Michele Sparling

Alberta judges urge respect after Smith said she wants to 'direct' them The province's three chief justices, in a rare public statement, say democracy only functions when all three branches of government operate independently and respect each other's role.

AB Chief Justices pen letter to address public misunderstandings the courts & justices. Why? Possibly the musing of Prem. Smith who says she “accepts” judicial independence yet talks of elected judges🇺🇸. Directed = risk of impartiality replaced w/ party bias.

www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/27/n...

Ontario's small businesses struggle to stay afloat as electricity costs rise Several times, Cindy Lougheed came close to closing her café because of high energy costs. But she stayed open, thinking about her staff and her customers — especially her regulars.

Small business owners see crushing burden of rising electricity costs - 29 % increase last year, driven largely by higher spending by the ON Gov’t on nuclear power & by natural gas companies passing on higher “buy Canadian” procurement costs on to customers.
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/16/a...

Manitoba Premier Kinew asks Ontario counterpart Ford to rethink Crown Royal boycott Ford has said that in retaliation for parent company Diageo deciding to close its bottling plant in Amherstburg, Ont., he will pull Crown Royal from Ontario liquor store shelves starting next month. T...

Diagio looked to create supply chain efficiencies. It sadly closed its location in ON after 50 yrs. ON Premier’s knee jerk reaction to pull Crown Royal from its shelves which could hurt Canadian production & cost more jobs in QC & MB. So much for team 🇨🇦.
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/13/n...

Documents reveal Ontario's $7M Ring of Fire ad bill These ads are pushing the controversial mega-project through a campaign it has dubbed “Protect Ontario,” which Canada’s National Observer has learned is earmarked with a budget of more than $7 million...

ON government has spent $452 million on advertising since being elected in 2018. 38 per cent of the province’s ad budget in 2024/25 was spent on ads that focused on drumming up a “positive impression” of the government, w/o facts to back up their claims.
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/13/n...

Ford's permit approvals have driven Waterloo to its water-taking limit The Ford government approved more than 100 permits in the past five years, allowing industry to take water for industrial and commercial use in Waterloo Region, despite the province’s own data showing...

ON Gov’t approved more than 100 permits in past 5 yrs allowing industry to take water for industrial & commercial use in Waterloo Region incl. w/ high environmental impact. Outcome: a water capacity limit so serious WR has been forced to halt new development.
www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/13/a...

Ford moves to let mining companies take water — no permit required Ontario is proposing changes that would allow hundreds of mineral exploration companies to take water for early-stage work without a permit.

ON Gov’t proposing mineral exploration companies can take water for early-stage work w/o permit. Water extraction has risks, including groundwater depletion, harm to ecosystems, habitat degradation, etc. No permits = no assessment/monitoring. #WaterIsLife
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/12/09/n...

So outside those who get it for free - only those who have privilege will be able to access it. It’s no longer a true choice of one’s care.

#DoBetter #HealthcareIsHumancare

Jerry of Ben & Jerry’s Resigns, Saying Company Has Been ‘Silenced’

“Standing up for the values of justice, equity, and our shared humanity has never been more important. Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced, sidelined for fear of upsetting those in power.” ~ Jerry Greenfield

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/b...

Dangerously dry conditions have forced Nova Scotia to restrict public access to forests and trails. Why the decision is the latest litmus test of our collective willingness to pull together in a crisis — and how some people are failing it badly. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/08/07/o...

Ford government's proposed water rules will suck Ontario dry, critics say The Ford government is facing backlash from advocates and water experts over proposed changes to Ontario’s Water Resources Act that would remove key oversight and public input from the province’s wate...

Under current water-taking rules, a permit transfer requires a new application, public review, environmental assessment & First Nations consultation. Ontario’s proposed changes cd remove this oversight, public input, & check to ensure proper water-taking. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/08/05/n...

Killing Democracy—And Not Bothering to Hide It
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

Up 288% in June year-over-year. Shameful.

This is on Doug Ford and Sylvia Jones, who lied through her teeth about the risk as she closed safe consumption sites.

I still have a few of those quilts that my grandmother made. She braided cloth rugs too. She also used the cotton sugar & flour bags to make pillow cases, putting a brightly coloured trim on the edge. Every scrap was used, even yarn. I have mittens made of all her left over yarn one year (my ask).

Housing & other community services are needed not shame and blame needed to address homeless encampments.

www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Ford gutted Ontario's environmental laws. Now he wants Ottawa to clear the last line of defence If the Bill 5 megaprojects proposed by Ontario Premier Doug Ford — like mining in the Ring of Fire or building Highway 413 — push federally listed species, such as the boreal caribou or redside dace, ...

