David McKie
@davidmckie.bsky.social
David McKie is Canada National Observer's deputy managing editor, data-journalism trainer, and teaches at Carleton U., the University of King's College and TMU
Three decades of climate summits and the planet is still getting hotter. We know these meetings aren’t working well enough, but if you believe that means it’s pointless, you’re dead wrong. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/11/a...
UN climate summits are an arena of politics worthy of your attention
Three decades of climate summits and the planet is still getting hotter. We know these meetings aren’t working well enough, but if you believe that means it’s pointless, I’m here to tell you you’re de...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Three decades of climate summits and the planet is still getting hotter. We know these meetings aren’t working well enough, but if you believe that means it’s pointless, you’re dead wrong. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/11/a...
As the governments of the world arrive in Brazil for the 30th annual climate gathering, let's take stock of what’s happened globally, and here at home in Canada. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/10/o...
A decade since Paris: why Canada is still running in place
As the governments of the world arrive in Brazil for the 30th annual climate gathering, let's take stock of what’s happened globally, and here at home in Canada.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:41 PM
As the governments of the world arrive in Brazil for the 30th annual climate gathering, let's take stock of what’s happened globally, and here at home in Canada. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/10/o...
In addition to removing carbon from the atmosphere, the City of Ottawa says the benefits of trees also include positive impacts on health, cooling homes, and protecting infrastructure, writes Kaitlin Gruehl www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/06/n...
As Ottawa expands tree planting initiatives, the federal government makes cuts to its own
As Ottawa expands its tree planting initiatives to plant in low-income areas and help with carbon absorption, the federal government has made cuts to its own planting program.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:41 PM
In addition to removing carbon from the atmosphere, the City of Ottawa says the benefits of trees also include positive impacts on health, cooling homes, and protecting infrastructure, writes Kaitlin Gruehl www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/06/n...
Canada, a quasi-petrostate, can be a leader in GHG emission reductions, have a prosperous economy and have a strong federation, writes Gerald Kutney www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/07/o...
Governments can support fossil fuels and a climate policy simultaneously
Canada, a quasi-petrostate, can be a leader in GHG emission reductions, have a prosperous economy and have a strong federation.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Canada, a quasi-petrostate, can be a leader in GHG emission reductions, have a prosperous economy and have a strong federation, writes Gerald Kutney www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/07/o...
Since April's election, oil and gas lobbyists notched at least 177 meetings with federal officials — a third of which were in September alone. If Tuesday's budget is any indication, they successfully persuaded Prime Minister Mark Carney's government www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/06/n...
Feds faced intense lobbying pressure before budget
Since April's election, oil and gas lobbyists notched at least 177 meetings with federal officials — a third of which were in September alone. If Tuesday's budget is any indication, they successfully ...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Since April's election, oil and gas lobbyists notched at least 177 meetings with federal officials — a third of which were in September alone. If Tuesday's budget is any indication, they successfully persuaded Prime Minister Mark Carney's government www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/06/n...
In many respects, this is the most harmful budget from a climate perspective since the Harper era, writes Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
Oil and gas trumps climate action in brutal federal budget
The budget makes clear that fossil fuel production for export is a central pillar of this government’s economic strategy — and that it won’t let climate measures get in the way.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:56 PM
In many respects, this is the most harmful budget from a climate perspective since the Harper era, writes Hadrian Mertins-Kirkwood www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
After the Trump administration complained ad nauseam about an ad paid for the Ontario government that accurately represented former US president Ronald Reagan’s views on trade, the president said Carney had personally apologized to him. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
Carney apology to Trump shows rift in Team Canada approach on tariffs
After the Trump administration spent the better part of the last week and a bit complaining about an ad paid for the Ontario government that accurately represented former US president Ronald Reagan’s ...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:46 PM
After the Trump administration complained ad nauseam about an ad paid for the Ontario government that accurately represented former US president Ronald Reagan’s views on trade, the president said Carney had personally apologized to him. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/04/o...
The funding agreement for the National Public Alerting System (NPAS), which sends out alerts for extreme weather, air quality, wildfires, Amber Alerts and other threats, expires on Aug. 31, 2026, and it is unclear what will happen next. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/28/n...
National public alert system faces uncertain future
The funding agreement for the National Public Alerting System (NPAS), which sends out alerts for extreme weather, air quality, wildfires, Amber Alerts and other threats, expires on Aug. 31, 2026, and ...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:59 AM
The funding agreement for the National Public Alerting System (NPAS), which sends out alerts for extreme weather, air quality, wildfires, Amber Alerts and other threats, expires on Aug. 31, 2026, and it is unclear what will happen next. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/28/n...
In lawsuit filed Monday, four young Canadians allege the Canada Pension Plan is mismanaging their retirement savings by underestimating climate-related financial risks — the first legal challenge of its kind. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/27/n...
