Natasha Bulowski
@natashabulowski.bsky.social
Reporter covering climate/energy/federal politics for Canada's National Observer
NEW: With Carney going all in on fossil fuels during devastating wildfires, how has climate reporting responded? @natashabulowski.bsky.social from @nationalobserver.com & @taylornoakes.com of @desmog.com join the pod to discuss the state of environment reporting in Canada under the mad dash for oil
Climate Reporting Under Carney ft. Natasha Bulowski & Taylor C. Noakes (Podcast)
Carney's fossil fuel love affair inevitably affects climate journalists
readthecatch.ca
My last article as the labour reporter at @pressprogress.ca is about.... media layoffs! Earlier this month, Rogers closed six stations and laid off 230 radio workers across the country. In Vancouver, the layoffs hit a newsroom that had struggled for years to unionize.
PressProgress@pressprogress.ca · 6d agoRogers Layoffs Stemmed from ‘Corporate Decisions’ Taking Precedent Over Workers, Union Says “Workers are often the last to be considered when these decisions are made.” pressprogress.ca/rogers-layof...
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.
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.
nationalobserver.com
Ontario's wildfire response left some community members from Whitesand First Nation and Armstrong concerned the province wasn't doing enough to protect homes and structures in their communities. With @arlyn-mcadorey.bsky.social for @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/16/n...
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.
nationalobserver.com
Now's a good time to revisit this piece by @natashabulowski.bsky.social on how it worked out the last time the government linked environmental promises to an oil pipeline:
How Carney’s ‘climate action’ pipeline spin echoes Trudeau’s Trans Mountain rhetoric
Canada's last two prime ministers have something in common: both Mark Carney and his predecessor Justin Trudeau cast their support for oil pipelines as a form of climate action. In the case of Trans M...
nationalobserver.com
Rare CNO IRL moment at the @cajournalists.bsky.social awards!!! Feat @rorywh.bsky.social and @davidmckie.bsky.social's silver award in the data journalism category :) ( @natashabulowski.bsky.social, @jameswsthomson.com )
Some smart analysis from @matinsarfraz.bsky.social on Ontario Premier Doug Ford's “Captain Canada” approach and whether it has actually delivered tangible results. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/06/12/a...
Ford’s 'Captain Canada' pitch faces growing doubts
For more than a year, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has promised to protect Ontario's economy and strengthen Canada's hand in its trade dispute with the United States. But with tariffs still in place and ...
nationalobserver.com
NEW from @natashabulowski.bsky.social and myself www.nationalobserver.com/2026/06/04/n...
Canada’s AI strategy includes no new protections for water or climate
A single box in the 49-page document is dedicated to the environmental impacts of AI. It acknowledges that AI data centres require a lot of energy and increase water usage, but does not propose any ne...
nationalobserver.com
The federal government’s long-awaited AI strategy does not tackle the environmental and climate impacts of rapidly building AI infrastructure like data centres New from @rorywh.bsky.social + @natashabulowski.bsky.social
Canada’s AI strategy includes no new protections for water or climate
A single box in the 49-page document is dedicated to the environmental impacts of AI. It acknowledges that AI data centres require a lot of energy and increase water usage, but does not propose any ne...
nationalobserver.com
Steven Guilbeault is leaving politics, but many climate-concerned MPs will remain even as the federal government works with Alberta to advance a new oil pipeline project. His message to these colleagues: you may have more power than you realize www.nationalobserver.com/2026/05/29/n...
Guilbeault urges colleagues to stand firm on their beliefs
Steven Guilbeault may have been the most vocal about his concern that Carney is backsliding on climate, but he is not the only one in caucus feeling uncomfortable. In an interview with Canada's Nation...
nationalobserver.com
This is an important story but I wish it mentioned (not just included a buried hyperlink) the reporting done by @cloelogan.bsky.social on this nearly a month ago. This probably would have made me cranky if I had worked on this story. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/05/08/n...
Richard Warnica@rwarnica.bsky.social · 2mo agoI spent some time looking at the company behind a massive lobbying push to have Toronto's island airport expanded. What I found was a deep tangle of corporate and PR webs that all obscured a relatively simple truth. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
If PM Carney's framing of a pipeline deal as ‘climate action’ sounds familiar, thats because it is. Trudeau approved TMX on a promise that its profits would directly fund the clean energy transition. @cathmckenna.bsky.social helps unpack some of the parallels www.nationalobserver.com/2026/05/26/n...
How Carney’s ‘climate action’ pipeline spin echoes Trudeau’s Trans Mountain rhetoric
Canada's last two prime ministers have something in common: both Mark Carney and his predecessor Justin Trudeau cast their support for oil pipelines as a form of climate action. In the case of Trans M...
nationalobserver.com
Must-read reporting from @natashabulowski.bsky.social on sweeping changes likely coming down the pipe.
Carney moves to fast-track federal approval for major projects — from pipelines to power lines
A discussion paper released last Friday describes the proposed changes, which would expand ministerial powers and make it easier to obtain permits and approvals under multiple federal laws. Provinces,...
nationalobserver.com
The federal gov is taking a page from Doug Ford’s playbook, proposing legislation that would allow cabinet to create “federal economic zones”where major projects can be pre-approved and fast-tracked. by @natashabulowski.bsky.social for @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2026/05/12/n...
