New changes to the Planning Act are being proposed by the Ford government, such as "Removing redundant requirement for municipalities to include climate change policies in their official plans,"

And

"green building/construction standards are not permitted"

Details: ero.ontario.ca/notice/026-0...

Ontario fast-tracks mine despite Grassy Narrows First Nation’s concerns | The Narwhal Grassy Narrows First Nation has challenged a water permit for Kinross Gold’s Great Bear project, as well as the Ontario Mining Act

In February, the Ontario government added a third mine to the list of projects it plans to fast-track, despite concerns from Grassy Narrows First Nation downstream — a community still dealing with the legacy of industrial pollution. thenarwhal.ca/grassy-narro...

Syrup, Salamanders, and Seasonal Shifts: March 2026 Migration, maple syrup, and major policy moves mark the turning of the season as Ontario welcomes the return of spring!

Spring is here, but so are some major changes at Queen’s Park. From the return of the Red-winged Blackbird to the consolidation of Ontario’s Conservation Authorities, catch up on a busy March in our latest issue

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/syrup-sala...

#Ontario #OnPoli #Spring #Birds #Halton

Ontario won’t share recovery plans for endangered species | The Narwhal Ontario won’t publish its plans to protect wolves, butterflies and bats, after Bill 5 dropped requirement for endangered species recovery planning

With the passage of Bill 5, the Ford government slashed the requirement to develop recovery plans for at-risk species. Now, internal documents reveal Ontario will not publish a handful of plans that were underway when the bill passed. thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enda...

Environmental group gives Doug Ford ‘Don’t Bulldoze Our Future’ award Group presents symbolic award criticizing the Ford government’s environmental policies

Environmental group GASP presents Premier Doug Ford with a symbolic "Don't Bulldoze Our Future" award, criticizing Ontario's current land and water policies. The government maintains these changes are necessary for growth.

Full story:
www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/environmen...
#OnPoli #Ontario

Ontario fast-tracks mine despite Grassy Narrows First Nation’s concerns | The Narwhal Grassy Narrows First Nation has challenged a water permit for Kinross Gold’s Great Bear project, as well as the Ontario Mining Act

The Ford government has named a third mine for fast-tracking, but downstream, Grassy Narrows First Nation has already challenged a water permit for the gold mine, and has a pending court challenge against Ontario’s Mining Act. thenarwhal.ca/grassy-narro...

Why a tiny salamander is shutting down a Burlington road City officials and Conservation Halton team up for the annual spring tradition of protecting a rare species as it moves to its breeding ponds along the Niagara Escarpment.

Why did the salamander cross the road? 🦎 To reach the exact pond where it was born!

King Road in Burlington will be closed from March 11 to April 8 to provide the endangered Jefferson Salamander with a safe spring migration!
www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/why-tiny-s...
#BurlOn #Halton #Burlington

Plovers, Petitions, and Coyotes: February 2026 Deadlines loom for Wasaga’s plovers, coyote mating season safety, and a record-breaking climate forecast.

Despite a March 1 deadline, an emergency protection order still hasn't been issued for Wasaga's Piping Plovers

Full details in our February edition!
www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/plovers-pe...
#pipingplover #coyote #wildlife #halton #haltonhills #Ontario #OnPoli #birds #birding #substack

Federal review underway on emergency protection for Wasaga Piping Plovers Environmental advocates have urged the federal government to step in as mechanical beach raking plans threaten the survival of the endangered Piping Plover at its most successful nesting site.

Federal officials are reviewing an emergency order to protect endangered Piping Plovers at Wasaga Beach as environmental groups warn planned mechanical raking could devastate Ontario’s most vital nesting site.

Full Story:
www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/federal-re...

#PipingPlover #Plovers #Birds

Birds, Bylaws, & Blue Bins: January 2026 From a rare western visitor in Halton, to a landmark victory for pollinator gardens, we look at the latest on Highway 413, the Wasaga Beach land transfer, and a proposed Sandhill Crane hunting season.

Don't miss our latest issue!

We have bird sightings in Halton, a new nature photo essay, a court win for wild gardens, recycling changes, Highway 413 concerns, and the Wasaga Beach debate.

