On November 3, Ontario Green Party Leader and Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner, alongside Deputy Leader and Kitchener Centre MPP Aislinn Clancy, introduced a private member's bill that, if passed, would impose an indefinite stop on the construction and expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centres across the province, while a Council recommends legislative changes.

Bill 146, the Moratorium on Artificial Intelligence Data Centres Act, 2026, would establish a pause, prohibiting the "building or increasing the computational capacity of artificial intelligence data centres until the moratorium is lifted," according to the bill's explanatory note.

It defines an AI data centre as a specialized facility designed for the “computationally intensive tasks of training or running artificial intelligence systems or advanced machine learning models.”

The bill would also establish an advisory committee, known as the AI Safety Advisory Council. The Lieutenant Governor in Council would appoint its members, including academics, non-profit organizations, and experts in artificial intelligence, water, land use and planning, and environmental matters.

The committee would prepare a package of “suggested legislative amendments designed to achieve several objectives related to artificial intelligence data centres,” according to the bill. Additionally, they would “monitor the state of the law and assess whether the objectives have been met.”

They would post the suggested amendments on a Government of Ontario website, along with delivering them to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks.

An Angus Reid Institute survey of 4,417 Canadian adults, published on October 7, found that 64% believed their provincial government should limit the development of large data centres; more specifically, 69% of Ontario respondents favoured limiting development. The survey asked about data centres being built or proposed to support AI, cloud computing and other digital services, rather than focusing on AI facilities alone. 

Among Canadians who favoured limiting development, 51% cited high water use as a reason. The survey also asked whether “Artificial Intelligence is a force for good in society,” with 58% disagreeing, 14% unsure, while only 28% agreed.

10 key objectives must be addressed to lift the moratorium

The proposed moratorium would remain in place until the AI Safety Advisory Council is satisfied that amendments to Ontario’s laws have achieved the 10 goals outlined in the act.

The 10 objectives would not themselves establish new operating requirements for data centres. Instead, they would guide the Council's proposed legislative and regulatory amendments and serve as benchmarks for determining when the moratorium can be lifted, which are:

1. Artificial intelligence data centres must demonstrate that they will not increase utility bills for residents and businesses in their host communities.

2. Artificial intelligence data centres must not increase fossil fuel use, require new fossil fuel infrastructure or increase peak electricity use.

3. Access to water that is needed for drinking or agricultural use shall be prioritized over access to water that is needed for artificial intelligence data centres.

4. No artificial intelligence data centres may be built or have their computational capacity increased until a local watershed impact assessment has been completed.

5. There must be defined limits on the electricity, water, noise and emissions generated by artificial intelligence data centres in Ontario, and compliance with those limits must be subject to independent monitoring and public reporting.

6. Artificial intelligence data centres must not be built on farmland.

7. Communities that are impacted by the building or increase in computational capacity of an artificial intelligence data centre must have the power to approve or reject the building or computational capacity increase and must have mechanisms to recover any increased infrastructure costs.

8. Artificial intelligence data centres must provide community benefits through binding agreements with the community that have clear outcomes and penalties.

9. All aspects of artificial intelligence data centres must be governed by digital sovereignty requirements that ensure Canadian control of the centre and its data, along with mandatory disclosure of any legal or privacy risks that may arise in other jurisdictions.

10. No government subsidies may be provided for building or increasing the computational capacity of artificial intelligence data centres.

The bill says that once the Council is “satisfied that amendments to the state of the law have met the objectives,” it would publish a statement and the moratorium would be lifted. However, it does not establish a deadline for the Council to provide its recommendations, nor does it impose any requirements on the government to enact them.

This means the proposed moratorium could remain in place indefinitely if the committee determines that the 10 objectives have not yet been achieved.

Penalties, land restrictions, and mandatory reporting

The bill would also give the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness the power to “make orders requiring persons to dispose of farmland or their interest in farmland” if it had been purchased or otherwise acquired to build or expand an AI data centre in contravention of the moratorium. The Minister could also issue orders prohibiting the purchase of farmland for these purposes.

The legislation would introduce penalties for violations of the moratorium and for failing to comply with an order. Individuals found guilty of an offence could face fines of up to $500,000, while corporations could face fines of up to $1 million.

Directors or officers who authorized, permitted or concurred in the commission of a corporate offence could also be held individually liable.

Both the Minister of Energy and Mines and the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks would be required to publish an annual report, which would describe the current and forecasted consumption of water and energy, noise levels, on- and off-site greenhouse gas emissions, any electronic or chemical waste, thermal outputs and wastewater discharge, funding sources and jobs created or lost because of AI data centres.

Further, it would amend the Planning Act so that Ministerial Zoning Orders could not be used if they would “have the effect of permitting the building or increase in computational capacity of an artificial intelligence data centre until the moratorium is lifted.”

It would also amend the Special Economic Zones Act, 2025, which allows certain designated projects and trusted proponents to receive exemptions from provincial and municipal laws. The proposed amendment would ensure that those exemptions could not be used to circumvent the AI data centre moratorium.

Greens, advocates call for caution as province prepares data centre push

During the press conference announcing the legislation, Schreiner criticized the Ford government’s approach to data centre development, arguing that the province’s proposed Data Centre Playbook, a draft document intended to guide data centre development across Ontario, lacks sufficient safeguards.

“If you look at the government’s playbook, there are so many holes in it, you could drive a truck through it,” he said.

Concerns around data centres have been raised over their potential impacts on water consumption, electricity demand, emissions and the environment.

The Ontario Greens were joined at the press conference by Bea Bhardwaj, a systems governance researcher with a focus on AI infrastructure, and Ilham Abdulkadir, an organizer with Water Watchers, a grassroots not-for-profit focused on water protection and climate justice.

Emphasizing the importance of Canadian data sovereignty, one of the act’s objectives, Bhardwaj said, “Data centres in Canada run by US-based operators make our data subject to US legal demands, which deprives us of our right to true digital sovereignty.”

Abdulkadir explained, “Ontario has both an opportunity and a responsibility to get this right before the damage is done. Our water, our environment and our communities cannot be an afterthought.”

The Field & Shutter Press reached out to the Premier’s office for comment on the bill’s introduction and any response to the criticism by Schreiner; a response was not received before publication.

However, Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Vic Fedeli, told Global News that the Ford government expects to approve its first batch of AI data centre projects “sooner rather than later.”

The Ford government’s proposed Data Centre Playbook framework, announced in August, is intended to guide decisions on electricity grid connections for new data centre projects. Premier Doug Ford said his government will ensure AI Data Centres “play by the right rules and pay the full cost of electricity.” The Ford government also said it is only providing “non-financial support to attract investments” in data centres.

They will only “advance data centre projects” that meet the province’s “strict environmental standards around water consumption and noise” and will prioritize projects with a closed-loop cooling system.

The Ford government also passed legislation, the Protect Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act, which it said gives the Minister of Energy and Mines the “final decision” on which large electrical-use facilities are allowed to connect to Ontario’s electrical grid; it has said it will “only consider projects that accelerate economic growth with significant community investments, on terms that prioritize Ontario’s interests,” according to the August announcement.

The Ontario NDP, the official opposition, was contacted for comment by The Field & Shutter Press and asked whether it would be supporting the bill; however, no response was received before publication. Meanwhile, Global News reported that Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP, had suggested her party would be willing to support the bill.

The bill has passed its first reading and was ordered for a second reading. Before the bill could become law, further steps and debates are needed.

The proposed moratorium would take effect only if the bill receives Royal Assent.

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OCTOBER IN REVIEW

Howdy everyone, and happy Halloween!

This time last year, I shared an article I wrote for The Narwhal asking: “Does Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights still have teeth?”

As it turns out, history has a funny way of repeating itself. On the same day, exactly one year later, I published another article, this time examining how the Ford government is proposing to further weaken the Environmental Bill of Rights through its omnibus Bill 140.

If you’re interested, you can find the article below in this month’s issue!

As October draws to a close and the leaves continue to fall from the trees, Ontario’s red squirrels are hard at work preparing for winter. This month, I’ve pulled an article from the archives to give you a little insight into what these busy little creatures are up to at this time of year.

For those more interested in exploring fall colours, I’ve also pulled another piece from the archives: a photo essay exploring Halton’s autumn colours through the years.

Lastly, an 800-meter boardwalk has reopened at Crawford Lake, one of Ontario’s rarest lakes and part of Conservation Halton. What makes the lake so unusual is that it’s meromictic, meaning its waters don’t mix.

Want to learn more? You can read all about the reopened boardwalk and what makes Crawford Lake so unique in the article below

Until the next one,
- Greg

THE FIELD & SHUTTER PRESS

FEATURES & INVESTIGATIONS

FROM THE ARCHIVES

IN OTHER NEWS

In the “In Other News” section, we’ll share interesting updates and discoveries from the past month. Expect highlights on photography, nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental topics.

New research suggests Common Loons could be declining across Canada
(Birds Canada)

Published on: 22/OCT/2026
The iconic Canadian species has been experiencing a decline in recent years. “Decreasing water clarity appears to be the reason for declines, at least in Wisconsin,” wrote Birds Canada. Click here to read more

The Town of Oakville’s emissions increase by 8% despite climate efforts
(Oakville Beaver)

Published on: 22/OCT/2026
Oakville has said one cause was due to updates to greenhouse gas factors by Environment and Climate Change Canada, which resulted in higher calculations compared to previous years. Click here to read more

33 photos from the 2026 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards
(PetaPixel)

Published on: 02/OCT/2026
If you’re in need of some comedic relief, check out some of these photos! Click here to read more

Ford government investing $1M to expand the Bruce Trail
(CollingwoodToday)

Published on: 30/OCT/2026
The funding will help the Bruce Trail Conservancy transform the Talisman Mountain Resort into the Talisman Forest Nature Reserve, while adding an additional 1km to the Bruce Trail.
Click here to read more

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During the first day back of the fall session at Queen’s Park, October 27, the Ford government introduced Bill 140, the Building Ontario Faster Act, an omnibus bill which proposes major changes to Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR).

The proposed legislation, specifically Schedule 8 of the bill, would eliminate several mechanisms that allow residents to challenge environmental decisions and demand accountability for violations. It would also repeal requirements for ministries to develop and consider Statements of Environmental Values when making decisions.