Carney moves to fast-track federal approval for major projects — from pipelines to power lines
A discussion paper released last Friday describes the proposed changes, which would expand ministerial powers and make it easier to obtain permits and approvals under multiple federal laws. Provinces,...
nationalobserver.com
At least a dozen municipalities in Ontario have recently passed resolutions supplied by the natural gas company Enbridge. Using Civic Searchlight, @matinsarfraz.bsky.social discovered near-identical, Enbridge-drafted resolutions being passed in support of the province’s gas expansion.
This story I wrote about a gas plant proposed by NB Power on the Chignecto Isthmus is nominated for an Atlantic Journalism Award! Honoured, thank you 😌 It was the last story I reported for @nationalobserver.com from the Maritimes before moving to Toronto :')
Planned New Brunswick gas plant could threaten vital migratory bird corridor
As the province moves ahead with plans for a new gas plant, experts and residents warn it could endanger one of Canada’s most fragile and important ecological corridors.
nationalobserver.com
SCOOP: I attended the launch of David Parker’s Centurion Project last night. I happened to step outside when an Elections Alberta investigator and the cops arrived. open.substack.com/pub/theorcha...
SCOOP: Elections Alberta investigating separatists for accessing electors list
An elections watchdog investigator showed up with police to the April 29 launch of David Parker's Centurion Project to follow up on a cease-and-desist letter.
open.substack.com
Ford’s latest bill collides with cities’ efforts to phase out gas in buildings. great work by @cloelogan.bsky.social for @nationalobserver.com www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/16/n...
Ford’s latest bill collides with cities’ efforts to phase out gas in buildings
New legislation — Bill 98, or the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act — is snaking its way through the Legislature, and aims to kill green building standards for good, and i...
nationalobserver.com
My dispatch from the Liberal convention (it was quite a scene)
Canada's National Observer@nationalobserver.com · 4mo agoLiberal MPs showed up as a united front and defended Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to welcome former Tory MP Marilyn Gladu into the fold, brushing off questions of how such a big tent party can maintain its values. @natashabulowski.bsky.social reports from Montreal.
Liberal delegates are flocking to Montreal this week for their convention as the party is flying high in the polls and on the cusp of a majority government thanks to a surprising floor-crosser, @natashabulowski.bsky.social reports. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/09/n...
Liberals riding high heading into national convention
Plus one new MP and high in the polls the Liberals are gearing up for the 2026 convention in Montreal.
nationalobserver.com
This is the opening song from the @grievousangels104.bsky.social new album Revolution. In the Time of Monsters is the time we are in. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDar...
In the Time of Monsters
YouTube video by Grievous Angels - Topic
youtube.com
AI Minister Evan Solomon has met with energy and mining companies (Teck & Enbridge) about the environmental impacts of AI infrastructure, but no environmental organizations, according to documents tabled in the House of Commons on March 11. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/06/n...
AI minister meets with mining, energy companies on environment impacts — not green groups
A sessional paper from March 11 reveals Canada's AI minister has not met with environmental groups to discuss the potential impacts of AI infrastructure.
nationalobserver.com
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/06/n... “There's still hope that in a year from now, we could regulate AI applications in education, healthcare…But once we've just built thousands of megawatts worth of data centres & hooked them up to new gas-fired generators, we've locked in that infrastructure”
AI minister meets with mining, energy companies on environment impacts — not green groups
A sessional paper from March 11 reveals Canada's AI minister has not met with environmental groups to discuss the potential impacts of AI infrastructure.
nationalobserver.com
Celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary's proposed Wonder Valley data centre won't require an Alberta enviro impact assessment (despite its massive power and water consumption), according to a letter obtained by @nationalobserver.com's Marc Fawcett-Atkinson. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/04/03/n...
Alberta scraps environmental assessment for Kevin O'Leary's 'world's largest' data centre
Danielle Smith's government is exempting celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary's massive Wonder Valley data centre near Grand Prairie, AB, from a provincial environmental assessment, Canada's National Obse...
nationalobserver.com
There’s a political push for more water-guzzling AI data centres in Canada. And uh, it looks like - at least in Alberta - they’re planning to plop most of them in high water stress areas. For @nationalobserver.com, let’s cover @rorywh.bsky.social and @natashabulowski.bsky.social’s scary findings:
We analyzed the locations of 38 data centre campuses proposed in Alberta. Three quarters of them are in regions under high or extremely high water stress. Only three have been planned in low water stress regions, which comprise the majority of Alberta’s land mass.
Three quarters of data centre sites planned in Alberta are in high water stress areas
Canada’s National Observer analyzed the locations of 38 data centre campuses proposed in the province, and found that three quarters of them are in regions where water use is already in shorter supply...
nationalobserver.com
@natashabulowski.bsky.social and I analyzed the locations of 38 proposed data centre sites in Alberta for this investigation. The results aren’t pretty. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/03/23/i...
Three quarters of data centre sites planned in Alberta are in high water stress areas
Canada’s National Observer analyzed the locations of 38 data centre campuses proposed in the province, and found that three quarters of them are in regions where water use is already in shorter supply...
nationalobserver.com
And congratulations to @arnokopecky.bsky.social for the recognition of his globetrotting guerilla coverage of the Poilievre campaign. He was away from home for basically the entire campaign, writing brilliant and unique dispatches from the back of the room.
Congratulations to @rorywh.bsky.social for being what must be one of the earliest-career nominees in National Newspaper Award history — and in the innovation category, no less. Huge.