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/birds-byla...

#OnPoli #Ontario #Birds #Wildlife #Hwy413 #gardens #Halton

Photographing Halton's urban nature A photo essay of a year spent documenting the nature of an urban park in Halton Hills that proved great images can be found anywhere.

In his latest photo essay, Greg @randomphotoadv.bsky.social captures warblers, swallows, frogs, butterflies and more in a Halton Hills park across a year of observation.

Read it here:
www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/photograph...

#PhotoEssay #UrbanNature #Wildlife #HaltonHills #Birds #Warblers

Ontario cities police gardens and ignore biodiversity | The Narwhal The City of Burlington is taking a woman to court for unpaid fines after letting her garden grow wild. Similar cases have cropped up elsewhere, to the detriment of the environment

A woman will head to court in March after the City of Burlington fined her for letting her garden grow wild — and other Ontario municipalities have taken similar measures. @elaineanselmi.bsky.social asks: What exactly are we protecting here? thenarwhal.ca/opinion-burl...

Ontario court victory lets gardens grow wild A Mississauga man’s legal victory over the city’s lawn bylaws sets an important precedent for Canadians looking to replace their grass lawns with pollinator and habitat gardens.

A Mississauga man beat the city over lawn bylaws, with the court ruling naturalized gardens are protected expression under the Charter, a decision with major implications for Burlington and municipalities across Ontario

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/ontario-co...

#Ontario #BurlON #Halton #Climate

‘People just love it’: Winter hiking a popular pastime along trails in Halton Hills While many residents prefer to stay indoors during the colder months, the Halton Hills chapter of the Toronto Bruce Trail Club experiences its largest turnout in winter.

Why is winter hiking so popular? This story examines the surprising surge, why snowy trails are appealing, and tips for staying safe and upright on slippery trails.

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/people-jus...

#HaltonHills #Halton #HaltonRegion #BruceTrail #WinterHiking #Ontario #Winter #Hiking

“Keep removing them. Eventually, that tower will collapse.” Ontario Nature's Tony Morris, comparing biodiversity loss to pulling pieces from a game of Jenga, making Ontario more vulnerable to climate change.
Read the full article below 👇

Ford government failed to disclose environmental and Greenbelt risks of Highway 413, says Auditor General Ontario’s Auditor General found that the public consultation process for Highway 413 did not provide sufficient information to understand impacts on the Greenbelt and environment

Auditor General finds Ontarians weren’t told the full environmental and Greenbelt risks of Highway 413 before public consultations were cut out. Endangered species, lost farmland, and unanswered questions.

Read the full story: www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/auditor-ge...

#OnPoli #Hwy413 #DougFord

Happy Holidays, Highlights, and Headlines: December 2025 Reflecting on a year of evolving content, developments at Queen’s Park, and local environmental decisions as we head into 2026

As we wrap up the year, don't miss our final issue of 2025, out now!

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/happy-holi...

#onpoli #QueensPark #Halton #HaltonHills #SubStack #newsletter

Inside Ontario’s plan to merge 36 conservation authorities to 7 | The Narwhal Doug Ford’s government is seeking public feedback on its plan to overhaul Ontario’s conservation authorities, reducing local agencies from 36 to 7

Today is the last day for Ontarians to weigh in on the Doug Ford government's plan to consolidate 36 conservations authorities into seven regional ones. Here's everything you need to know about it: thenarwhal.ca/ontario-cons...

Ontario municipalities want Enbridge Gas to pay up | The Narwhal Guelph, Waterloo Region and other Ontario municipalities argue the gas giant shouldn’t be able to build pipelines on public land for free

Waterloo Region and Guelph are holding out on renewing contracts that allow Enbridge Gas to build pipelines on public land for free. Toronto and Ottawa are also pushing back, and more Ontario municipalities could follow: thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enbr...

‘We’ve never surrendered the land’: Treaty 9 First Nations back in court By Matt Prokopchuk, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TBnewswatch.com

Eleven Treaty 9 First Nations are back in court, challenging Ontario and Canada over far north resource development. Lawyers say the province is trying to shut down the case before evidence is heard.