“For all intents and purposes, it leaves the statute with little more than the title: Environmental Bill of Rights. The content would no longer reflect anybody’s idea of an environmental statute that purports to protect environmental rights,” said Joseph Castrilli, a lawyer with the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA).

The Ford government has said it’s updating the EBR to “streamline outdated processes that duplicate other avenues for public input,” according to a document released by the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction.

The Environmental Bill of Rights, enacted in 1994, establishes a framework for public participation and accountability in government decision-making affecting the environment. The proposed changes could reduce public participation and accountability that the act was intended for.

Removing key references

Currently, the Environmental Bill of Rights lists one of its purposes as protecting, conserving and, where reasonable, restoring the environment. If passed, the bill would amend that purpose by removing reference to restoring the environment.

The Field & Shutter Press reached out to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), but they did not comment in time for publication.

The EBR also requires Ministries to develop Statements of Environmental Values to guide policy decisions. Using the MECP as an example, Castrilli explained that they’re supposed to act preventively in making decisions that affect the environment, and act in a precautionary manner.

However, under the proposed changes, the Ministry is seeking to repeal the requirements for prescribed ministries to develop and consider these statements and values in their decision-making.

Castrilli told The Field & Shutter Press that Statements of Environmental Values guide ministries’ environmental decision-making. He said tribunals had used them as a benchmark for assessing permits and other approvals, and that the Divisional Court had found this use reasonable. Their repeal, he argued, would remove an important reference point in the leave-to-appeal process.

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has indicated that impacts to the environment would still be considered. “Ministries consider environmental factors in their decision-making as appropriate and as a matter of good governance and best practice with respect to policy development,” it said.

However, Castrilli said that “the bill should be withdrawn, and in fact, the recommendations for reform that were made in the 2024 Law Commission of Ontario report should actually be introduced.”

Recommended reforms

In 2024, the Law Commission of Ontario published a report titled “A new environmental bill of rights for Ontario”, which provided over 50 recommendations for ways the province could update the Environmental Bill of Rights, with a focus on Statements of Environmental Values, Leave to Appeal and public participation.

“For years the Ford government has eroded (The EBR’s) strength to avoid accountability and to fast-track destructive projects,” said Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner regarding the changes. The Auditor General of Ontario also reported similar concerns in her 2025 report on the EBR, stating “the Province’s actions, inaction and decisions in recent years are eroding Ontarians’ EBR rights and opportunities to participate meaningfully in the government’s environmental decision-making.”

That finding was also published by the Law Commission of Ontario, which wrote, “Many reports, court decisions, and analyses have documented this erosion, and noted consistent EBR non-compliance by government ministries, erosion of EBR public participation rights, downgrading the role of the Environmental Commissioner, and other factors which suggest that the EBR has failed to fully meet its objectives.”

The Ford government has said the changes will “dramatically improve Ontario’s competitiveness within Canada and around the world, while retaining robust environmental protections and approvals processes.”

When asked if he believed the Ford government had implemented any of the changes, Castrilli responded, “No, actually, the recommendations were to improve the act, not eliminate it.”

Accountability measures removed

Currently, the Environmental Bill of Rights allows eligible Ontarians to seek to appeal certain government decisions involving environmental approvals. “There are also provisions that allow members of the public to seek government reviews of poorly working environmental approvals,” said Castrilli. Bill 140 would repeal parts which provide for Applications for Review and that set out the leave to appeal process.

“Losing the ability to seek leave to appeal under the requirements of the EBR is a major blow to environmental protection in the province,” explained Castrilli.

The MECP, however, has said on the Environmental Registry of Ontario, “The change would provide greater certainty for project proponents that have already undergone a public consultation process and obtained government approvals. With these changes, government decisions could be implemented with greater certainty for businesses, organizations, and others seeking approvals.”

The proposed legislation would also eliminate another method of public accountability: investigations. Two members of the public can request an investigation if they believe a person, group or company has violated an environmental act designated the EBR. However, under the newly proposed legislation, this wouldn’t be possible.

The MECP has stated that the public would still be able to report alleged contraventions to the attention of the relevant ministries or the Spills Action Centre.

However, Castrilli explained that this would not replace the protections. “Having something in writing in a statute that says this is the process that has to be followed is far superior to, ‘Oh yeah, anybody can pick up the phone and call a ministry person.’”

When an investigation is completed, the EBR requires that the outcome be provided in 30 days, which Castrilli said would no longer exist.

He explained the CELA had made use of the investigation request process in their work. At least one request eventually led to charges. He said requests were rarely acted on by the government, but argued that this reflected government discretion, not a failure of the statutory process.

Notably, the CELA and the Ontario Municipal Water Association requested an investigation into Ontario’s allowable lead limits in drinking water, as Ontario allows higher than the Federal limits. The MECP refused to investigate in response, determining the public interest did not warrant an investigation.

The Field & Shutter Press asked the MECP what specific problems the government was seeking to address by eliminating Applications for Review and Applications for Investigation, and how many of these applications the ministry had received over the past five years. The ministry did not respond to these questions by publication time.

Losing the right to sue

Under the EBR’s Part Six, Ontarians have the right to take legal action against someone who causes significant harm to a public resource. The Ford government is proposing to remove this section, with the rationale that the section was rarely used.

“That was a part of the act that was not really functioning because there were too many obstacles embedded in the statute to allow members of the public to use it in the courts, and the LCO [Law Commission of Ontario] report focus was on, among other things, improving the requirements under Part Six so that it could become usable by the public,” explained Castrilli

As currently proposed, Bill 140 could see amendments to 21 Provincial Statutes ranging from transportation, bees, disability savings, labour and the environment.

However, Richard Lindgren, a member of the advisory committee on the Law Commission of Ontario’s report and lawyer with the CELA, warns that, “The net result of Bill 140 will likely be more pollution, increased environmental degradation, and greater health risks for Ontarians. Bill 140 should be withdrawn.”

Feedback on these changes is being accepted until November 26 through Ontario’s Environmental Registry.

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A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially unveiled Crawford Lake’s reconstructed 800-meter boardwalk on September 4, restoring access to scenic views of the historically significant lake. New interpretive signage was installed around the lake a few weeks later on September 24.

Without the boardwalk, it’s difficult to navigate the lake’s landscape.

“It’s through a lot of wetland. It’s a lot of exposed limestone. So the boardwalk is the reason people can have an encounter with the lake in a really meaningful way,” explained Brenna Bartley, Education and Outreach Manager with Conservation Halton, during an interview at the ribbon-cutting.

The previous boardwalk, built in 1965, was ageing and needed replacement. To make this possible, the Federal Government invested $912,000, the Provincial Government invested $759,924, and Halton Region’s Developer Contribution Reserve provided additional funding.

An important part of the redesign was ensuring accessibility.

“We’ve addressed a lot of the steep sections. It’s much wider, so it’s a much more friendly environment for people who’ve got strollers and other wheeled devices. But as always, people should give us a call in advance so that we can help them with their individual [accessibility] needs,” Bartley explained.

She also highlighted that the boardwalk gives visitors new vantage points over the lake.

“Like quite high up in the treetops, they get a chance to sort of go out a little bit over the water and see into the water; they can see the fish, they can see the turtles, and they can see the shape of the bowl of the lake.”

What Makes Crawford Lake Unique?

Conservation Halton describes Crawford Lake, which formed more than 10,000 years ago, as a meromictic lake. In these lakes, “the water in the lower half does not mix with the water in the upper half,” according to the Conservation Authority, a separation that can be partially attributed to the lake’s shape.

Conservation Halton says each year, a light and dark layer of sediment will form and can be counted, similar to tree rings. Scientists can examine these layers and “have learned much about the history of the land, locally, regionally, and globally over the past 1000 years.”

In the 1970s, researchers studying Crawford Lake’s sediment found corn pollen dating back from the 13th to 15th centuries, providing evidence of Indigenous agriculture in the area and prompting further archaeological investigation around the lake, according to the Conservation Authority.

That investigation uncovered evidence of an Indigenous village, including longhouse structures, which Conservation Halton has reconstructed for visitors to experience.

New signage makes connections to the past

New interpretive signage was unveiled on September 24, following the boardwalk's September 4 reopening.

Created in partnership with Conservation Halton’s Indigenous Partners Council and scientific partners, the signs provide visitors with information about Crawford Lake’s ecological, scientific and cultural significance.

“The new signage invites visitors to experience Crawford Lake through a different lens, bringing together scientific knowledge and Indigenous Ways of Knowing. It creates an opportunity to learn from the lake while also reflecting on our relationships and responsibilities to the land and the beings we share it with,” said Leeanne Doxtator, Indigenous Education Coordinator with Conservation Halton in a release.

Want to visit? There may be an inexpensive way to make the trip

For those looking to get out and experience Crawford Lake themselves, a trip doesn’t have to break the bank. Conservation Halton has developed the “Parks Pass-it-On program” to provide inclusive access to their locations through a partnership with local libraries such as Milton Public Library, Oakville Public Library, Burlington Public Library, Halton Hills Public Library, and the Wellington County Public Library

For more information on visiting Crawford Lake, you can check out Conservation Halton’s website or call them at 905-878-5011.

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SEPTEMBER IN REVIEW

Howdy everyone, I hope you’re all doing well.

Today is September 30th, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. A day when we honour the survivors and the families impacted by the residential school system and reflect on our country's history towards Indigenous communities. I encourage everyone to take some time today, attend a local event, and learn. You can find a list of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation activities on Heritage Canada's website.

This month, we bring you coverage from the Grassy Narrows River Run rally, which was held on Sept. 23 in downtown Toronto to demand justice after nearly 10 tonnes of mercury were discharged upstream from the community and never remediated. Along with an open letter from the Chiefs of Ontario, asking for the respectful return of their Ancestors.

Meanwhile in Southwestern Ontario, Spotted Lanternflies, a devastating invasive species, have been detected in Canada for the first time.

Lastly, I wanted to address a quick housekeeping item, as Ontario will soon be heading to the polls in October to vote in the municipal election. The Field & Shutter Press does not provide endorsements for any candidates. We feel it’s better to remain impartial and editorially neutral.

