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A proposed municipal pause on AI data centres in Hamilton seemed like a done deal. All but 1 of the 16 elected officials in the city voted in favour of bringing the bylaw forward. Then, the majority flipped. Here's what happened + what implications it could have for other municipalities.

Hamilton's mysterious data centre reversal haunts other municipalitiesAll but one of the 16 elected officials in the city had voted in favour of a bylaw that would put a pause on new data centres in the city for a year. Then, at a council meeting the following month whe...www.nationalobserver.com

The city of Toronto wants its waterfront land back from Ontario Premier Doug Ford. On Wednesday, council passed a motion motion demanding that the province repeal Bill 110. For @nationalobserver.com

Toronto City Council passes motion demanding Ford repeal Billy Bishop Act, return landToronto city council passed a motion on Wednesday demanding that the province repeal Bill 110www.nationalobserver.com

I spent Friday at a hotel in TO with Neskantaga FN, where evacuees have been staying for about a week. With the supply chain being compromised by highway/airport shutdowns due to fire + smoke, evacuation became the only choice, said Chief Gary Quisess. He says it shouldn't have to be that way.

As First Nation's grocery shelves empty, its Chief says Ontario's wildfire response is falling shortAbout 130 members of Neskantaga First Nation have been evacuated to a Toronto hotel, waiting to know when they’ll be able to return home, while hundreds of people still in the community await updated ...www.nationalobserver.com

Ontario budgeted $150M for wildfire response in 2026 despite spending $271M last year. Now, half way through July, there are approx 190 active wildfires. There have been 483 total this season. There were 351 TOTAL last year. Story for @nationalobserver.com from last month.

Ontario budgets just $150M for wildfires despite burning through almost double last yearIn 2025’s budget, Ontario allotted $135 million for its Emergency Forest Firefighting fund, but the province ended up spending double that: $271 million, according to this year’s budget. The same docu...www.nationalobserver.com

More than 100 Toronto locations that no longer have speed cameras are seeing a notable uptick in speeding since the devices were forcibly removed by the province. For @nationalobserver.com.

Toronto sees speeding surge after camera removalsThe data in a new report by city staff is “horrifying,” Mayor Olivia Chow said before a council meeting on Wednesday.www.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 corridorAs 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.www.nationalobserver.com

From earlier this week: Toronto has moved forward on some zoning changes (pending final approval from council) that will make it easier to install heat pumps, batteries and solar. At the same time, the city has put much of the Toronto Green Standard on hold following Bill 98.

One step forward, one step back for green buildings in TorontoOn Thursday, the city’s planning and housing committee accepted zoning shifts that will allow solar panels to be installed in parking lots, which had previously been prohibited. It also received a rep...www.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 )

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 climateA 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...www.nationalobserver.com

Slate is pushing to build the country’s first “publicly owned AI Factory" in Hamilton on the former Stelco lands. At least 1,200 public comments have been submitted ahead of a city meeting taking place today, mostly expressing opposition and concern.

Data centre proposal on former steelmaking site sparks public backlash in HamiltonStelco says it wants to build the country’s first “publicly owned AI Factory” in the city.www.nationalobserver.com

Great piece by @natashabulowski.bsky.social. She sat down with Guilbeault to learn more about his decision to leave politics amid Carney's climate rollbacks.

Guilbeault urges colleagues to stand firm on their beliefsSteven 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...www.nationalobserver.com

Come be my partner in....crime? Virtue? This role will cover Ontario, specifically the intersection between politics and climate. GTA based! Me too! Apply by June 11th :)

General Assignment Reporter- OntarioAs Canada’s National Observer’s General Assignment Reporter for Ontario, you will report on the intersection between politics and climate at all levels in Ontario. You will be on the ground, talking w...thenationalobserver.bamboohr.com

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"Civil servants who process freedom of information requests for the Ontario government were told last week not to issue any new decisions or seek out new records from the government, according to a source who provided documentation of the freeze to The Trillium." Requests across ALL ministries.

Ford government freezes FOI requests amid controversyMinistries’ FOI coordinators were instructed not to issue decisions, contact program areaswww.thetrillium.ca

UPDATE: TO city council just voted in favour of city staff coming back with a *framework* for a max temp bylaw next month. A motion was brought forward by Coun. Alejandra Bravo at council today.

Toronto points to provincial policy for delay of maximum temperature bylawToronto will not be bringing forward a maximum-temperature bylaw this year, citing provincial legislation that weakens tenant protections.www.nationalobserver.com

Last year, Chow called for the drafting of a max temperature policy by this upcoming summer, to be implemented in 2027. The bylaw was set to come forward this month, but has been delayed. The city says above guideline rent increases, in part, are to blame, which are baked into provincial law.

Toronto points to provincial policy for delay of maximum temperature bylawToronto will not be bringing forward a maximum-temperature bylaw this year, citing provincial legislation that weakens tenant protections.www.nationalobserver.com

Great reporting from @matinsarfraz.bsky.social. Enbridge has sent municipalities across Ontario a ready-made lobbying package complete with draft resolutions + more. Several municipalities have passed near-identical, Enbridge-drafted resolutions supporting the province’s gas expansion.

Enbridge is writing pro-gas resolutions and Ontario municipalities are passing themIn August 2025, the province launched Ontario’s Environmental Registry consultation on expanding natural gas usage. Soon after, Enbridge sent municipalities across Ontario a ready-made lobbying packag...www.nationalobserver.com

"It just feels like the government is pushing hard to expand Billy Bishop Airport to bail out American bankers at the expense of what people love about Billy Bishop Airport, the Toronto waterfront and all the housing that can be built,” @mikeschreiner.bsky.social said. For @nationalobserver.com

Leading American bank would be a major beneficiary of Billy Bishop takeoverThe island airport’s terminal is owned by Nieuport Aviation, which is owned by a J.P. Morgan-controlled group of companies. Lobbyists for Nieuport Aviation have held jobs with the Ford and federal gov...www.nationalobserver.com

NEW for @nationalobserver.com The chair of the Toronto Liberal Caucus says even if the Building Billy Bishop Airport Act passes as expected, the province “cannot unilaterally change how the airport operates.”

As Ford moves on Toronto's island airport, those fighting the takeover want Ottawa to speak upToronto Liberal MP Julie Dzerowicz says no conversation about the city's waterfront can be had without the city and its council.www.nationalobserver.com

NEW for @nationalobserver.com. The chair of the Toronto Liberal Caucus says even if Building Billy Bishop Airport Act passes as expected, the province “cannot unilaterally change how the airport operates.”

As Ford moves on Toronto's island airport, those fighting the takeover want Ottawa to speak upToronto Liberal MP Julie Dzerowicz says no conversation about the city's waterfront can be had without the city and its council.www.nationalobserver.com