A peek behind the curtain

• 
• 

Details

Published on Friday, 05 October 2018 11:40

Written by editor

A peek behind the curtain r1 There's a problem with some research out of the University of Alberta. And we've got 550 pages to prove it. ...

We've been investigating.

See that stack of paper? That's the 550-page result of a Freedom of Information request our managing editor, Carol Linnitt, filed with the University of Alberta.

Carol was looking deep into the ties between a University of Alberta researcher and one of the province's most influential coal producers, TransAlta.

The results of that rather beefy Freedom of Information request show company executives were not only involved in the funding of coal-friendly research at the university, but that they actively assigned, reviewed and publicized the work of researcher Warren Kindzierski.

Kindzierski has been known for years to produce what he calls 'independent' research that downplays the negative air quality impacts of burning coal and these documents show just how involved coal industry players have been in the creation of that work.

So why did The Narwhal pursue this story?

We're passionate about exposing how corporations influence public conversations. Plus, Carol is an avid believer in the university as a corporate influence-free space.

In addition to her reporting, Carol is doing her PhD at the University of Victoria. So this story was near and dear to her heart.

(Now back to your homework, Carol.)

We have a lot in store for you this week, so please read on!

Emma Gilchrist
Editor-in-Chief, The Narwhal

What are Canada's greatest assets? What should we aspire to us a country? We go deep in our latest video, Meet The Narwhal. There are just seven days left to win this Paul Nicklen print. Enter Now If you've already entered, don't forget to share with your friends to earn bonus entries and increase your chances of winning!

University of Alberta air quality research reviewed by coal producer prior to publication, documents reveal

By Carol Linnitt

Research released by the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health on the health effects of coal-fired power plants was reviewed prior to publication by TransAlta, one of Alberta’s largest utility providers and coal producers. A batch of documents released to The Narwhal via Freedom of Information legislation shows researcher Warren Kindzierski telling TransAlta executives in an email they will “not be disappointed” in his findings. Read more.

Minister’s inaction on B.C.’s endangered caribou ‘egregious’: federal court judge

By Judith Lavoie

A citizen group in B.C. asked Environment Minister Catherine McKenna for an emergency order to protect an endangered caribou herd under Canada’s Species At Risk Act. When that request was ignored the group raised $33,000 to seek a judicial review. The judge reviewing the case issued a scathing judgement last week, saying citizens shouldn't have to fundraise to convince Canada's ministers to follow the law. Read more.

‘You take us off the land, and you destroy a piece of who we are’

By Sarah Cox

The Narwhal's B.C. legislative reporter, Sarah Cox, recently released her new, investigative book on the controversial Site C dam.

It's already been listed on the B.C. bestseller list and is a riveting read. Take a sneak peek here in this exclusive excerpt about the project's impacts on Treaty 8 First Nations. Read the excerpt.

In photos: The fight for the Yukon River’s last salmon

By Peter Mather

After decades of inaction from both Canadian and U.S. governments, local Indigenous people are taking salmon conservation along the Yukon River into their own hands. See the photos.

Washington ends transfer of infected farmed salmon into ocean pens

By Judith Lavoie

Washington State recently prevented a company from transferring 800,000 juvenile Atlantic salmon from a hatchery to ocean net pens because the disease risks to wild salmon populations is too high. But in B.C., companies are still allowed to stock their open net fish farms with Atlantic salmon infected with dangerous and highly contagious diseases. Read more.

Almost everything we know about e-waste is wrong

By Josh Lepawsky

Post-consumer recycling of electronics will never be enough, we need to be able to repair — and upgrade — the devices we already have, if we are to slow our production of e-waste. Read more.

It’s time for B.C. to start legally protecting endangered species

By Dr. Sarah Otto and Dr. Brian Starzomski

Despite what you might think, caribou and other threatened and endangered species are not legally protected in B.C. That's despite the fact that B.C. is home to almost half of all Canadian species, and some of the most wonderful and inspiring wildlife and natural landscapes on the planet.

But right now the province is considering introducing protections for at-risk species and the government is asking for your input. r33 Copyright © 2018 The Narwhal, All rights reserved.
You are on this list because you signed up to receive The Narwhal (formerly DeSmog Canada) newsletter.

Our mailing address is:
The Narwhal
Suite 634
185 - 911 Yates St.
Victoria, Bc V8V 4Y9
Canada

Add us to your address book

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or r34.





This email was sent to s6
why did I get this? r34 r35
The Narwhal · Suite 634 · 185 - 911 Yates St. · Victoria, Bc V8V 4Y9 · Canada

r1