Until the next one
-Greg

Chiefs of Ontario call for respectful return of First Nations Ancestors

On September 23, the Chiefs of Ontario released an open letter to all Ontarians calling on individuals and institutions to come forward with information about First Nations Ancestors, sacred items, burial belongings and other culturally significant items being held outside their Nations.

The letter, titled “An Open Letter to All Ontarians: Help Us Bring Our Ancestors Home,” was written on behalf of the 133 First Nations in the Ontario region by Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict.

The initiative follows a Chiefs of Ontario resolution calling for the respectful repatriation of First Nations Ancestors, which was passed by the Ontario Chiefs-in-Assembly in June 2025.

In the letter, Regional Chief Benedict explains that “for generations, the resting places of our Ancestors have been disturbed.”

“Their remains and sacred belongings were taken from the earth and from our Nations, sometimes by archaeologists or institutions, and sometimes by private collectors. In every case, these removals caused harm.”

Regional Chief Benedict further wrote that the effects of these removals continue today, disrupting sacred responsibilities, severing spiritual connections and preventing future generations from learning from and carrying forward traditions that have guided First Nations since time immemorial.

The letter makes three main requests:

To private citizens: If you are holding Ancestors or sacred belongings, or have knowledge of Ancestors and/or sacred items being held, we ask that you come forward so they may be returned home to their Nations and families. Your action will help heal the harms of the past and honour the spirits of those who have been kept from their rightful resting places.

To government institutions, museums, and universities: We call upon you to share your complete inventories of Ancestors and sacred or associated burial items with First Nations. Transparency is the first step toward accountability and toward enabling respectful and timely repatriation.

To all institutions and partners: We urge you to work collaboratively and in genuine partnership with First Nations to remove barriers, streamline processes, and ensure the repatriation is carried out with dignity, cultural integrity, and without necessary delay.

The letter concludes by explaining that the Chiefs of Ontario’s goal is not blame “but respectful dialogue and the return of Ancestors and sacred belongings to the Nations to whom they belong.” For those who may be looking to begin the process, they ask you to email repatriation@coo.org

Spotted Lanternfly arrives in Canada, CFIA confirms

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) indicated that on September 15, 2026, the first sighting of Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula, Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) was confirmed in Windsor, Ontario, on its website.

The agency says it has put movement restrictions into place, preventing the movement of regulated materials, which could include any potentially infested plant materials. The CFIA has ongoing surveillance in the nearby area to help determine the extent of the infestation and what the next steps may be.

According to the CFIA’s website, Spotted Lanternfly “can feed on more than 100 species of trees and plants, however, significant impacts from this feeding have only been observed on grapes.” The insect is not from Canada, but is native to Asia.

“If Spotted Lanternfly were to arrive in Canada, Ontario’s $4.4 billion wine industry and $4.2 billion fruit and vegetable crops would both be at risk,” wrote Mandy Ehnes on the Invasive Species Centre’s website, a not-for-profit organization that works to prevent the introduction and spread of high-risk invasive species in Canada.

The CFIA says that if you think you have spotted the lanternfly or its eggs, you should:

• take a photo or video

• catch the insect or scrape the egg masses and put it into a sealable container

• report it to [the CFIA] immediately

The agency is also encouraging the public to report sightings of another invasive species, a type of tree known as Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), using online apps such as iNaturalist or EDDMapS.

Because Tree of Heaven is a host for the Spotted Lanternfly, the CFIA is targeting these trees to track and contain the invasive pest.

To learn more about either the Spotted Lanternfly or the Tree of Heaven, you can visit the Invasive Species Centre’s website.

THE FIELD & SHUTTER PRESS

FEATURES & INVESTIGATIONS

FROM THE ARCHIVE

IN OTHER NEWS

In the “In Other News” section, we’ll share interesting updates and discoveries from the past month. Expect highlights on photography, nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental topics.

Something is killing Bald Eagles in Northwestern Ontario (TBNewswatch)

Published on: 01/SEPT/2026
A local bird rescuer is sounding the alarm after several eagles have turned up with possible lead poisoning or West Nile virus infections. Click here to read more

Pickering nuclear generators taken offline (The Narwhal)

Published on: 21/SEPT/2026
The plant, which produces 10% of Ontario’s power supply, will be taken offline for 5-7 years and temporarily replaced largely by natural gas, while the plant is refurbished. Click here to read more

Seniors arrested at Parliament Hill during climate protest (CTV News)

Published on: 22/SEPT/2026
11 seniors were arrested on Sept. 22 for trespassing during a climate protest taking place in Ottawa, while wearing yellow shirts and photos of their grandkids. Click here to read more

Thousands protest PM Mark Carney’s Toronto investment summit (On The Trail)

Published on: 19/SEPT/2026
On Sept. 14, thousands protested Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Investment Summit in Toronto. Some demonstrators accused the government of “selling off” Canada to investors. Click here to read more

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Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) community members, Wabaseemoong Independent Nation, and thousands of supporters rallied downtown Toronto on September 23, taking their decades-long fight for mercury justice directly to Queen’s Park.

“Please, where’s your heart for our children, our people?” questioned Chief of Grassy Narrows Sherry Ackabee in an interview with The Field & Shutter Press. “Shut down the Dryden Mill, and give us our compensation. We’ve lost too many people, and we’re still continuing to lose our people.”

The River Run rally began at Grange Park and marched north to Queen’s Park, and included organizations such as political parties, environmental groups, and labour unions. Examples included the Ontario Green Party, Seniors for Climate Action Now, and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

The rally, which is held every other year, was attended by over 9,000 people, according to some estimates.

Toronto’s Red Rebels, who describe themselves as “a unique form of street theatre,” according to their website, were also in attendance.

A document provided to The Field & Shutter Press by River Run organizers on the day of the rally explained that Grassy Narrows had four demands for Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney:

1. Compensate Grassy Narrows fairly for the ongoing mercury crisis,

2. Shut down the Dryden mill to stop the ongoing poisoning,

3. End industrial threats to Grassy Narrows (no mining, no nuclear waste),

4. Support Grassy Narrows in restoring their way of life and wellness from the damage that mercury has done.

As the rally proceeded along its route, it paused outside Indigenous Services Canada at 655 Bay St. for a sit-in demonstration.

The day after the rally, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, Mandy Gull-Masty, said in an emailed statement to The Field & Shutter Press that she was pleased to meet with Chief Ackabee from Grassy Narrows and Chief Fisher of the Wabaseemoong Independent Nation and their councils earlier this summer.

Gull-Masty further wrote that Indigenous Services Canada’s support “must translate into concrete action.”

“We are investing in new water and wastewater treatment plants that will address the conditions that led to the community’s long-term drinking water advisory and support the community’s long-term infrastructure needs, including future housing growth,” she wrote.

However, Gull-Masty did highlight that remediation of the English and Wabigoon River systems is being led by the Province of Ontario but that “Canada remains actively engaged.”

She also wrote that she and her team are “committed to continuing an open dialogue with the Chiefs and their representatives” as they work together to drive progress on the longstanding challenges the communities have faced.

The federal government supported the start of construction of a Mercury Care Home and Wellness Centre in Grassy Narrows in March 2025. Indigenous Services Canada described it as a “specialized facility dedicated to addressing the community’s unique health needs associated with mercury exposure due to pollutants released into the English-Wabigoon River system,” according to a release.

When completed, the facility will provide primary and long-term care services for those affected by mercury exposure.

The day before the rally, The Field & Shutter Press reached out to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks along with the Premier’s Office for a statement; neither provided one prior to publication.

The Ontario government established an $85 million trust in March 2018 to clean up the mercury contamination in the English and Wabigoon Rivers systems.

Deputy Leader of the Ontario Green Party and MPP for Kitchener Centre, Aislinn Clancy, was present at the rally. When asked about Premier Doug Ford’s treatment of Grassy Narrows, she said that it shows his priorities lie “with big corporations and standing on his own soapbox without interruption.”

“He doesn't care about the environment. He doesn't care about Indigenous people. These are people who have been seriously harmed by a corporation, and it's up to the government to stand and protect this kind of environmental atrocity and humanitarian crisis. And he just treats them like a mosquito that he's swatting away,” said Clancy.

In an ongoing campaign of targeted messaging, activists have regularly surfaced at the Premier's events province-wide, deploying banners to demand compensation for the ongoing crisis, as first reported by The London Free Press.

Decades of mercury contamination

In the 1960s and 1970s, nearly 10 tonnes of mercury were discharged by an upstream chlor-alkali plant, part of a paper mill, contaminating the English-Wabigoon River system, affecting the ecosystem and the people who relied on it.

Wabaseemoong Independent Nation is located along the same mercury-contaminated river system as Grassy Narrows, approximately 98 km north-west of Kenora. They experience similar effects as Grassy Narrows.

“You know, it's killing our people because everybody in our community has a short lifespan, and a lot of our people are getting sick, and you know our people are dying as well,” said Councillor Roanna Carpenter-Jourdain from Wabaseemoong Independent Nation.

The discharge of mercury from the chlor-alkali plant stopped as it was decommissioned in 1975. However, researchers have found that wastewater from the current mill’s operations still poses risks.

A 2024 study from Western University found that water discharged by the mill contains sulphates and organic matter that interact with legacy mercury in the river system, promoting the formation of methylmercury, a highly toxic form of mercury.

“Dryden Mill industrial wastewater that is discharged to the Wabigoon River is making the mercury contamination in fish worse than it would be if it were not present,” wrote Dr. Brian Branfireun in the study.

Dr. Branfireun also wrote that eliminating the discharges would reduce the amount of methylmercury produced in the river system and the amount that accumulates in fish.

In the lab, that harm shows up as elevated methylmercury in tissue samples. In Grassy Narrows, it shows up as lost traditions. “We’re river people,” said Chrissy Isaacs, a grandmother, mother, and member of Grassy Narrows. “We should be able to just go into our lakes and our rivers. It makes it difficult today to keep up those traditions when we’re not allowed to have that.”

That change reaches into some of the most culturally important parts of life, including pregnancy and birth. “The fish broth for new mums has a lot to do with what we’re feeding our babies,” she explained. “What they tell us is it helps bring in that [breast] milk, but it also has everything that the baby needs for their brain development and their whole little being.”

Michael Fobister, a member of the Land Protection team in Grassy Narrows, said fish “is our way of life,” something they’ve had in their diets for “thousands of years.”

