Wildfires in Canada are becoming more intense, more expansive, and more frequent, because of climate change. The Trump administration’s attempt to blame Canadian forestry practices is nonsense. That claim is a poor pretext to justify otherwise-impermissible presidential tariffs against Canada.

I spoke with @GlobalNews.ca’s Jaden Lee-Lincoln, about Mark Carney’s decision to embrace closer ties with Saudi Arabia. Canadians need to ask not only what we might obtain from Saudi Arabia, but also, what Saudi Arabia hopes to obtain from us.

My colleagues Jamie Hagar and Priscilla Santos and I enjoyed speaking with Ombeline Lecuyer and Quentin Gautier from France’s embassy to Canada. We met at @NatureCanada.bsky.social’s offices. We discussed cooperation between our countries on protection of nature, the environment, and biodiversity.

In my experience, ministers @JulieDabrusin.bsky.social and @NathalieProvost.bsky.social have worked enthusiastically with citizen groups to advance the cause of nature. But most power to set national policy has long been drained away from parliament and cabinet, into the Prime Minister’s Office.

iPolitics@ipolitics.bsky.social · 2w ago

On the sidelines? Environment advocates say they can’t get facetime with Carney and Dabrusin lacks clout #cdnpoli #ipolitics

I spoke with Chris Glover on @CBCradioCanada.bsky.social Metro Morning, about why the Iran-US interim ceasefire agreement collapsed. The agreement was built on wilfully ambiguous terms, to enable both governments to proclaim victory at home, and buy a pause for their diplomats to try to negotiate.

Why did the Iran-US Interim Ceasefire Agreement Collapse? 📻 CBC Radio’s Metro Morning

YouTube video by Akaash Maharaj

youtube.com

In its darkest days, the French Revolution infamously “devoured its children”. But in Ottawa, the descendants of the Revolution fed their guests bountifully.

I spoke with @WHilderbrandt.bsky.social on @en.France24.com, about the wildfires in Canada, for @NatureCanada.bsky.social The situation is dire. If a fire exceeds 10 MW/m, conventional firefighting techniques fail: water from water bombers vaporises in the air. The Jasper fire reached 386 MW/m.

Canada wildfires affect air quality before World Cup final • FRANCE 24 English

YouTube video by FRANCE 24 English

youtube.com

I was delighted to represent the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (@rcgssgrc.bsky.social) at the Spanish Embassy (@embespcanada.bsky.social) dinner to honour Antonio de la Rosa. Antonio is an ultra-endurance athlete, and a former Captain of the Red Bull Adventure Racing Team.

I spoke with @CTVYourMorning.bsky.social, on Mark Carney’s trip to Saudi Arabia. His embrace of the Saudis breaks with Trudeau’s rhetoric, but continues its substance. Carney deserves credit for being candid about his policies, but whether Canadians find his policies creditable remains to be seen.

#EveryoneOutdoorsTogether is a new movement, to strengthen our connection to the natural world and one another. On Saturday 18 July, my @NatureCanada.bsky.social colleagues and I will participate in #EOT’s moment, when people across Canada will pause, step outside, and experience nature together.

It is no surprise that Mark Carney is trying to charm Saudi Arabia into pouring its wealth into Canada. But the Saudi government expects recipient states to bite their tongues when it commits human rights atrocities. I spoke with @CHCHnews.bsky.social on the cost of doing business with dictators.

PM Mark Carney is visiting Saudi Arabia. Why now?

Mark Carney is in Saudi Arabia, the first Canadian prime minister to visit the kingdom in 26 years.

chch.com

All these years later, Harry Forbes’ theme song has lost none of its power. Hearing it washes away the decades, and I see a childhood version of myself watching @weareTVO.bsky.social’s Magic Shadows with my grandfather. Elwy Yost’s love of cinema was joyous, infectious, and untouched by cynicism.

TVO Docs@tvodocs.bsky.social · 4w ago

Happy birthday to Elwy Yost, who would be 101 today. 🎂 To TVO viewers, Elwy made classic cinema feel personal. Host of Saturday Night at the Movies and Magic Shadows, he brought classic Hollywood into Ontario homes. Stream Magic Shadows, Elwy Yost: A Life in Movies: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OMD...

I have accepted an invitation from Canada's Environment Minister @JulieDabrusin.bsky.social, to join the CEDAG advisory council, on the Canada-EU trade agreement. If we can make this treaty succeed, it will increase prosperity for all Canadians and lift environmental standards across our country.