Young Canadians accuse the Canada Pension Plan of mismanaging climate risks
In lawsuit filed Monday, four young Canadians allege the Canada Pension Plan is mismanaging their retirement savings by underestimating climate-related financial risks — the first legal challenge of i...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 29, 2025 at 12:10 AM
In lawsuit filed Monday, four young Canadians allege the Canada Pension Plan is mismanaging their retirement savings by underestimating climate-related financial risks — the first legal challenge of its kind. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/27/n...
Canada, let’s stop doubling down on bad bets www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/24/o...
Canada, let’s stop doubling down on bad bets
Expanding fossil fuel exports won’t secure Canada’s future — it will strand it.
www.nationalobserver.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Canada, let’s stop doubling down on bad bets www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/24/o...
It’s not just Conservative politicians who are pushing a new oil pipeline to the West Coast — a sprawling right-wing network of columnists, think tanks and companies are amplifying one another’s messaging. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/23/a...
The pipeline ‘petrobloc’ is pressuring Carney to cave on Northern Gateway revival
It’s not just Conservative politicians who are pushing a new oil pipeline to the West Coast — a sprawling right-wing network of columnists, think tanks and companies are amplifying one another’s messa...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:12 AM
It’s not just Conservative politicians who are pushing a new oil pipeline to the West Coast — a sprawling right-wing network of columnists, think tanks and companies are amplifying one another’s messaging. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/23/a...
After Dawn Farrell told a House of Commons committee she believes the Trans Mountain pipeline helps fight climate change, Canada’s National Observer asked if the Major Projects Office she leads could substantiate the claims. It couldn’t. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/22/n...
Major Projects Office can’t back up its boss’ claim Trans Mountain helps fight climate change
After Dawn Farrell told a House of Commons committee she believes the Trans Mountain pipeline helps fight climate change, Canada’s National Observer asked if the Major Projects Office she leads could ...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:44 PM
After Dawn Farrell told a House of Commons committee she believes the Trans Mountain pipeline helps fight climate change, Canada’s National Observer asked if the Major Projects Office she leads could substantiate the claims. It couldn’t. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/22/n...
The study estimates that 3.5 million cats spend time outdoors in Canada and together they kill a median of 60 million birds every year. Bird populations in North America have already fallen by more than three billion since 1970. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/18/n...
Outdoor cats kill 60 million birds in Canada each year, study finds
April Campbell has five rescue cats at home in Toronto and a bird feeder in her backyard. She loves watching the birds but also cares deeply for her foster cats. To protect both, she built a “catio” —...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The study estimates that 3.5 million cats spend time outdoors in Canada and together they kill a median of 60 million birds every year. Bird populations in North America have already fallen by more than three billion since 1970. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/18/n...
In a wide-ranging discussion moderated by managing editor David McKie, several CNO reporters and former Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick discussed Prime Minister Mark Carney's political strategy — and the challenges he will face. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/17/a...
Insights gleaned from our panel on Carney's policy playbook
Moderated by Managing Editor David McKie, The Next Big Bills: Inside Carney’s Policy Playbook brought together Canada’s National Observer reporters John Woodside, Darius Snieckus and Natasha Bulowski ...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:45 AM
In a wide-ranging discussion moderated by managing editor David McKie, several CNO reporters and former Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick discussed Prime Minister Mark Carney's political strategy — and the challenges he will face. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/17/a...
“Unless governments & builders address the threat of wildfires when deciding where new homes are built (they) will face costly & disruptive disasters, pushing affordable, safe housing further out of reach," says Dale Beugin, CCI executive director www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/16/n...
Homebuilding boom ignoring rising 'high hazard' wildfire risk
A panel of experts convened by Canada’s National Observer and the European Commission called for a rethink of the federal government’s plan to construct hundreds of thousands of new houses in ‘high ha...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 18, 2025 at 1:59 PM
“Unless governments & builders address the threat of wildfires when deciding where new homes are built (they) will face costly & disruptive disasters, pushing affordable, safe housing further out of reach," says Dale Beugin, CCI executive director www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/16/n...
Reposted by David McKie
This is an incredible tool built by @nationalobserver.com that will help foster enhanced transparency at the local level.
All CAJ members can join Civic Searchlight....NOW!
A big thanks to @jameswsthomson.com for this. Contact him ASAP! HT to @rorywh.bsky.social @davidmckie.bsky.social and team
All CAJ members can join Civic Searchlight....NOW!
A big thanks to @jameswsthomson.com for this. Contact him ASAP! HT to @rorywh.bsky.social @davidmckie.bsky.social and team
Today, @nationalobserver.com is launching a tool to search municipal meeting transcripts across Canada. The tool has already helped us unearth a climate denial network targeting towns and cities, report on AI data centers, measure our impact and more.
Journalists and researchers, sign up for free!
Journalists and researchers, sign up for free!