“It was promised by the government, like the treaties, that we have the right to hunt and fish, so government poison the river, poison our fish, now we can’t eat the fish,” he said. “We still eat the fish, not in great amounts, so it’s still affecting us.”

Travelling to town for groceries is a struggle for many Grassy Narrows community members.

“Most of our people are unemployed. They struggle to get into Kenora or any other town to get food. So that’s what we rely on is our land and water, our fish, our moose,” he explained.

For decades, Grassy Narrows has called for justice, remediation and an end to the threats facing their land and water. For Chief Sherry Ackabee, however, the loss cannot be measured.

“If I had one wish, I wish I could have all my people back that left too early.”

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AUGUST IN REVIEW

Howdy everyone, I hope you have all been doing well.

Although it’s only August, fall migration has already begun for many of Ontario’s birds. Monarch butterflies can also be spotted as they pass through the Halton Region on their way south to Mexico.

This month we bring you updates from the court case concerning the Piping Plovers at Wasaga Beach, alongside calls from Mike Schreiner, Leader of Ontario’s Green Party, for a province-wide halt on data centres. Additionally, the province has released its “Data Centre Playbook” and is taking public feedback about it until September 12 through Ontario’s Environmental Registry.

The Halton Region has also advised of its first human case of West Nile virus this year, and we’re telling you how your local library can get you access to Ontario’s Provincial Parks.

Until the next one
-Greg

Thousands visited Ontario Parks for free on this day last month: Here’s how you can too

On July 17, Ontario Parks offered free day use in support of the annual Healthy Parks Healthy People movement, drawing over 35,000 visitors province-wide.

Halton Region’s only provincial park, Bronte Creek, welcomed 950 visitors that day. This is roughly a 24% increase in day-use attendance compared to the previous Friday, according to an email from Dave Hunt, Market Development Specialist with Ontario Parks.

If you missed the free entry day, you don’t have to wait until next summer. Halton residents can borrow an Ontario Parks Seasonal Vehicle Permit for free using a library card.

Local public libraries across Oakville, Burlington, Milton, and Halton Hills offer the passes for a loan period, giving you and everyone in your vehicle full-day-use access to Bronte Creek and parks across the province.

For more information on which public libraries participate in the pass loaning program, visit the Ontario Parks website.

First human case of West Nile virus confirmed in Halton Region

On August 28, Halton Region announced in a press release: “This is the first laboratory-confirmed human case [of West Nile virus] in Halton this year.”

This update comes after trapped mosquitoes tested positive in Oakville earlier in July.

The Region advised Halton residents to take precautions and preventative measures until the fall frost, such as:

• Covering up when going outside between the hours of dusk and dawn (when most mosquitoes feed), and at any time in shady, wooded areas. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants with tightly-woven fabric.

• Using an approved insect repellent, such as one containing DEET or Icaridin.

• Reducing mosquito-breeding sites around your home by getting rid of all water-filled containers and objects, where possible. Change the water in bird baths at least once per week.

• Making sure your window and door screens are tight and without holes, cuts or other openings.

For more information on the Halton Region’s West Nile surveillance and control efforts, visit the West Nile Virus page on the region’s website.

THE FIELD & SHUTTER PRESS

IN OTHER NEWS

In the “In Other News” section, we’ll share interesting updates and discoveries from the past month. Expect highlights on photography, nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental topics.

MORE DOGS WITH JOBS: Halton Hills employs K9 to deal with goose issues

Published on: 30/AUGUST/2026
The Town of Halton Hills has been using a dog in an effort to deter geese from some popular parks. Click here to read more

Court upholds $1 million fine in Halton tree destruction case

Published on: 05/AUGUST/2026
The owner of a company that had thousands of trees cut down on environmentally protected land in Halton Hills has seen his appeal dismissed, as the court decided the fine will stand. Click here to read more

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The Town of Wasaga Beach has filed an undertaking with the Federal Court that it will cease construction activity, mechanical beach raking and the use of some motorized vehicles within the Piping Plover habitat in Beach Area 1 until October 31.

In the undertaking submitted electronically on August 13 by one of the Town’s legal representatives, Timothy Hill of Aird & Berlis LLP, the Town said that an injunction was “not warranted in the circumstances” and that the undertaking was being made “solely for the purpose of avoiding an unnecessary injunction motion.”

When reached for comment by email, Sandra Watts, General Manager of External Relations and Director of Communications for the Town of Wasaga Beach said the undertaking is not a “fundamentally new approach to beachfront stewardship,” explaining that even before the undertaking, “the Town has been clear that environmental stewardship and the protection of Piping Plover critical habitat are priorities.”

Watts highlighted the Town’s commitments to maintaining established conservation practices, and the expansion of its “on-the-ground stewardship program”, which saw a new Beach By-Law, the introduction of Piping Plover technicians employed by the Town, and working with “conservation partners and regulatory agencies.”

“Most of the undertaking simply confirms practices the Town was already following in Beach Area 1 and is consistent with the Town’s clear and ongoing commitment to protecting Piping Plover critical habitat,” she wrote.

When asked why the October 31 deadline was chosen, she explained that it’s intended to be in place “while the court application proceeds, which is expected to be resolved by that time.” Even after that deadline, “the Town’s ongoing stewardship work and commitment to protecting Piping Plovers and their critical habitat will continue.”

The Field & Shutter Press obtained a copy of the undertaking filed electronically with the Federal Court in matter T-1951-26.

What’s an undertaking, and what does it accomplish?

Joseph Castrilli, a lawyer with the Canadian Environmental Law Association, who is not involved in the Wasaga Beach litigation, explained the difference between an injunction and an undertaking in an interview with The Field & Shutter Press.

An undertaking “is simply a promise,” he said, while an injunction is “a court order, and it directs the parties that it’s focused on to either do something or refrain from doing something.”

While an undertaking is not a court order, violating it can still carry its own consequences.

“If there’s a breach of the undertaking, the party—I’ll call the party who received the undertaking—could actually apply to the court for a contempt citation,” explained Castrilli. This wouldn’t be automatic, however, and the court would have to determine it.

The undertaking applies to a portion of Beach Area 1 East of Spruce Street, defined in “Schedule A” of the document, which includes the Area of Natural and Scientific Interest. In that area, the Town has committed to refrain from mechanical raking and construction activities on the beach. It will also refrain from using motorized vehicles outside designated roads and parking lots, except for emergency vehicles, and from removing sand or vegetation from areas surrounding parking lots and parking medians, subject to actions reasonably required to address emergency conditions.

The Town remains at liberty to sweep paved asphalt areas of parking lots and designated roads as required, according to the undertaking.

This will remain in effect until October 31, “unless voluntarily extended by the Town in writing,” it states.

Why do the plovers need Wasaga Beach, and what about the court case?

“Wasaga Beach is the most important beach for Piping Plovers in Ontario,” explained Sydney Shepherd, Ontario Piping Plover Program Coordinator with Birds Canada, in a previous email to The Field & Shutter Press. She also explained that if the area east of Spruce Street was altered, such as through raking or development, “Piping Plover will be left vulnerable to predators, without food, or without places to raise their families.”

Birds Canada says about one-third of Ontario's breeding Piping Plover population has originated from Wasaga Beach.

The undertaking comes after Ecojustice, on behalf of Ontario Nature and Environmental Defence, had sought an interim injunction on July 21 to “immediately halt mechanical beach raking, sand dune clearing, motorized vehicle use, and other activities,” as part of a judicial review application challenging the federal Environment Minister's delay in recommending emergency protections for the habitat under the Species At Risk Act (SARA), according to a release.

In a press release on April 21, Brian Smith, Mayor of Wasaga Beach, confirmed that an area east of Spruce Street “was mechanically groomed in error on April 13.”

Despite the raking, Piping Plovers did return to Wasaga Beach in 2026, although their nesting season was unsuccessful due to bad weather.

Kegan Pepper-Smith, a lawyer with Ecojustice, said in an email to The Field & Shutter Press on August 20, that he could not comment at this time, as “the parties have not yet finalized the undertakings with the Court.” He added, “Our clients remain committed to securing binding protection for the Piping Plovers and their habitat on Beach Area 1, whether through undertakings or an injunction order.”

While the Town hopes the undertaking resolves the matter, the injunction application remains on standby, and the underlying Judicial Review remains ongoing. Ecojustice is asking the Court to order Minister Julie Dabrusin to recommend that an emergency protection order be issued under SARA. The legal action was announced on April 20, with Ecojustice arguing that “a failure to act is very likely to result in the extirpation of the species from Ontario.”

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A week after Mississauga became the first Ontario municipality to pause new data centre developments for one year, Green Party leader Mike Schreiner called for a province-wide moratorium until proper studies could be completed on the technology’s impact on the environment, energy and human health.

AI data centres sprouting across Canada may have ignited a fear of an increasingly unpredictable future, but they have also exposed a deep crevasse in the provincial and municipal planning frameworks established long before artificial intelligence and its unprecedented demands on water, energy and public infrastructure due to hyperscale computing.

“Right now, municipalities are on their own, trying to protect their communities,” Schreiner said at a press conference on August 6 at Queen’s Park.

“The Ford government has not yet put proper safeguards in place to ensure that these data centers will not harm our communities, and that any benefits are for community members and workers, not American big tech billionaires.”

On July 29, many Mississauga residents made their disdain for AI data centres very clear following a proposal from a U.S. based multinational warehousing property management and ownership giant Prologis. Resident pushback to the proposal contributed to council’s decision to put in place a moratorium with the possibility of extending it for two years while staff study the potential impacts from these facilities.

During the council meeting that lasted over five hours as staff and council assessed the legal risks of a data centre halt, Prologis representatives warned the firm will likely appeal the City’s decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal. According to company representatives, the impacts from the facility will be limited as their proposal is not for a hyperscale data centre and it will use a closed-loop water system, using only 2,000 litres of water daily with an initial requirement of 275,000 litres of water to fill up the closed system. This water would be purchased from the Region of Peel.

“Our province has let us down and the Feds have let us down,” Mayor Carolyn Parrish critiqued during the council meeting.

“They’re talking about these data centres like they’re better than sliced bread, but they’re not giving us any guidelines. They’re not assisting us in any way and they’re not answering your questions.”

