Emma McIntosh
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emmamci.bsky.social
Emma McIntosh
@emmamci.bsky.social
Investigations @thestar.com. Formerly @thenarwhal.ca. Fan of FOI and lake swims. Hosted Paydirt, a podcast miniseries about the Greenbelt scandal. Signal: emmamci.76
Pinned
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances, records obtained by the Star show.

From the front page of today's paper, by Ana Pereira
and me:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances
The warning is included in previously unreported audits. Therme says it doesn't reflect the strong financial footing of the global business.
www.thestar.com
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
City investigating after contractor drives tractor with snowplow through Palestinian protest
City investigating after contractor drives tractor with snowplow through Palestinian protest
Videos show a tractor with a snowplow attached driving through a crowd on the sidewalk in front of the U.S. consulate on Tuesday evening.
www.thestar.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
Kyrrex controlled #crypto wallets that contained funds originally stolen from victims across the globe: a Canadian farmer, a Belgian scientist, a Danish politician...

From @emmamci.bsky.social and me in collab with @icij.org

www.thestar.com/news/investi...
The trail had gone cold for millions in stolen crypto. Then came the ‘aha!’ moment that unlocked the mystery
Bitcoin taken from Canadians ended up in crypto wallets controlled by ‘a hidden company.’ The fight to recoup the funds is far from over.
www.thestar.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
"Every media era gets the fabulists it deserves." Brilliant essay/investigation by @nickhunebrown.bsky.social into journalism scammers in the age of AI.
thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
New from @sheilawang.bsky.social + me, with @icij.org, @lapresse.ca + @cbcradiocanada.bsky.social. A surge of unregistered firms are allowing Toronto crypto users to anonymously cash out big sums in violation of anti-money laundering law. Sheila tested it undercover:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Inside Canada’s shadowy crypto banking system that makes it easy to facilitate ‘an unlimited amount of crime’
Reporters went undercover to expose a growing crypto-to-cash industry that is openly flouting anti-money laundering measures.
www.thestar.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
Inside Canada’s shadowy crypto banking system that makes it easy to facilitate ‘an unlimited amount of crime’ #Star/ICIJinvestigation
Inside Canada’s shadowy crypto banking system that makes it easy to facilitate ‘an unlimited amount of crime’
Reporters went undercover to expose a growing crypto-to-cash industry that is openly flouting anti-money laundering measures.
www.thestar.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:43 PM
New from @alexboyd.bsky.social and me: A 'jaw-dropper' new survey from pollster Cardinal Research last month showed surging support for the Alberta Republican Party.

But neither the firm nor the party disclosed they have common DNA: party leader Cam Davies.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
A ‘jaw-dropper’ poll showed surging support for an Alberta separatist party. Turns out the polling firm and the party weren’t so separate
The Alberta Republican Party leader previously had an ownership stake in the same polling company that reported support for his new party was surging.
www.thestar.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
A new poll last month made waves when it showed 11 per cent support for the Republican Party of Alberta and their push to separate. Turns out the pollster and the party shared some DNA. New story from @emmamci.bsky.social and me.

www.thestar.com/news/investi...
A ‘jaw-dropper’ poll showed surging support for an Alberta separatist party. Turns out the polling firm and the party weren’t so separate
The Alberta Republican Party leader previously had an ownership stake in the same polling company that reported support for his new party was surging.
www.thestar.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Callout for Jays fans in BC and Alberta: are you heading down to Seattle for the ALCS? Why or why not? I’m on the weekend shift today and the Star wants to hear from you!!

DMs open, or email me at emcintosh@thestar.ca!
October 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
A new study finds dozens of heat waves would be "virtually impossible" without the activity of major fossil fuel producers, including oil companies.
Scientists link hundreds of severe heat waves to fossil fuel producers' pollution
A new study finds dozens of heat waves would be "virtually impossible" without the activity of major fossil fuel producers, including oil companies.
n.pr
September 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
Israeli air strikes on Nasser Medical Complex have killed 20 Palestinians, including journalists, healthcare workers, rescue personnel and patients. Middle East Eye contributor Mohamed Salama was among the victims.
Israel bombs Khan Younis hospital, killing journalists and rescue worker
Initial bombing hits the upper floor of Nasser hospital, followed by a strike on response teams attempting to rescue the wounded
www.middleeasteye.net
August 25, 2025 at 11:53 AM
The latest in the Star’s reporting on Ontario Place:

