Benjamin Shingler

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Benjamin Shingler.

Developers are ready to build more housing. How can the federal government help?

Developers are ready to build more housing. How can the federal government help?

In a small factory in Granby, Que., south of Montreal, workers are preparing steel-reinforced concrete panels to be shipped to construction sites.These prefabricated components can come with insulation, windows, doors and even a Juliet balcony."I call it 'ready-to-wear' for construction," said Virginie Brouillard, vice-president of Avac Beton, which was founded by her family four decades ago.

What a ruling by Ontario's top court could mean for the future of climate litigation

What a ruling by Ontario's top court could mean for the future of climate litigation

In what some have called a game-changing decision, an Ontario court has ruled that the provincial government's weakened climate target could violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Ecojustice, Canada's largest environmental law charity, says the decision marks the first time that Ontario's highest court has ruled that a government's climate actions are subject to the Charter. Ecojustice backed the...

How a rail stoppage could affect freight, farming, french fries and more

How a rail stoppage could affect freight, farming, french fries and more

For the first time, Canada's two main railway companies, Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), are on the verge of a simultaneous labour stoppage. The companies say they will start locking out workers in the early hours of Thursday if they cannot reach a deal, while the union says it is ready to call a strike...

A new law aims to crack down on environmental racism in Canada

A new law aims to crack down on environmental racism in Canada

For years, researchers, activists, community leaders have shown how Indigenous, Black and other racialized groups have been disproportionately affected by polluting industries.Now, a new law will require the federal government to better track this injustice, and aim to correct it.

'How do you sleep at night?': NDP calls oil and gas executives to Parliament

'How do you sleep at night?': NDP calls oil and gas executives to Parliament

Canadian oil and gas executives are expected to face tough questions in Ottawa this afternoon over their companies' record profits and track records on greenhouse gas emissions. Leaders from Suncor, Imperial Oil, Cenovus Energy, Shell Canada and Enbridge were called by the NDP to appear before the standing committee on environment and sustainable development. "These rich oil and gas CEOs...

This senator wants Canadian banks to fight climate change

This senator wants Canadian banks to fight climate change

Rosa Galvez has taken on a Herculean task: force Canadian financial institutions to prioritize the fight against climate change.More than two years ago, the independent senator from Quebec proposed legislation that would force banks and pension funds to steer away from emissions-intensive investments, such as the oil and gas sector.

Canada at risk of another devastating wildfire season, federal government warns

Canada at risk of another devastating wildfire season, federal government warns

The federal government says Canada is at risk of another devastating wildfire season, after an unusually warm winter, widespread drought conditions and a forecast of above-normal temperatures in the months ahead. Officials said during a technical briefing Wednesday that more dry, hot weather is expected this spring and summer, putting much of the country at greater risk of wildfires. Much...

Canada is still backing the fossil fuel industry with billions, report finds

Canada is still backing the fossil fuel industry with billions, report finds

A new report says the federal government is providing billions of dollars in financial support for the fossil fuel industry, despite measures announced last year to limit certain types of subsidies for the oil and gas industry. The analysis, released today by the advocacy group Environmental Defence, estimated that Ottawa offered up at least $18.6 billion in support of the...

What's behind the carbon tax, and does it work?

What's behind the carbon tax, and does it work?

With the federal government under pressure to freeze its planned increase to the carbon tax, policy experts are calling for a clear-eyed debate over the legislation and its role in the country's climate goals. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, along with seven premiers, have called for the scheduled April 1 hike to be scrapped, saying it will only make inflation worse...

Alberta's oilsands pump out more pollutants than industry reports, scientists find

Alberta's oilsands pump out more pollutants than industry reports, scientists find

Alberta's oilsands operations produce far more potentially harmful air pollutants than are officially reported, with the daily output on par with those from gridlocked megacities like Los Angeles, new research suggests. The study, published today in the academic journal Science, measured concentrations of organic carbon emissions in the air by flying overhead and taking samples. Those numbers were compared to...