Fatima Syed
@fatimabsyed.bsky.social
Ontario reporter for The Narwhal. Vice-president of the Canadian Association of Journalists. Springsteen, space, sports, sweets
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 ⤵️
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
thenarwhal.ca
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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
“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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
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
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
thenarwhal.ca
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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
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
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
thenarwhal.ca
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.
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.
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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
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
The Narwhal@thenarwhal.ca · 3w ago“I’ve just recovered from bronchitis, so it probably wasn’t a good idea to step outside on my balcony this morning to take a mediocre photo of the wildfire smoke engulfing the Greater Toronto Area,” writes @fatimabsyed.bsky.social Read more in our latest newsletter: thenarwhal.ca/newsletter-o...
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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
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 💗
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.
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
thenarwhal.ca
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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
“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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
"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.
The Narwhal@thenarwhal.ca · 2mo agoSteven Guilbeault is resigning as a member of Parliament — he says he can no longer have an impact on climate change working within Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government. In this exclusive interview, the former environment minister shares why. thenarwhal.ca/guilbeault-e...
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
The Narwhal@thenarwhal.ca · 2mo agoThe federal government has begun assessing whether piping plovers on Wasaga Beach face imminent threats, after the Doug Ford government removed their protections. The results will determine if the tiny birds get federal protection. thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
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
Fatima Syed@fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 3mo agoThe 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
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
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
thenarwhal.ca
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
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
thenarwhal.ca
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
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
thenarwhal.ca
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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
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
Tomorrow The Narwhal is launching something special. Hint: it has to do with everyone's favourite subject — 💸 Stay tuned.
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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
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...
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
thenarwhal.ca
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:
The Narwhal@thenarwhal.ca · 4mo agoOntario's drinking water is protected by little-known groups, closely tied to conservation authorities. As the Ford government consolidates the watershed agencies, a leaked document and 12 sources show their role is now unclear. thenarwhal.ca/ontario-sour...