Streamlining the assessment process doesn’t mean no Fed’l Laws.

“Without national standards, decisions made in one province can harm ecosystems & communities elsewhere, whether through shared waterways, migratory species or air pollution” ~ Michael Drescher
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/09/n...

For some, not all, even when they can use it if there are capacity or access issues. It requires better upstream supports in communities to ensure those who need it can get access to it.

Norwegian company has plans for LNG export project in Quebec As Canada looks to fast-track major projects that could reduce its dependence on the United States, a new subsidiary of a Norwegian energy company says it wants to build a liquefied natural gas export...

In the very early stages, a Norwegian company is looking to build a LNG export facility in Quebec to help supply European markets. The Quebec Premier is clear that such a project must benefit Quebec and its people.

www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/04/n...

Agree. It’s not just massive direct education to non-filers. There are many reasons why some people don’t file/file regularly. When you are struggling to survive day to day annual or quarterly rebates are a far off thought vs food, housing, healthcare; add no 🏦 acct, internet, literacy, access, etc.

First Nation’s fight for clean water stalls amid federal-provincial tensions A remote northern Ontario First Nation’s daily struggle for safe drinking water is stuck in the middle of a political fight between the federal and provincial governments.

Water is life. So why are the Alberta & Ontario Govts responses about economic growth & competitiveness rather than the people?

“Daily life is a very, very long day simply because people don’t have a direct water source,” said Carolina Budiman, Pikangikum. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/07/07/n...

Agree. Not unusual in negotiations to have items in the mix that you know you are prepared to step back from in order to get the best deal possible or to advance the negotiations - even ones you talk about in public. He & his team are negotiating for 🇨🇦.

At Amazon’s Biggest Data Center, Everything Is Supersized for A.I.

1200 acres that was once farm land. Pumping out 2.2 million gallons per hour of water for 730 days to “dewater” the area to run cables. Use 2.2 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power a million homes & millions of gallons of water to help with cooling. All for AI. 😳
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/24/t...

Saint John is warned against paving old-growth forest and putting up industrial park A spruce tree in Saint John, N.B., likely dating back to around the time of famed French explorer Samuel de Champlain, is part of a forested area at risk of being paved over to make room for a new kin...

“They paved paradise & put up a parking lot.”

Old growth forests are a rare sight these days near cities. Most trees are less than 100 years old. Saint John, NB has the chance to save trees around since the days of Champlain - but will they?
#Environment

www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/24/n...

Free entry to national parks, camp site discounts start Friday The Canada Strong Pass takes effect Friday, offering free admission to national parks, national historic sites and marine conservation areas maintained by Parks Canada. The pass also includes a 25 per...

The Canada Strong Pass takes effect this Friday, offering free admission to national parks, national historic sites and marine conservation areas maintained by Parks Canada. The pass also includes a 25 per cent discount on camping fees at national parks. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/16/n...

At a boisterous town hall, UCP coal mining plans clash with Alberta ranchers' water concerns The Fort Macleod & District Community Hall was packed to capacity with nearly 500 people, with the premier and cabinet ministers facing near-constant jeers from a majority of attendees who came to exp...

The Fort Macleod & District Community Hall was packed to capacity w/ people frustrated w/ the Alberta Gov’t’s decision to allow coal mining on the Rockies' eastern slopes & risking their water.

Water is life, & for farmers & others, it’s economic life. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/12/n...

Health Minister Marjorie Michel sits for an interview with The Hill Times in West Block on May 29, 2025

Health minister says mental health and access to care are on her list of priorities www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/0... @tessiesanci.bsky.social

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca

The Ford government passed controversial legislation on Tuesday, stripping Ontario cities of the ability to set their own green building standards. www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/04/n...

I care the sickest of children w/ chronic illnesses. Their resiliency inspires me. They & their parents are close to my heart.

It is soul crushing to have others dismiss their setbacks , often profound, when they contract old and new viruses because they have “preexisting” diseases. Just stop.

This finally compelled me to complete the OurCare survey about primary care in Canada: www.ourcare.ca/survey

Millions of Canadians' health data available for sale to pharmaceutical industry, study shows | CBC News Details about your health, medical history and prescriptions can all be found in your medical record. A new Canadian study found in some cases, private companies are accessing parts of that data and s...

Going to private #healthcare clinics, your data is being sold. #Canada

Millions of Canadians' health data available for sale to pharmaceutical industry, study shows

New study shows private clinics give companies access to patient data to sell to pharmaceutical companies

www.cbc.ca/news/health/...