Just 10 days earlier, Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) were notified about an “odorous milky white substance” in a stormwater management pond at a Cambridge data centre at 17 Vondrau Drive on July 19.

Initial reports and local concerns claimed it was due to a chemical leak from server cooling systems. While MECP officials noted testing showed no evidence of contaminants of concern, regional assessments pointed to naturally occurring bacterial bloom — another impact of climate change — as the answer to the mysterious substance. The real cause has yet to be determined.

With Queen’s Park currently in the midst of a 21-week summer break–returning October 27, the day after municipal elections across the province–it’s unclear what will happen with Schreiner’s request.

What is clear is many PC ministries are being lobbied by companies looking to build AI infrastructure in the province.

According to Ontario’s Lobbyist Registry, at least five companies are actively lobbying the province in support of data centres.

In one instance, American alternative investment management company Blackstone lobbied at least nine ministers —including the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks— and four provincial ministries including the Office of the Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation in one instance.

With increasing lobbying efforts, public resistance has concurrently grown with at least five municipalities (Mississauga, Toronto, Burlington, Oakville and Hamilton) having artificial intelligence data centre proposals and/or moratoriums on their agendas, leading to Ontarians flooding council meetings.

While the City of Mississauga persevered despite staff highlighting the risks of scaring off billions in technology investments resulting from a moratorium, Hamilton City Council rejected a one-year moratorium on AI data centres on July 15 despite being one of the first municipalities in Ontario to consider a pause.

In June, Prime Minister Mark Carney launched Canada’s new national artificial intelligence strategy, AI for All, aiming to “increase AI adoption from just over 12 percent to 60 percent by 2034” and targeting “an additional $200 billion of economic growth to create 250,000 new AI-related jobs over the next five years”.

“While Canada has world-class talent and one of the fastest-growing digital sectors in the G7, we are among the slowest countries to adopt AI at scale,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office noted.

“This gap risks undermining public trust, driving Canadian talent and startups abroad, and leaving critical parts of our AI ecosystem under foreign control.”

With the announcement, Carney promised to introduce “new legislation, investments, and programs that ensure AI is adopted responsibly” — a future that does not meet the demands of the present, with over 200 data centres proposed across the country as of June, according to York University researchers. Ontario currently holds the largest share of active AI and digital data centres in Canada.

“This expansion is spatially concentrated and increasingly rural: Alberta accounts for 92 percent of planned capacity (in megawatts) despite a grid emissions intensity nearly three times the national average and disproportionately high exposure to local water risk,” the new study reported.

“Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia offer cleaner grids and have each introduced legislation constraining grid access for new large loads.”

On December 11, Ontario became the first province in Canada to introduce legislation specifically governing new, large electricity-intensive data centres seeking access to the provincial grid after it passed Bill 40, the Protect Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act.

Bill 40 gave the Province the authority to prioritize and screen new, large energy-intensive data centres seeking connection to the electricity grid, adding economic growth as a core objective for the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) by amending the Electricity Act, 1998 and the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998.

“We want to see community benefit and community support. We want to see the power costs paid 100 percent by the companies and not borne by everyday families and ratepayers,” Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines, Stephen Lecce, said at a press conference on July 28.

Even though Queen’s Park reassured Ontarians that new data centres will only be connected to the provincial electricity grid if companies agree to cover the full cost of their energy use, critics have pointed out the regulations needed to enforce that commitment have not yet been finalized.

“Until we see the regulations, that’s all talk and no action,” Schreiner noted. “The pace of data center development is happening much faster than the pace the Ford government is acting, putting us at risk.”

For Mississauga, troubles have not settled with a moratorium. There might be a danger creeping at the municipal border with what’s expected to be the largest AI gigafactory in Canada.

On July 17, the Town of Oakville released a statement saying it was “aware that lands may be under consideration by a proponent for a data centre” rumoured to be at 3480 Ninth Line, a 25-acre parcel south of Burnhamthorpe Road and west of Ninth Line.

The project, understood to be a proposed 320-megawatt AI gigafactory by Hive Digital Technologies, would sit less than a kilometre from a residential neighbourhood in Oakville’s Ward 8—a 15-minute drive from Prologis’ proposed site at 7564 Tenth Line West in Mississauga, and less than 1,000 meters from the residential area neighbourhood of Ward 8.

While the firm claims to build the infrastructure “with no-water use approach”, it has already raised alarms among residents on both sides of the border.

On July 18, Mississauga Ward 9 resident Chris Erskine penned a letter to Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish urging her to work with neighbouring municipalities like Toronto, Hamilton, Burlington and Milton to establish a coordinated regional response to the rapid expansion of AI data centres.

“This sudden, massive demand on the electrical infrastructure and its impact on our locals are out of control,” Erskine wrote. “The challenges posed by the unchecked expansion of data centres are not isolated to Mississauga; they represent a regional crisis.”

Municipalities “need to modernize their own bylaws” with tech-specific zoning for high-impact digital infrastructure, stricter property-line and low-frequency noise standards, limits on water use and minimum 300-metre buffers between data centres and sensitive residential areas.

He also encouraged the mayors to push the Doug Ford government for stronger municipal protections under regulations being crafted as part of Bill 40 including lowering the “specified load” threshold to 5 megawatts to cover mid-sized and phased data-centre developments, and requiring municipal zoning approval before provincial grid access is granted while preserving municipal authority over land-use planning and infrastructure connections.

Mayor Parrish assured Erskine she has been told that “the Provincial Minister of Economic Development is currently drafting ‘guidelines’ for Data Centres in Ontario” and she is hopeful that all councils will participate when given the “opportunity to comment on new reports and legislation”.

“I am also attending the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference next weekend and will ensure it’s a topic of serious discussion,” she said in an email to Erskine, shared with The Pointer.

On August 11, the Town of Oakville council voted in favour of a motion for an interim control bylaw to freeze data centre development for a year.

Mayor of Oakville Rob Burton noted the Town would rather be proactive than wait for the situation to escalate at a time when council was facing the prospect of multiple data centres setting up operations.

Schreiner added that his call to the Ford government for a regulatory framework includes requiring data centres that connect to the grid or generate their own power to use clean, low-cost renewable energy (“wind, solar, battery storage”) instead of ramping up fossil fuels, or nuclear energy — which he is “not opposed to” but warns will spur electricity costs.

“Right now, Ontarians are paying twice: once through straining our energy grid, causing hydro bills to skyrocket, and again through our tax dollars as they subsidize building these centres,” Shelly Agius, co-chair of the Toronto chapter of The Council of Canadians, said, supporting the Ontario AI data centre moratorium.

“In return, we will get the possibility of noise, water pollution, loss of jobs as well as our personal data weaponized against us.”

In June, Hydro Power CEO Bryce Conrad predicted with confidence that surging power demand due to future requests to connect to the grid, along with 34 large-load projects requiring 1,075 megawatts in total, will “exceed the total amount of power that is used today by residents and businesses within the city of Ottawa”.

“We are being asked to build and support in the next two to three years what has taken us more [than] the better part of 110 years to build, and to be clear, that growth is not expected to slow anytime soon,” Conrad said during a council meeting.

“In fact, our expectation is that it will continue to scale exponentially.”

In 2025, AI workloads accounted for an estimated 20 percent of total electricity use in data centres, consuming roughly 93 TWh, equivalent to the annual residential electricity consumption of about 715 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa (more than half the region’s population), a new report by United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health highlighted.

At the global average intensity, that electricity use generated an estimated 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, consumed more than 900 billion litres of water and required about 1,400 square kilometres of land.

The global water footprint is equivalent to roughly 365,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools—enough to meet minimum daily water needs for 125 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa for an entire year.

Despite lagging on AI adoption at scale, Canada already has the second-largest water footprint of electricity used by data centres, driven primarily by hydropower generation.

While Canada’s electricity grid is roughly 70 percent renewable and 12 percent nuclear, 18 percent still relies on fossil fuels—and that mix could change quickly as electricity demand grows.

This is where the Rebound Effect, often referred to as Jevons Paradox, comes in.

Named after 19th-century economist William Stanley Jevons, the concept describes how improvements in resource efficiency can actually lead to greater overall consumption. Jevons observed that as coal became more efficient to use in England, demand for coal did not decline; instead, lower costs encouraged greater consumption.

AI is the new coal, in that context.

As technology becomes more efficient and cheaper to use, demand can increase enough to offset those efficiency gains. Improvements in AI models and hardware may be reducing the energy required for individual tasks, but they are also making AI cheaper and enabling its use at an unprecedented scale. As a result, energy use per AI task can fall while total AI energy consumption continues to rise.

Therefore, as AI drives up electricity demand, fossil fuels could remain in the power mix for longer, delaying the transition to cleaner energy.

“This rapid expansion of data center development cannot be separated from the reality of climate change,” Ilham Abdulkadir, Great Lakes Organizer at Water Watchers, said. “The climate crisis is increasingly manifesting as a water crisis. Longer droughts, more frequent floods, larger wildfires and shifting seasonal water cycles are changing both the quantity and the quality of fresh water.”

She reminded Ontarians that they can no longer assume clean water will always be available where and when required.

“Every watershed has ecological limits, and every community has a finite capacity to supply drinking water and treated wastewater. That means every new industrial demand on our freshwater sources deserves careful scrutiny,” Abdulkadir remarked.

“Protecting water cannot be an afterthought; it must be the foundation of how we fund the future. Water is life, and it’s time our governments and our policies reflect that.”

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Ontario will not commit to holding an inquiry into its response to the worst forest fire season on record, despite calls from every opposition party and First Nations leaders whose communities are still under evacuation.

Responding to media questions about an inquiry at a press conference Thursday, Minister of Natural Resources Mike Harris confirmed his staff will conduct a “very deep dive” internal review, but he won’t commit to making its results public.

“Once we get through the fire season, just like we do after every fire season, we go through what’s happened well, what hasn’t worked the best with our teams, and we look to change those things for the following season,” Harris said. “I’m not sure how the review will all work out. We do a very deep dive internally and I think there will be lots of recommendations that will come forward and we’ll see what makes sense to talk about.”

Harris’s public remarks painted a picture of a turning tide in the northwest, where crews and supporting aircraft from Mexico to Yukon and Newfoundland to Alberta were beating back the 90,000-hectare fire in Quetico Provincial Park and Thunder Bay 36, Ontario’s largest-ever-recorded fire that has burned 313,930 hectares and swallowed entire communities.

