Rory White
@rorywh.bsky.social
🏴🇨🇦 Technology and Democracy Reporter at Canada's National Observer. Creator of Civic Searchlight. Contact: rwhite.12 (Signal)
Data centres are shaping up to be a major election issue for voters in Ontario's upcoming municipal elections.
Where data centres are proposed, Ontario voters have questions for their local candidates
Residents are concerned over the risks presented by the developments, which are part of a global boom driven by AI. And the public backlash is starting to shape the platforms of candidates.
nationalobserver.com
"Data centres are set to become a major issue in the October municipal elections in Ontario, according to candidates in 4 municipalities interviewed by Canada's National Observer" The National Observer's coverage of the data centre issue is good. If you can afford it, please consider subscribing.
Rory White@rorywh.bsky.social · last wk.This morning, Mississauga city council will also decide whether to put a year-long freeze on AI data centre developments. Hamilton councillors voted 10-6 against a moratorium after intensive lobbying earlier this month. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/29/n...
This morning, Mississauga city council will also decide whether to put a year-long freeze on AI data centre developments. Hamilton councillors voted 10-6 against a moratorium after intensive lobbying earlier this month. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/29/n...
Where data centres are proposed, Ontario voters have questions for their local candidates
Residents are concerned over the risks presented by the developments, which are part of a global boom driven by AI. And the public backlash is starting to shape the platforms of candidates.
nationalobserver.com
As Canada faces another #heatwave and #wildfireseason, these impacts must shape #Budget2026. Municipalities need sustained federal partnership to protect their communities. Read more in @nationalnewswatch.com by @blackwellmerlin.bsky.social and ED Zoe Grams nationalnewswatch.com/2026/06/26/i...
It’s too hot, it’s Wildfire Season and it’s time to talk Budget 2026
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
nationalnewswatch.com
This week I wrote three stories, all surfacing from overlooked public documents in Alberta. On Monday, we revealed that power generators are expecting wholesale electricity prices in Alberta to triple when first data centres come online. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/20/a...
Alberta electricity industry expects tripling of power prices from data centres
In Capital Power's latest earnings call, the company's CEO, Avik Dey, told analysts that he couldn't rule out prices of "$80 or $90" per megawatt hour of electricity by early 2028. By 2029, rival comp...
nationalobserver.com
NEW from me and Darius Snieckus: Export Development Canada financed the Greenlignt gas plant powering Meta’s data centre in Sturgeon County. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/24/n...
Crown corp lends up to $200M for Meta data centre gas plant in Alberta
The gas plant, known as Greenlight, is classified as a project that is “likely to have significant adverse environmental and social effects.”
nationalobserver.com
Scoop by @rorywh.bsky.social and Darius Snieckus.
Canada's National Observer@nationalobserver.com · 2w agoNEW: Export Development Canada provided between $100 million and $200 million in project financing for the gas-fired plant that will power Meta's data centre in Sturgeon County, Alta., Canada's National Observer has discovered.
NEW: Export Development Canada provided between $100 million and $200 million in project financing for the gas-fired plant that will power Meta's data centre in Sturgeon County, Alta., Canada's National Observer has discovered.
Crown corp lends up to $200M for Meta data centre gas plant in Alberta
The gas plant, known as Greenlight, is classified as a project that is “likely to have significant adverse environmental and social effects.”
nationalobserver.com
Here's something I post from time to time. My answer to a reader who asked me: what could journalists do NOW to break with some of their more corrosive habits.
After two separate investigations into procurement corruption, and an ongoing RCMP criminal investigation of procurement, the UCP govt of Danielle Smith still awards a $300K contract to her former campaign advisor's company, claiming it was an open competition when there is no evidence of that.
Canada's National Observer@nationalobserver.com · 2w agoDanielle Smith's office has awarded a $300,000 government contract to an advertising agency co-founded by her former campaign advisor.
Danielle Smith's office has awarded a $300,000 government contract to an advertising agency co-founded by her former campaign advisor.
Former Smith advisers awarded $300,000 referendum contract by Alberta government
The contract was for the creation of a website, albertareferendum2026.ca, which belongs to the Government of Alberta and provides information on the province's upcoming referendum.
nationalobserver.com
One of the lesser-known services Thomson Reuters offers is Consolidated Lead Evaluation and Reporting, or CLEAR, a database that compiles individuals’ private information not normally accessible to law enforcement.
Thomson Reuters to share American information with ICE in new deal
While the company insists it has "safeguards" in place to prevent misuse of the information, some experts say the US$125-billion deal is a "red flag."
nationalobserver.com
Danielle Smith's office has awarded a $300,000 government website contract to an advertising agency co-founded by her former campaign advisor. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/21/n...
Former Smith advisers awarded $300,000 referendum contract by Alberta government
The contract was for the creation of a website, albertareferendum2026.ca, which belongs to the Government of Alberta and provides information on the province's upcoming referendum.
nationalobserver.com
Via @rorywh.bsky.social Alberta electricity industry expects tripling of power prices from data centres www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/20/a...
Alberta electricity industry expects tripling of power prices from data centres
In Capital Power's latest earnings call, the company's CEO, Avik Dey, told analysts that he couldn't rule out prices of "$80 or $90" per megawatt hour of electricity by early 2028. By 2029, rival comp...
nationalobserver.com
The Pathways carbon capture project will be heavily dependent on public money. But another, hidden cost will also fall on the public.