Full Story: www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/weve-never...
#OnPoli #FirstNations #Treaty9 #RingOfFire

Young people will speak up in court after leaders stayed silent about Ontario development bill By Sonal Gupta, a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter with Canada’s National Observer.

Ramon Kataquapit and Michel Koostachin of Attawapiskat First Nation are intervening in a lawsuit against Ontario's Bill 5 to stop fast-tracked land development in Treaty 9.

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/young-peop...

#OnPoli #Mining #Environment #TreatyRights #FirstNations #DougFord #Ontario #News

Ford Government passes Bill 46: forest protections cut, alcohol allowed in Ontario Parks Bill pairs new provincial park drinking rules with Crown Forest Sustainability Act changes, allowing forest removal without standard oversight.

The Ford Government passed an omnibus bill that amended the Crown Forest Sustainability Act to permit forest removal for non-forestry uses while also permitting alcohol consumption in designated areas of Provincial Parks

Read the latest: www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/ford-gover...
#onpoli #dougford

Does Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights have teeth? | The Narwhal The Doug Ford government has picked away at the law that enshrines the public’s power in decision-making that affects Ontario’s environment. Here’s what’s left

Another auditor general’s report is out in Ontario, and this one highlights the ways the Ford government has eroded the Environmental Bill of Rights. Here’s our story on the bill’s power, and what’s left of it: thenarwhal.ca/environmenta...

Ford Government "Eroding Ontarians’ EBR Rights," says Ontario Auditor General Through legislative exemptions for projects like Highway 413 and Ontario Place, incomplete consultations, and an 80% decline in public outreach, the government is systematically limiting opportunities

Ontario’s Auditor General warns the government is eroding Ontarians’ Environmental Bill of Rights, cutting consultations, ignoring feedback, and expanding exemptions.

Read the full breakdown:

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/ford-gover...

#OnPoli #DougFord #Environment #Ontario #AuditorGeneral

Floodplains, Squirrels, and Canopies: November 2025 The Fight for Ontario’s Watersheds, Bill 60, Piping Plover Protections, Meeting Halton’s Bushy-Tailed Residents and Grassy Narrows First Nation’s New Legal Challenge

Our latest monthly issue is out!

We're talking about the fight for Ontario’s watersheds, Bill 60, Piping Plover protections, meeting Halton’s bushy-tailed residents and Grassy Narrows First Nation’s new legal challenge

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/floodplain...

#Ontario #GrassyNarrows #OnPoli

Meet Ontario's Red Squirrels From stashing cones to sounding alarms, these fiery little mammals are busy preparing for the long Canadian winter.

Hey Ontario, meet the American Red Squirrel!

Learn how these fiery little mammals stay active all winter, from stashing cones to sounding alarms, in our latest article.

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/meet-ontar...

#Squirrel #Nature #Wildlife #HaltonHills #Halton

Thank you!

We've got a new look! Introducing our new logo for The Field & Shutter Press!

Let us know what you think!

#newlogo #logo #substack #turkeyVulture #Niagaraescarpment #haltonhills #halton #haltonregion

Canada says anti-greenwashing rules silence industry | The Narwhal Carney is moving to nix some of Canada’s rules that restrict how oil and gas companies and other industries advertise environmental claims

The Carney government wants to pare back aspects of Canada’s anti-greenwashing law, telling @meyer.bsky.social it prevents the fossil fuel industry and other groups from sharing their environmental claims. Critics say the law might be working as intended. thenarwhal.ca/greenwashing...

Why Trees Could Be Halton Hills’ Best Defence Against a Changing Climate Amid rising heat and smoky summers, local experts say planting trees is one of the simplest, most effective tools residents have to protect their community from a changing climate.

Halton Hills is heating up, and trees may be one of the simplest ways to cool it down. We look at how expanding the canopy can protect our neighbourhoods in a changing climate:

www.fieldandshutterpress.ca/p/why-trees-...

#climateadaptation #climatechange #halton #haltonhills #ontario #journalism