Indigenous affairs minister Greg Rickford spoke publicly for the first time since First Nations chiefs near the proposed Ring of Fire mining development called for his resignation, as they claimed the minister has failed to contact leaders of evacuated communities.

Rickford said he was speaking with First Nations leaders who were not speaking publicly about their adverse experiences with his government, and that his staff was applying their feedback to future planning.

“We are actively doing discussions with First Nations leaders at various levels to ensure that in real time, we are nimble, and that as circumstances change for other communities, we can continue to do better,” Rickford said.

“Some First Nations leaders have chosen to have those meetings with us in private, choosing not, of course, to take this to the media, but rather focus on the safety of their community members, engage in best practices, whether it’s readiness suppression or the processes within evacuation and repatriation. And to that extent, I can attest to the fact that all of us as ministers have taken those conversations and those meetings and as the minister says, we always debrief and try to understand how governments can do better.”

First Nations leaders hold duelling press conference

First Nations leaders countered with their own press conference in the afternoon to reiterate their call for a provincial inquiry which has since been backed by the opposition NDP, Green Party, and Liberal Party.

Those First Nations insisted they be part of an ongoing conversation, and help to provide solutions.

Cat Lake First Nation Chief Russell Wesley accused the ministers of “avoiding a lynching” by throwing the morning’s press conference, calling the emergency calls he has been holding with the government “chaos.”

He said a public inquiry with formal roles for First Nations leaders is the only way to restore faith in the system and ensure that improvements will be made.

“We are in crisis, not just First Nations but Ontarians in general. There were municipalities that were evacuated,” Wesley said. “To say we don’t have a problem, yes we do have a problem: Ontario is burning and there’s no end in sight — and there’s no strategy.”

Fire approached Cat Lake from the north on July 13, as another blaze to the south burned through 12 hydro poles and shorted out the power. A third fire to the east blew across a highway, cutting both internet and telephone signals. Cat Lake, 180 kilometres northwest of Sioux Lookout, is one of 14 First Nations and municipalities that has been evacuated. Over 2,000 people are still waiting to receive notice that it’s safe to return home.

Wesley argued Ontario is thwarting First Nations who are trying to get involved and help improve Ontario’s firefighting system, and trying to be a part of the planning for climate disasters that disproportionately impact them. He pointed to the Nishnawbe Aski Nation forest firefighting plan, which Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler personally handed to Doug Ford in 2021. Fiddler said the premier gave no response.

The Cat Lake chief and former provincial bureaucrat then offered his own 12-point plan to improve firefighting in the remote north.

Wesley’s list includes having First Nations lead alongside shared provincial and federal jurisdiction teams; long-term funding, including economic recovery and compensation; building capacity with Indigenous guardian and fire stewardship programs, as well as having First Nations involved in transportation, emergency shelter and mental health supports; recognition of Indigenous cultural burning; establishing a remote community resilience fund that would invest in firebreaks, emergency water systems and backup power, as well as local wildfire data and early warning systems; climate adaptation strategies; and dedicating a portion of forest and natural resources for wildfire prevention, emergency management and climate adaptation in First Nation territories.

He also wants to see annual reports independently report on and review response times, funding levels, community preparations and the impact of fires.

“It’s not like we’re ranting and raving about the problem that we have across the nation. We also have solutions,” Wesley explained. “The thing is, we have a treaty partner that refuses to listen.”

For two federally-unrecognized First Nations that have burned to the ground, an inquiry would serve as an autopsy to explain what has been lost, in hopes of the province and local communities learning from the mistakes.

Whitewater First Nation Chief Pauline Drake confirmed on July 19 that the largest fire in Ontario history had decimated 30 years of construction efforts. Satellite imagery showed fire had consumed the entire area around her fly-in community, located 250 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, but she waited for the photos to know for sure.

“It’s gone. We have to start from scratch,” she said, describing texting in shock with float plane pilots, tribal council staff and local MNR representatives at the last minute.

“There was no warning, really. Just ‘get out.’”

Drake noted that northern fires will worsen with accelerating climate change, adding that for First Nations people, the loss of land is spiritual and cultural; it’s necessary for survival. She asked the government to meet and actively look to the medium term, where practicing controlled burns and monitoring lightning on a hyper-local level will be essential to ensuring fires can be kept under control.

“Maintaining a healthy forest requires knowledge, commitment, and political will,” Drake said. “In the era of climate change, when longer fire seasons are more extreme, the weather’s getting intense. And it’s becoming the norm, and we must remain focused and remain resilient and be strong and work together as a nation. We are all one people.”

Jon Thompson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter based in Thunder Bay. Contact him with tips and story ideas at Jon@ricochet.media.

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JULY IN REVIEW

Howdy everyone, I hope you have all been doing well.

Summer has brought a return of wildfire smoke, which blanketed much of the province earlier this month. At one point, Toronto had the worst air quality in the world. The smoke arrived during yet another summer heatwave, highlighting how these extreme conditions are becoming increasingly familiar across Ontario. I’d encourage you to read The Narwhal’s latest article on the topic.

This month, we’re featuring Tilly, a scent-trained Labrador Retriever who helps an Ontario Conservation Authority detect invasive species. We recently saw her in action during a live demonstration. Read all about her work in July’s feature article.

Specifically for Halton Region residents, we have news about a proposed data centre in Burlington and possibly another on the horizon in Oakville. Additionally, the Region of Halton advised this month that mosquitoes it trapped tested positive for West Nile virus.

Lastly, building on my photo essay from our June edition, Hayley has a Field Note this month about how she became an unintentional birder after a trip to Point Pelee National Park, which has since become an annual trip for the two of us.

Until the next one
-Greg

Burlington receives data centre application; Oakville responds to speculation about an AI facility

Municipalities across the Halton Region have been buzzing with discussions about Data Centres, as Burlington has its first proposal while another is on the horizon in Oakville.

Data centres have been attracting increasing public attention due to their significant electricity and water use, noise impacts, and overall effects on the environment.

In Burlington, the City has received an application for a proposed data centre at 3110 South Service Rd, the former location of Tucker’s Marketplace. The proposed facility would be a two-storey data centre with a floor area of roughly 5,163 metres, according to the development proposal.

The proposal does not identify the applicant publicly. The project is being represented by Powell Planning & Associates, an urban planning firm, and would require 20 MW of electrical capacity.

Mayor of Burlington, Marianne Meed Ward, also posted to her website regarding the proposal, stating that the facility “will be air-cooled” and “not use water.” This is because the Region of Halton has bylaws prohibiting municipal water from being used for cooling, it reads.

The City of Burlington has set up a webpage for more information: https://www.burlington.ca/en/news/council-news-and-events/data-centres.aspx

Meanwhile, in nearby Oakville, claims that an AI data centre could be coming began after a real estate listing included a line that said:

Most recently the 25 acres of vacant land to the north [of the listing], located at 3480 Ninth Line, has been purchased by HIVE BUZZ HPC (High Performance Computing) a division of HIVE Digital Technologies for the development of a 320 MW AI Infrastructure data center that is aiming to be operational in the second half 2027.

However, the Town of Oakville says that no applications have been received, according to a response published July 17 on the Town's website. “The Town of Oakville is aware that lands may be under consideration by a proponent for a data centre. However, no development application has been submitted to the Town. As a result, the statutory public planning process has not commenced,” it read.

The Town of Oakville has also set up a webpage for more information:
https://www.oakville.ca/business-development/planning-development/data-centres/

THE FIELD & SHUTTER PRESS

FEATURES & INVESTIGATIONS

CONSERVATION & WILDLIFE NEWS

FIELD NOTES & PERSPECTIVES

IN OTHER NEWS

In the “In Other News” section, we’ll share interesting updates and discoveries from the past month. Expect highlights on photography, nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental topics.

18-year-old pilot flies five orphaned trumpeter swan cygnets from Thunder Bay to Burlington

Published on: 07/JULY/2026
The orphaned cygnets were flown to Burlington so Trumpeter Swan Conservation Ontario can rehabilitate them. Click here to read more

Famed Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship Quest documented for the first time

Published on: 08/JULY/2026
An expedition led by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in the Labrador Sea has captured the first images of the ship Quest, which Sir Ernest Shackleton used during his final voyage and upon which he died. Click here to read more

Anaplasmosis is also on the rise, say doctors, as tick activity in Ontario remains high

Published on: 14/JULY/2026
Lyme Disease isn’t the only threat Ontario’s ticks pose; Anaplasmosis is also on the rise, with over 50 cases this year. Click here to read more

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To protect ecosystems within the Credit Valley watershed from devastating pests, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is turning to a powerful biological tool: a dog’s nose.

Tilly, a highly driven two-year-old Labrador Retriever, is “at the heart of the program,” which recently launched in partnership with Credit Valley Conservation Foundation (CVCF), according to a press release.

CVC says this “first in Ontario innovation” moves beyond conventional field surveys. Armed with 18 months of specialized training — and an extraordinary sense of smell — Tilly's job is to detect invasive species before they spread.

Right now, she’s focusing on three high-priority threats:

• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid - A tiny insect that slowly kills Eastern Hemlock trees by attaching to the base of their needles and sucking out water and nutrients.

• Spotted Lanternfly - An insect from Asia that weakens crops and native hardwood trees by feeding on their sap.

• Red Swamp Crayfish - An aggressive crustacean that can outcompete native aquatic species and causes shoreline erosion by digging destructive burrows into riverbanks and drainage ditches.

“The two insects have not yet been detected in the watershed, but they are moving closer and potentially could be introduced to our watershed, so we want to find them right when they get here so we can react,” said Lee Merrill, CVC’s Terrestrial Invasive Species Specialist and Tilly’s primary handler. “The [Red Swamp] Crayfish was just found in Mississauga last year for the first time, so we’re going to use [Tilly’s] skills to get an idea of distribution to see what we might be able to do as far as implementing management.”

Traditionally, looking for these hidden threats requires tedious, needle-in-a-haystack inspections by conservation staff. For pests as tiny as the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, human eyes can miss the early signs of infestation before it takes hold. Tilly changes that.

