. Here’s what that means| The Narwhal
One of Ontario’s major nuclear plants shuts down for refurbishments next week. That means the province will burn more natural gas for power
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
NEW: 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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
Pickering’s nuclear plant unplugs next week. Here’s what that means| The Narwhal
One of Ontario’s major nuclear plants shuts down for refurbishments next week. That means the province will burn more natural gas for power
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
Drew Anderson @drewanderson.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
According 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.ca
Leaked doc suggests Alberta has sprawling plans to pave the way for AI data centres, more oil production
Rewriting 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
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
After 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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
Inside 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
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 10/09/2026
Former 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.ca
Inside 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
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
After 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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
Inside 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
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
Drew Anderson @drewanderson.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
In 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.ca
A glimpse inside an active Alberta coal mine, nestled in the Rockies
In 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
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
Stephanie Carvin @stephaniecarvin.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Wake up, babe. The Prime Minister just dropped “hydronym”.
The name Lake Ontario comes from the Wendat word Ontari’io, which, appropriately, means “the lake is beautiful, the lake is big”.

The name is more than 400 years old, predating both the Confederation of Canada and the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.

We know that America is changing. Their trading relationships, their foreign policies, their national monuments, their hydronyms. 

Canadians also know that naming reality means calling it Lake Ontario – then, now and always.
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Trump renamed Lake Ontario on World Lake Day. you can't make this stuff up.
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 25/08/2026
As 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.ca
Ford’s threat to cut power to U.S. amid trade war, explained | The Narwhal
With Canada-U.S. trade war escalating, Ontario Premier Doug Ford could use electricity as leverage against U.S. President Donald Trump
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 20/08/2026
With 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.ca
Ontario’s AI data centre plan, explained | The Narwhal
As 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
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
It’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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
Ontario’s AI data centre plan, explained | The Narwhal
As 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
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
A 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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
Ford pitches Canadian pipeline as Michigan halts Line 5 update | The Narwhal
With Enbridge project on hold, Premier Doug Ford re-upped new Alberta-Ontario oil pipeline plan, while deepening ties to U.S. natural gas
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 31/07/2026
It'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.ca
Getting the story, when governments won't talk
It’s increasingly difficult to tell well-informed stories across Canada. But a recent Narwhal investigation shows patience and persistence still pay off
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
The 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.ca
98.98% opposition to Doug Ford’s new endangered species law revealed | The Narwhal
Internal Ministry of Environment analysis shows ‘confusion’ and concerns about ‘negative impacts on Ontario’s biodiversity’ raised over the Species Conservation Act, under Bill 5
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 30/07/2026
SCOOP: 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.ca
98.98% opposition to Doug Ford’s new endangered species law revealed | The Narwhal
Internal Ministry of Environment analysis shows ‘confusion’ and concerns about ‘negative impacts on Ontario’s biodiversity’ raised over the Species Conservation Act, under Bill 5
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
The 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.ca
Canada’s carbon capture chronicle | The Narwhal
To catalogue Canadian leaders’ promises on carbon capture, I had to go through national archives. The story is one of big dreams, with little results
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
In 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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
First Nations gave Doug Ford a wildfire plan. Ontario ignored it | The Narwhal
Indigenous leaders and the auditor general gave Ontario several emergency management recommendations over the years. Little progress was made
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 23/07/2026
In 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.ca
First Nations gave Doug Ford a wildfire plan. Ontario ignored it | The Narwhal
Indigenous leaders and the auditor general gave Ontario several emergency management recommendations over the years. Little progress was made
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
Elaine Anselmi @elaineanselmi.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Nishnawbe 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.ca
First Nations gave Doug Ford a wildfire plan. Ontario ignored it | The Narwhal
Indigenous leaders and the auditor general gave Ontario several emergency management recommendations over the years. Little progress was made
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
In 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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
First Nations gave Doug Ford a wildfire plan. Ontario ignored it | The Narwhal
Indigenous leaders and the auditor general gave Ontario several emergency management recommendations over the years. Little progress was made
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
Carl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
I 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.
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Carl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
I'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.
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
Carl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
It 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.ca
Carbon capture promises by politicians span almost 20 years | The Narwhal
It’s expensive and unproven at scale. From Stephen Harper to Mark Carney, Canadian politicians have made promises on carbon capture — yet to be delivered
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
It'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
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The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 02/07/2026
The 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.ca
Ontario coal retrospective wins solutions journalism award | The Narwhal
The Solutions Journalism Network lauded an immersive multimedia feature on Ontario’s transition away from coal power
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Did 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 💗
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The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 17/06/2026
Also 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.ca
Canada’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
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
Carl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Exclusive: 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.ca
Guilbeault on Carney’s faith in a market fix for climate change | The Narwhal
Former 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
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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.ca
Canada’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
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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.
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
The 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
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
I just have sooooo many questions
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
Carl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Don'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
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Reposted by Fatima Syed
Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
The 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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
Ontario clamps down on conservation authorities amid consolidation | The Narwhal
A leaked meeting recording suggests many questions remain around conservation authority merger and impacts on Ontario’s drinking water
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
The 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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
Ontario clamps down on conservation authorities amid consolidation | The Narwhal
A leaked meeting recording suggests many questions remain around conservation authority merger and impacts on Ontario’s drinking water
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Mark 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... #cdnpoli
thenarwhal.ca
How Trump’s energy ‘tiger team’ and Carney’s fast-tracking office align | The Narwhal
Officials compared Canada’s Major Projects Office with the U.S. National Energy Dominance Council, which ushers fossil fuel projects through approval
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Carl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
When 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.ca
How Canadians pay for fossil fuels with our bodies | The Narwhal
The 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
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
The 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
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The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 22/04/2026
Tomorrow The Narwhal is launching something special. Hint: it has to do with everyone's favourite subject — 💸 Stay tuned.
An illustration of a group of different workers standing on podiums with their job titles listed on them. A logo reading "Who Pays?" appears on the left.An illustration showing Canadian coins and dollar bills on a green background.
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The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 20/04/2026
The 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.ca
Inside the Doug Ford government’s mining push | The Narwhal
Ontario says its ‘one project, one process’ (1P1P) framework will speed mining approvals. Many First Nations leaders have questions
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The Narwhal @thenarwhal.ca · 17/04/2026
ICYMI: @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.ca
How conservation authority changes could affect Ontario's drinking water | The Narwhal
Ontario drinking water committees, formed following the Walkerton tragedy, face an uncertain future as conservation authorities amalgamate
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Elaine Anselmi @elaineanselmi.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Ontario'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:
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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
We @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... #onpoli
thenarwhal.ca
How conservation authority changes could affect Ontario's drinking water | The Narwhal
Ontario drinking water committees, formed following the Walkerton tragedy, face an uncertain future as conservation authorities amalgamate
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Blen @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.
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Carl Meyer @meyer.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Are 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."
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