Biz reporter Ana Pereira and I got ahold of financial records that shed light on how Therme passed Ontario’s financial test to secure its lease — and raise questions about the Ford government’s due dilligence.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
Financial records shed new light on the Ontario Place spa firm’s net worth, raising questions about the Ford government’s due diligence
Therme Group says its finances are solid and, with the unwavering backing of a shareholder, it has never been in danger of failing the stress test.
www.thestar.com
August 23, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
This is your reminder that we are actually barely two-thirds through summer. Justice for September as a summer month!!
August 18, 2025 at 8:05 PM
ICYMI, the Star published two Ontario Place investigations over the weekend

The first, from the excellent Ana Pereira and me: The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances
The warning is included in previously unreported audits. Therme says it doesn't reflect the strong financial footing of the global business.
www.thestar.com
August 18, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances #StarInvestigation
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances
The warning is included in previously unreported audits. Therme says it doesn't reflect the strong financial footing of the global business.
www.thestar.com
August 16, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances, records obtained by the Star show.

From the front page of today's paper, by Ana Pereira
and me:
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
The Ford government touted Therme as a ‘world-class’ partner for Ontario Place. In Europe, ‘significant’ concerns have emerged over finances
The warning is included in previously unreported audits. Therme says it doesn't reflect the strong financial footing of the global business.
www.thestar.com
August 16, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
Huge climate win from the ICJ that sharply rebuked Canada which argued it was not bound by international law to seriously fight climate change.

Going forward “Canada's pursuit of mega fossil fuel expansion projects stands in stark defiance of the ICJ." www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/23/n...
Landmark court ruling a stark rebuke of Canadian position on climate change
The ICJ finding is a watershed moment in the fight against climate change that should send shivers down the spine of the fossil fuel industry, while threatening to upend the legality of Prime Minister...
www.nationalobserver.com
July 23, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
Mushkegowuk Chiefs designate Ring of Fire as ‘protected homeland’ mushkegowuk.ca/2025/07/16/m... #onpoli #cdnpolj
July 18, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
“York University scientist Sheila Colla remembered as a fierce advocate to save wild bees. Colla, 43, died Sunday of cancer. She successfully fought for the rusty-patched bumblebee to become the first bee listed as an endangered species in Canada and the U.S.”

www.thestar.com/news/gta/she...
‘Sheila just went for it’: York University scientist Sheila Colla remembered as a fierce advocate to save wild bees
Colla, 43, died Sunday of cancer. She successfully fought for the rusty-patched bumblebee to become the first bee listed as an endangered species in Canada and the U.S.
www.thestar.com
July 12, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Awful news. Sheila did such incredible work, and was so good at explaining it in ways journalists and the public could understand. Condolences to her family and friends.
Sheila was a remarkable friend, colleague, mentor, neighbour, and mother, who gave so much to all of her communities. I looked up to her immensely as a colleague who thought deeply about the way we do science and who we include and uphold. She will be deeply missed. www.gofundme.com/f/support-sh...
Donate to Support Sheila Colla Through Cancer Treatment, organized by Anna Penner
There is a good chance that you already know Sheila Colla: she is a brillian… Anna Penner needs your support for Support Sheila Colla Through Cancer Treatment
www.gofundme.com
July 10, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
NEW: Ontario’s environment minister is feeling the heat after writing to his federal counterpart asking Ottawa to repeal a slew of climate laws, a few months after briefing documents showed his government was set to miss its own emissions targets. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1128222...
On course to miss emissions targets, Ontario asks feds to repeal climate laws | Globalnews.ca
A joint letter from Alberta and Ontario asked the federal government to withdraw a series of existing laws to boost the economy in the face of U.S. tariffs.
globalnews.ca
July 10, 2025 at 1:42 PM
New from me and @sheilawang.bsky.social:

A mining firm with a history of pollution allegations in the U.S. wants to dig for gold upstream from Grassy Narrows First Nation.

The plan risks worsening the effects of old mercury lingering in the rivers, the nation says.
www.thestar.com/news/investi...
‘The threat of more poison in our water’: A gold mining firm plans to discharge wastewater upstream from Grassy Narrows
Kinross Gold says it adheres to the highest environmental standards. But there is growing concern about its history of alleged pollution.
www.thestar.com
July 10, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by Emma McIntosh
A New Canadian Group Launches to Defend Palestinian Journalists, by @kristendejager.bsky.social thetyee.ca/News/2025/06...
A New Canadian Group Launches to Defend Palestinian Journalists | The Tyee
At least 186 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, Israel, Lebanon and the West Bank in the last 20 months.
thetyee.ca
June 26, 2025 at 8:58 PM