“We don’t need a team of staff out there inspecting a whole forest,” Merrill said. “She can go in, and she’s much more efficient. She can cover a lot more ground, and she can find things earlier.”

Bred for the Brush

Choosing the right pup for the job came down to specific genetics and personality traits. During a field demonstration, Tony Pallotta, Working K9’s Founder and Head Trainer, the company working with CVC to train Tilly, explained that she was selected because “we wanted the most playful, the most outgoing, the most bold puppy we can find so we can channel all of that energy… [we want] a driven dog, a dog that really wants to work.”

Tilly has been training at the Working K9 facility since she was just eight weeks old. Now, after 18 months of preparation, the two-year-old lab is transitioning to active duty. She will spend her career working alongside dedicated CVC handlers at priority conservation areas.

Leveraging a sense of smell much more sensitive than a human’s, Tilly was exposed to her target scents slowly, first by being fed directly over the source odour to lock them into her memory.

During the colder months, when snow made outdoor training impossible, the Working K9 team had to get creative. Pallotta’s solution was to build an indoor training table that mimicked a natural shoreline, layering it with gravel and sand. This helped Tilly practice detecting the burrowing Red Swamp Crayfish. By screwing mason jar lids containing the target scents underneath the table and drilling holes through the surface, the target odours could drift up through the sediment.

“Tilly was working all winter on this table, finding these target odours and indicating [even] when there was two feet of snow outside,” Pallotta explained.

The innovation doesn’t stop there. Knowing Tilly would need to be protected when working in dense, rugged environments, Pallotta designed a specialized, high-tech vest for her to wear while on duty. The vest uses D3O protective material, remaining flexible while Tilly moves but hardening instantly on impact.

She’s also being trained to wear clear, protective dog goggles to prevent thorns, brambles, and thick brush from scratching or poking her eyes.

Mapping the Scent Cone

During a live field demonstration, Tilly showcased exactly how she narrows in on a target. First, she ran a foundational exercise using nine specialized black boxes on the ground, completely ignoring “distractor odours” like native crayfish or non-invasive insect eggs. The moment she found the box containing her target, she froze, locking up stiffly with her nose pointed directly at the source.

“Labrador Retrievers are not pointers,” Pallotta explained. “We had to teach her how to point like a German Shorthaired Pointer may point in a hunting application.”

Because Tilly is working in sensitive environments, she can’t scratch or dig at a target. Her indication that she has detected a target odour is more passive. Pointing ensures she doesn’t accidentally damage delicate habitats while doing her job.

When she moved into the tree line to demonstrate a more realistic wilderness search, her strategy shifted to tracking the air. For Tilly, the wind is an advantage, allowing her to weave back and forth to find the “scent cone.” According to Pallotta, by comparing the scent entering each nostril — left or right — Tilly can adjust her path toward the target odour. This is important because if a pest like Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is high up in the canopy, the odour may not be on the trunk; it’ll settle dozens of feet away.

“She’s not going to run right up to the trunk of the tree and say ‘it’s here’, because that odour may be falling from the canopy and landing on the ground 30, 40, 50 feet away,” Pallotta said.

By tracking the edge of that falling “scent cone,” Tilly can guide handlers to within about ten feet of an infestation, dramatically narrowing the search area and allowing staff to pinpoint the source more quickly.

To Tilly, tracking down highly destructive pests is simply the ultimate game. “It’s nice to think that she has a moral compass to find invasive species, but that’s not the case,” Pallotta laughed. “She’s just doing it because she loves the love and affection and the toys and the food that she gets.”

A Game-Changer for Conservation

“It’s primarily a lot of visual inspection going through to individual trees,” Lee Merrill explained, describing the current way of searching for invasive species. “You can imagine, it’s quite labour intensive, and these things are really, really small and difficult to see, so it’s really easy to miss them when they’re at the early stages of infestation.” Now with Tilly, the pests can be found earlier when there’s a better chance to contain them.

As her primary handler, Lee Merrill spends working hours and downtime with Tilly, fostering a deep trust that directly translates into the field. “She loves working, and she loves being on duty — honestly, that’s what she cares about,” Merrill said. “But she comes home with me and gets to be a normal dog and rest up.”

By finding invasive species earlier than conventional surveys, conservation staff hope to contain outbreaks before they spread through the watershed. CVC believes the program represents an important step in how invasive species are monitored.

“We’re just super excited at how innovative this first-in-Ontario kind of program is for us,” Merrill reflected. “Being able to leverage a dog’s skill set to implement early detection and have a rapid response so that we can protect our natural areas and green spaces — it gives them the best opportunity to thrive and [for] people to enjoy them.”

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When Greg and I started dating, he suggested a trip to Point Pelee National Park. I had never heard of the park before that point, and wasn’t much of an outdoor enthusiast yet anyway. The idea of driving out of our city just to look at birds nearly bored me to tears. But as a nature photographer, visiting Point Pelee was a bucket list trip for Greg.

“Sure, sure, eventually,” I thought. I wanted to go because he wanted to go and I was simply just a good sport. I knew it was a several-hour drive away, but figured we could make a day of it. In retrospect, how silly.

In 2025, we visited for the first time, opting to stay a few nights in a motel outside of the park. We would drive in and out of Point Pelee several times a day, leaving only to grab a bite to eat, change our clothes, or recharge our equipment. We were lucky to visit during the Festival of Birds, an annual event that draws visitors from all over the world and takes place during the spring migration.

Three days there wasn’t enough. I’ve always been an animal lover, but at Point Pelee, I became a nature lover. I was enamoured with the abundant red-winged blackbirds, the kaleidoscope of barn swallows weaving around us, and the shifting landscapes that go from sandy to swampy to lush, almost like magic.

This year, when we had the opportunity to stay at Camp Henry, we jumped at it. The campsite, located right inside Point Pelee National Park, has 24 oTENTik sites - a structure described as a cross between “an A-frame cabin and a prospector tent on a raised wooden floor,” as per Parks Canada. While we weren’t able to book our visit during the Festival of Birds this time, we managed to secure a 5-day, 4-night stay. To think I once thought we could experience all Point Pelee National Park has to offer in just an afternoon is laughable.

The park itself is 8km long, starting from the entrance all the way to the tip, with 8 trails to explore. While the Tip Trail is an absolute must-do for anyone visiting Point Pelee, my favourite is the Marsh Boardwalk followed by the DeLaurier Homestead & Trail. All except one trail - the Centennial Hike and Bike Trail - are rated as easy trails, generally flat and accessible.

The Marsh Boardwalk is transcendental, especially at sunset. One evening, after a particularly severe rainstorm, we stopped at the boardwalk for the second time that day to see it glowing orange, with an arching rainbow overhead displaying a vivid spectrum of colour. The water sparkled, and the reeds illuminated against the setting sun. Only a few other visitors were there at the time, but the enchantment we all felt was palpable, with passersby murmuring “wow” and “look at that,” to us and each other.

In fact, everyone we interacted with during our trip was kind and easy to talk to, whether it was chatting over dishes at the communal washing station or swapping turtle facts while looking out over the boardwalk.

The oTENTik we called home for the week was perfect, equipped with a fireplace for cooler nights and a fan for warmer afternoons. It even had a dish kit which included everything we needed for our meals. Naturally, we didn’t spend much time inside of it, opting instead to sit in what I referred to as our “yard” on orange Muskoka chairs, taking in all the activity around us.

We had robin mothers on either side of our oTENTik, whom we said hi to as we came and went, and we got to watch a Baltimore oriole weave an impressive nest that withstood multiple storms. One night, we even had a raccoon visitor - of course, the night we barbecued steaks - who we hazed away despite wanting desperately to feed it, domesticate it, and make it a pet (we would never).

Though I do take photos sometimes, I’m not a photographer, so I opted instead to spend my time on our multiple daily walks observing without a lens. This made Greg and me a great team, actually, as I got quite good at noticing and pointing out unique species before he had a chance to. Such was the case one afternoon when we were walking towards the visitor centre, and I caught a glimpse of bright red in the canopy - a Scarlet Tanager. We’d laugh about it later, but I grabbed Greg’s arm, pointed, and made unintelligible noises in a whisper-yell. Luckily, he knew what I was trying to convey, and pointed his lens up at the striking bird, the two of us standing together on a trail for 45 minutes in complete silence.

I love moments like those. It’s when I feel closest to Greg; when we’re both experiencing something at the same time in our own way. We had lots of moments like that on this trip - enjoying our time alone together. For example, when we saw a flock of Sandhill cranes fly over the marsh, or when we spotted multiple green herons fishing.

Visiting Point Pelee National Park will be an annual tradition for us, and I’m sure we’ll discover something new each time we go. Next year, I’m determined to see the famous American woodcock, known for its courtship flights and unique sound. We were lucky to hear one, but sadly didn’t see any this time around.

It’s strange to reflect on the person I once was, not all that long ago, who dreaded driving out to Point Pelee “just to look at birds,” as it’s become a shared sanctuary for Greg and I. Now, I don’t care how many hours it takes to drive there - I’m already counting down the days until we get to go back.

Editor's note: This article is a personal essay or reflection. It contains editorial perspective and opinion, and readers should distinguish it as such, separate from our factual and investigative reporting.

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When it comes to bee conservation, most people don’t think about microbes. However, joint research from the University of Guelph and Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC) shows that protecting pollinators means shifting focus toward the “micro-biome.”

Their collaborative research highlights that saving bees requires saving their gut microbes, which are vital for a colony’s survival, immunity, and resilience against environmental stressors.

WPC is home to the world’s only bumblebee program for endangered species, making it a great place for the research to take place. They do work with bumblebee species such as the Yellow-banded Bees because their populations have plummeted since the 1990s, leading to their “Special Concern” status.

“With conservation breeding programs, one of the downsides is that there’s going to be some loss of biodiversity in a conservation breeding program, and we’ve also learned that this occurs at the gut microbe level, the gut microbes of wild bees will be different from the ones in our lab, just because they’re exposed to different environmental stimuli,” said Cole Blair, lead biologist at WPC.

Stressed bees host 253 percent fewer microbial groups than their healthy wild counterparts. The bees bred in Wildlife Preservation’s program had particularly low levels of Lactobacillus bacteria. The goal of WPC and the University of Guelph’s research is to try to preserve healthy microbes and promote their growth in captive bee guts.