Joining the CEDAG Advisory Council on the Canada-EU Trade Agreement

YouTube video by Akaash Maharaj

youtube.com

Climate wars are upon us. Already, desperate people are fleeing areas rendered uninhabitable by extreme heat or drought, and colliding with neighbouring populations. Can we push back an age of climate conflicts? 📆 Wed, 08 July 2026 ⏰ 17h00 EDT (21h00 UTC) 🎟️ per.maharaj.org/scan

We're asking Torontonians what they'd do if they were mayor. Akaash Maharaj, senior fellow at the Munk School, would change zoning and land use rules to give all Torontonians fair access to parks and green spaces. 🌳🌲🌸 What would you do? Tell us here: ifiweremayor@thestar.ca More: trib.al/KAFF2pK

Meet Oronhyatekha—the Mohawk chief, physician, and entrepreneur once described by the Evening Telegram as "perhaps the greatest Canadian of his time." https://www.tvo.org/article/perhaps-the-greatest-canadian-of-his-time-how-doctor-o-captivated-the-country

‘Perhaps the greatest Canadian of his time’: How ‘Doctor O’ captivated the country | TVO Today

Oronhyatekha was a scholar, physician, and Mohawk chief.

tvo.org

Six key questions the feds have side-stepped in bid to fast-track major projects "The fedgov's recent historic #nature investment does not buy it a free pass on #environmental reviews," says Emily McMillan, Akaash Maharaj @naturecanada.bsky.social Read our client oped: #cdnpoli #environment

Six key questions the feds have side-stepped in bid to fast-track major projects - The Hill Times

The federal government's recent historic nature investment does not buy it a free pass on environmental reviews.

hilltimes.com

I have been speaking with my colleagues at the @coe.int, about the prospects of Canada signing the “Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law”. It criminalises ecocide: wanton acts that inflict long-term destruction across large areas of nature. 🌱 per.maharaj.org/ecocide

Canada has never been defined by a single language, ethnicity, or faith. We are bound together by shared values and mutual responsibilities. The escalating incidents of antisemitism in Canada are attacks not only against every Canadian Jew, but also against all Canadians and against Canada itself.

The interim peace agreement between Iran and the US is astonishingly brittle. It declares an end to combat in Lebanon, where Hezbollah and Israel are locked in a pitiless war. Yet, neither Hezbollah nor Israel has signed the agreement. I spoke with Chris Glover on @CBCradioCanada.bsky.social.

Anita Anand (@anitaoakvilleeast.bsky.social) joined us at the Munk School, to discuss her objectives as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. She focussed on expanding our web of trade partners, especially as Canada, Mexico, and the US continue renegotiation of the #CUSMA free trade agreement.

I thank Space Canada for inviting me to their evening with the crew of the Artemis II. The Canadian Museum of History was an apt venue: the crew had travelled further from Earth than any other human beings. They project a sense of personal humility and public pride. 🚀 per.maharaj.org/artemisii

I created a @bsky.app Starter Pack: Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. I serve as a @rcgssgrc.bsky.social Governor, and am in constant awe of my colleagues’ achievements in exploration, research, education, and reconciliation. They are well worth following. 🦋 go.bsky.app/SoLdURJ

I enjoyed speaking with Nathalie Seddon of @biology.ox.ac.uk, on her role leading the People’s Assembly for Nature in the UK. I am considering whether a Canadian assembly could generate the momentum to sweep Canada’s political leaders into acting on the wisdom of Canada’s people. 🌱 bit.ly/4vcXZTJ

There may come a day when I will be able to drive past the Big Apple in Colborne, without stopping for an apple pie or to visit the animals. That day is not today. Tomorrow seems unlikely as well. As do all the succeeding days. 🍎 thebigapple.ca

The US tariff wars make it imperative that Canada diversify our trade partnerships. Negotiating new agreements is important, but they will take years to come fully into force. The Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement is in place now. We must realise its full potential, urgently.

My @rcgssgrc.bsky.social colleagues and I cheered on James Cameron, one of our Fellows, as he was inducted into France’s Legion of Honour. I enjoyed our conversation on his work as a filmmaker, to rouse people everywhere to the defence of nature, and to sustain our hope that our cause will prevail.

Torontonians would be horrified to fall into a fever dream where I served as their Mayor. But I was happy to respond to the @thestar.com’s question of what I would do in that role. I would change land use rules, so everyone would have fair access to parks and green space, irrespective of wealth.

New federal proposals would allow Ministers to exempt industrial projects from environmental protection laws, without legislative oversight. My @NatureCanada.bsky.social colleagues & I thank @StevenGuilbeault.bsky.social for our conversation on defending parliamentary democracy & local communities.

Nature is not an impediment to economic development; environmental assessment is the “credit check” before we write the loan. It is due diligence, fiduciary responsibility, and the only way to build prosperity that endures. @TheGuardian.com reports on @NatureCanada.bsky.social’s call to MPs.

Orcas could be casualty in Carney’s push for pipeline, environmental groups fear

Rush to develop fossil fuel infrastructure in Canada collides with laws meant to protect endangered species

theguardian.com