Canada’s National Observer unveils a powerful tool for fighting disinformation
Civic Searchlight brings together municipal meeting transcripts from across Canada into a searchable database for the first time. It has already been used to fight disinformation, report on impact, di...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM
This is an incredible tool built by @nationalobserver.com that will help foster enhanced transparency at the local level.
All CAJ members can join Civic Searchlight....NOW!
A big thanks to @jameswsthomson.com for this. Contact him ASAP! HT to @rorywh.bsky.social @davidmckie.bsky.social and team
All CAJ members can join Civic Searchlight....NOW!
A big thanks to @jameswsthomson.com for this. Contact him ASAP! HT to @rorywh.bsky.social @davidmckie.bsky.social and team
Homebuilding boom ignoring rising 'high hazard' wildfire risk www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/16/n...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Homebuilding boom ignoring rising 'high hazard' wildfire risk www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/16/n...
Should research published by banks be held to the same anti-greenwashing rules as other corporate documents? One shareholder group is pushing a Quebec regulator to decide, in a move that could open up a new battleground for corporate accountability. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/10/n...
Banks' ties to LNG raise questions of greenwashing in 'thought leadership'
Should research published by banks be held to the same anti-greenwashing rules as other corporate documents? One shareholder advocacy group is pushing a Quebec regulator to decide, in a move that coul...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Should research published by banks be held to the same anti-greenwashing rules as other corporate documents? One shareholder group is pushing a Quebec regulator to decide, in a move that could open up a new battleground for corporate accountability. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/10/n...
Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel recently told investors he was very pleased with Ontario Premier Doug Ford's policy to provide "gas, to the maximum possibility." The comments come as the energy giant plans to fork billions back to shareholders. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/09/a...
Enbridge investors to get billions as gas giant expands into small-town Ontario
Enbridge executives know Ontario ratepayers are a cash cow for its gas business, and in recent calls with investors they said they plan to milk it for all its worth.
www.nationalobserver.com
October 9, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel recently told investors he was very pleased with Ontario Premier Doug Ford's policy to provide "gas, to the maximum possibility." The comments come as the energy giant plans to fork billions back to shareholders. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/09/a...
Thanks. @sonalg.bsky.social
@nationalobserver.com launched a great resource to help journalists and citizens hold councils accountable! Kudos to @jameswsthomson.com @davidmckie.bsky.social @rorywh.bsky.social!!
Canada’s National Observer unveils a powerful tool for fighting disinformation
Civic Searchlight brings together municipal meeting transcripts from across Canada into a searchable database for the first time. It has already been used to fight disinformation, report on impact, di...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 9, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Thanks. @sonalg.bsky.social
As climate disinformation groups move into the shadows, Canada’s National Observer has developed an unprecedented new tool: Civic Searchlight. To build it, we assembled a database of council meetings in more than 550 municipalities. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/08/i...
How Canada's National Observer tracked a climate misinfo group going 'under the radar'
As KICLEI's campaign moves into the shadows, Canada’s National Observer has developed an unprecedented new tool: Civic Searchlight. To build it, we assembled a database of council meetings in more tha...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:22 AM
As climate disinformation groups move into the shadows, Canada’s National Observer has developed an unprecedented new tool: Civic Searchlight. To build it, we assembled a database of council meetings in more than 550 municipalities. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/08/i...
Canada’s National Observer unveils a powerful tool for fighting disinformation www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/08/n...
Canada’s National Observer unveils a powerful tool for fighting disinformation
Civic Searchlight brings together municipal meeting transcripts from across Canada into a searchable database for the first time. It has already been used to fight disinformation, report on impact, di...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Canada’s National Observer unveils a powerful tool for fighting disinformation www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/08/n...
A strange start for “climate competitiveness” www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/07/o...
A strange start for “climate competitiveness”
The federal government’s full-throated endorsement of LNG Canada Phase 2 is bad news for anyone who cares about Canada’s carbon emissions — or Canadians’ tax dollars.
www.nationalobserver.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:08 PM
A strange start for “climate competitiveness” www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/07/o...
Partnering in the fight against wildfires: Canada and the EU www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/06/n...
Partnering in the fight against wildfires: Canada and the EU
The Delegation of the EU to Canada, in partnership with Canada’s National Observer, invites you to join a panel discussion event on the fight against wildfires hosted by CNO’s David McKie on Thursday,...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 7, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Partnering in the fight against wildfires: Canada and the EU www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/06/n...
Rooftop solar is inefficient and expensive compared to to utility-scale renewable energy. Here's why progressive politicians should aggressively subsidize it — and other consumer-facing clean technologies — anyways. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/02/o...
The political case for rooftop solar
If there’s one lesson progressive politicians should take to heart from the last decade, it’s that the durability of their climate policies is more important — way, way more important — than their eco...
www.nationalobserver.com
October 2, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Rooftop solar is inefficient and expensive compared to to utility-scale renewable energy. Here's why progressive politicians should aggressively subsidize it — and other consumer-facing clean technologies — anyways. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/10/02/o...