Taxpayers could be paying twice for Pathways carbon capture project
Canadians already funding the majority of the cost of building the Pathways project, the world’s biggest CCS complex, could also be stuck with higher fuel prices under a plan to help absorb the megapr...
nationalobserver.com
Some really impressive work here by a particularly impressive intern — Jamie Voyles, who is a rare breed of journalist with a PhD in public health.
Canada's National Observer@nationalobserver.com · 2w agoSince 2009, the per capita rate of Lyme disease has increased approximately 32-fold in Canada, according to calculations by Canada’s National Observer — making it one of Canada's clearest examples of a climate-related health problem. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/20/n...
Alberta electricity companies are telling the public data centres will save Albertans money. But the companies are telling investors they'll triple electricity costs. An investigation by @rorywh.bsky.social
Alberta electricity industry expects tripling of power prices from data centres
In Capital Power's latest earnings call, the company's CEO, Avik Dey, told analysts that he couldn't rule out prices of "$80 or $90" per megawatt hour of electricity by early 2028. By 2029, rival comp...
nationalobserver.com
My latest: Capital Power's CEO Dey spoke to investors about affordability concerns in the US ahead of the midterm elections. "I would say there's more interest in Alberta today than there ever has been," he said. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/20/a...
Alberta electricity industry expects tripling of power prices from data centres
In Capital Power's latest earnings call, the company's CEO, Avik Dey, told analysts that he couldn't rule out prices of "$80 or $90" per megawatt hour of electricity by early 2028. By 2029, rival comp...
nationalobserver.com
My latest: if everyone is shown personalized AI-generated ads, how can we hold companies accountable for deceptive claims? www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/15/n...
Researchers warn AI-generated ads could evade Canada's greenwashing rules
A new study published by researchers at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University warns of “programmatic greenwashing” — ads that make unsubstantiated environmental claims, written by AI, shown...
nationalobserver.com
NEW: A class action lawsuit has been filed against the Alberta government, chief electoral officer, Centurion Project and Republican Party of Alberta for the breach of the province’s list of electors.
Is your MP still using X? After an investigation into non-consensual deepfakes, we analyzed the accounts www.nationalobserver.com/2026/06/30/a...
Is your MP still using X? After an investigation into non-consensual deepfakes, we analyzed the accounts
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada just released the results of its investigation into non-consensual sexualized “deepfake” images on X. For some MPs, this was the red line.
nationalobserver.com
Carney: It's important to know that the global oil shock is happening even though Canada is producing far more oil than we ever have. In fact, only two countries have increased oil production more than we have this century, the United States and Russia.
For our latest article we analyzed the X profiles 317 MPs, contacted over 200, interviewed ethicists and researchers and built interactive data visualizations. Please consider subscribing to @nationalobserver.com to support journalism like this! www.nationalobserver.com/2026/06/30/a...
Is your MP still using X? After an investigation into non-consensual deepfakes, we analyzed the accounts
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada just released the results of its investigation into non-consensual sexualized “deepfake” images on X. For some MPs, this was the red line.
nationalobserver.com
For a while you could say Twitter was fun but addictive then toxic. Then Musk bought it, rebranded it as X, and turned it into a vector for Grok AI sexual deepfakes of women and children. My MP is @marcmillermp.bsky.social. His last post: – on X was: June 29, 2026 – on Bsky: April 4, 2025
Canada's National Observer@nationalobserver.com · last mo.We analyzed the social media activity of all MPs in the House of Commons. The likelihood of an MP still posting on X depends on their party, their province, and their position within government. Go see if yours still uses X, even after the deepfake scandal was laid out in a new investigation:
Glad to have contributed to this article on how MPs are navigating platform fragmentation, online harms, and shifting audiences across Twitter/X and Bluesky
Rory White@rorywh.bsky.social · last mo.OUR LATEST: 90% of Conservative MPs are still posting on X. For Liberals, it’s 58%. This month the Privacy Commissioner found that the platform failed to prevent its AI tools being used to create sexualised deepfakes. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/06/30/a...
We analyzed the social media activity of all MPs in the House of Commons. The likelihood of an MP still posting on X depends on their party, their province, and their position within government. Go see if yours still uses X, even after the deepfake scandal was laid out in a new investigation:
Is your MP still using X? After an investigation into non-consensual deepfakes, we analyzed the accounts
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada just released the results of its investigation into non-consensual sexualized “deepfake” images on X. For some MPs, this was the red line.
nationalobserver.com
OUR LATEST: 90% of Conservative MPs are still posting on X. For Liberals, it’s 58%. This month the Privacy Commissioner found that the platform failed to prevent its AI tools being used to create sexualised deepfakes. www.nationalobserver.com/2026/06/30/a...
Is your MP still using X? After an investigation into non-consensual deepfakes, we analyzed the accounts
The Privacy Commissioner of Canada just released the results of its investigation into non-consensual sexualized “deepfake” images on X. For some MPs, this was the red line.
nationalobserver.com
This story I wrote for @nationalobserver.com won gold at the Atlantic Journalism Awards last night :,) I'm proud of this one, it was the last story I wrote in Atlantic Canada before moving to Toronto. Thank you to @jameswsthomson.com for editing it, and to the Isthmus for being beautiful. ✨
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