“Those will hopefully translate to better health outcomes and better colony outcomes of our Yellow-banded Bumblebees, which would then hopefully boost the reproductive output and help grow our captive population even further,” explained Blair.

Current research shows that introducing managed honey bee hives to probiotics can improve hive health, even improving bees’ pathogen resistance. The goal of the research program is to describe the gut microbiome of Yellow-banded Bumblebee queens. Then isolate certain helpful gut microbes in the queens and create a feeding supplement to give to the queens at WPC to perform better in the lab.

“Essentially with this project, these collaborators [University of Guelph researchers] had this idea themselves. They reached out to us with this, and then we thought it was great and a great way to help build our captive pool, so we lucked out in this instance,” said Blair.

“It’s still ongoing, though. We’re hoping to trial some of these microbial feeding supplements at some point this year, so hopefully have some interesting results by the end of the fall.”

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Every year, Pollinator Partnership Canada highlights the vital role of insects by hosting Pollinator Week. While this year’s events, which ran from June 22 to 28 across North America, have wrapped up, the celebration continues with the naming of the swallowtail butterfly as the 2026 Pollinator of the Year.

There are more than 600 swallowtail species worldwide, 14 of which are native to Canada. To support them, Pollinator Partnership Canada has launched educational resources spotlighting these striking insects. While adult swallowtails love nectar-rich plants like milkweed, experts note that each species requires specific host plants to lay their eggs.

The striking pollinators love nectar-rich plants, so planting some of the typical blooming butterfly plants like milkweed is bound to attract a few. However, a lesser-known fact about butterflies is that each species requires a different plant as a host for its eggs.

“When we talk about helping the pollinators, we usually talk about putting in flowers, but it kind of goes beyond just putting in flowers; you want to ideally put in those host plants that the females lay eggs on, so we can raise more caterpillars,” said Andalyne Tofflemire, lead butterfly conservationist at the Cambridge Butterfly Observatory.

At the caterpillar stage, swallowtails are no different than other butterflies in that they require certain plants as host plants. For example, the Black Swallowtail relies heavily on the carrot family, so plants such as parsley, dill, fennel and wild carrots to feed their young.

“People tend to just, their minds go to herbaceous plants, like milkweed, goldenrod and asters and things like that, but a lot of native butterflies and other pollinators need trees and shrubs as host plants too,” said Tofflemire.

The Yellow Tiger Swallowtail is one of the best-known swallowtail butterflies in the country, drawing the attention of even casual observers with its vibrant yellow base and black tiger stripes. This species depends entirely on trees and shrubs to raise its young.

“[With] the Yellow Tiger swallowtail, their host plant is something like ash, willow, lilac and apple,” said Tofflemire, adding that a single female swallowtail butterfly could lay a couple of hundred eggs over the course of her lifetime.

“Ideally, an adult female will try to spread out her eggs over as many plants as possible, because a single caterpillar can eat so much. They eat about 20 times their weight in food every day. If you have too many on one plant, they’ll eat it all, and then they starve themselves, because they’ve eaten up all the food, so they try to spread them out.”

Even with this strategy, a caterpillar’s survival chances are bleak. Only about three per cent of caterpillars make it to the chrysalis stage.

“Most of the caterpillars, like 95 per cent of them, will be eaten by other things while they’re growing up, but that’s OK, because that’s how nature works, and that’s why we have lots of birds and other wonderful wildlife,” said Tofflemire.

The insects spend a couple of weeks in the caterpillar stage before forming a chrysalis. While Canada sees a few generations of swallowtails throughout the summer, the final autumn generation uses the chrysalis to overwinter until the following spring. Tucked away inside, the developing butterflies produce a natural antifreeze to prevent them from freezing solid.

To learn more about Canada’s pollinator of the year, visit www.pollinatorpartnership.ca/en/pollinator-week-canada.

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As the summer heat sets in, public health officials at Halton Region have confirmed the first positive mosquito pool of the season in Oakville during the week of June 29, prompting reminders for residents to drain standing water and take precautions against mosquito bites.

Last year’s first positive mosquito pool was detected on July 18, 2025, about two weeks later than this year’s first confirmation. In total, 28 positive mosquito pools were detected in Halton in 2025.

West Nile virus is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. “Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on an infected bird. If an infected mosquito bites you, it may pass the virus onto you,” according to the Province of Ontario.

A mosquito pool is a group of female mosquitoes all of the same species, which can range from 1 to 50, and are then tested by public health units, such as Halton’s.

So far, there have been no reported cases of West Nile virus in Ontario this year, according to Public Health Ontario’s Vector-borne Disease Tool. However, last year in Halton, there were 8 confirmed West Nile virus cases, including one death, according to statistics published by the Region.

Mosquitoes that carry the virus commonly breed in urban areas in standing water, such as bird baths, pots, and tires. So far, the Region has conducted 208 larvicide applications year-to-date to kill mosquito larvae and completed 909 applications in the previous year.

For bird baths, they recommend changing the water once per week to reduce the risk of mosquitoes.

The Region has said that “most individuals infected with [West Nile virus] do not develop any symptoms while some may develop fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. The majority of individuals will recover completely, but a few may go on to develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system. Individuals with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and individuals over 50 years of age are at higher risk for severe disease.”

It is recommended residents reduce their risk of mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and pants outdoors during dusk and dawn, using an approved insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin, eliminating standing water around their homes where mosquitoes can breed, and ensuring window and door screens are in good repair.

From May to late September, the Region accepts complaints about standing water at public facilities. “To be considered standing water, the conditions must persist for seven or more days,” the Region states. Concerns can be reported through 311. For standing water on private property, the Region advises contacting your local municipality.

For more information about West Nile virus in Halton, visit the Region’s website.

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JUNE IN REVIEW

Howdy everyone, I hope you have all been doing well.

As June marks the start of the summer season, it also marks one year of The Field & Shutter Press. It was one year ago this month that the publication launched its new direction, shifting from a nature and photography-focused newsletter to a full-fledged journalism publication.

A big thank you to everyone who has supported us and continues to do so!

Speaking of photography and journalism coming together, this month I published a new photo essay from my time at Point Pelee National Park this May, Canada’s southernmost mainland point and a hotspot for birding.

You can jump straight into that gallery here, or simply keep scrolling to find the article further down.

Lastly, a quick note to everyone who has been following our coverage of the Wasaga Beach Piping Plovers: I am currently working on an in-depth article analyzing the 2026 nesting season. The piece will break down exactly what protections were in place on the ground this year and explore the unique challenges these endangered shorebirds faced along the beachfront. Please stay tuned!

Until the next one,
-Greg

Nesting plovers at Wasaga unsuccessful; natural factors likely contributed

Patty and Ollie, a pair of Piping Plovers, established their nest at Wasaga Beach on May 11. A third, unmated plover arrived later. On June 13, the pair hatched 3 chicks; however, severe weather moved through the area, and by the morning of June 15, both the chicks and Ollie were no longer present.

“We are hopeful that Ollie simply moved on from the area after losing his chicks. The female [Patty] and a unmated bird remained at the site for a few more days, but have since moved on. The team continues to monitor for adults and fledglings stopping by on their southern migration,” read an update included in a Birds Canada newsletter.

Birds Canada further explained that within 36 hours of the chicks hatching, “severe rain, wind, and resulting flooding and washouts occurred.” Severe weather, including flooding and washouts, can destroy nests and is considered a factor in the species' decline.

Piping Plovers are a federally endangered species that only returned to Ontario in 2007, after disappearing from the landscape for 30 years. Wasaga Beach is one of the most important nesting locations for Plovers. “Since 2008, Wasaga Beach has hosted 59 nests and fledged 87 chicks, the most of any site in Ontario,” explained Sydney Shepherd, the Ontario Piping Plover Program Coordinator with Birds Canada, in a previous email to The Field & Shutter Press in February.

The Town of Wasaga Beach also announced in a press release on June 19 that the plovers were unsuccessful, saying that “the Town understands that weather conditions and predator presence were both potential factors in this difficult outcome.”

This year marked Patty and Ollie’s fifth consecutive year nesting at Wasaga Beach. Birds Canada previously described Ollie as “a very protective father.”

A new conservation area opened in Mississauga

On May 30, Credit Valley Conservation unveiled its newest Conservation Area to the public along the shores of Lake Ontario in Mississauga.

The Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area is named after Jim Tovey, a former Mississauga and Peel Region Councillor. It spans 26 hectares and features 3.7 kilometres of accessible trails with boardwalks, pathways, and excellent views.

The location was created on a former industrial site through a multi-year process involving Credit Valley Conservation, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the Peel Region. In total, more than 38,000 trees and shrubs and over 76,000 wetland plants were planted as part of the project.

To access the area, Credit Valley Conservation notes on their website, “Parking is only available at Marie Curtis Park, 2 Forty Second St, Etobicoke,” and that “Visitors must enter and exit through Marie Curtis Park.”

For more information about the location, visit Credit Valley Conservation’s website.

Ontario Parks gets new and upgraded campsites

After Ontario Parks welcomed nearly 14 million visitors in 2025, the province announced on June 9 that it is adding 67 new campsites across some of Ontario's most iconic provincial parks.

The new campsites will offer 4,891 reservable nights from June 26 to September 7 (Labour Day), including 17 new sites at MacGregor Point, 25 at Killarney, and 25 electrical sites at Driftwood Provincial Park.

“By opening 67 new sites – with hundreds more to come – we are creating more opportunities for families to enjoy Ontario’s incredible outdoors, supporting local businesses and helping people create lifelong memories to share with loved ones,” said Todd McCarthy, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, in a press release.

The expansion is part of a $60 million plan from the province, which looks to upgrade an existing 800 campsites while adding up to 300 new ones. The province says that, in addition to the newly announced expansions, it has already completed many upgrades at parks across the province, including Sandbanks, Arrowhead, and Turkey Point.

Don’t get ‘ticked’ off by nature this summer

Ticks, the small arachnids found in wooded areas, tall grass, and shrubs, are on the rise this year, and so too is the threat of Lyme disease. The Narwhal has produced a great piece to keep you safe and informed as you head outdoors in Ontario this summer.

Tell me about ticks!

THE FIELD & SHUTTER PRESS

FEATURES & INVESTIGATIONS

FIELD NOTES & PERSPECTIVES

IN OTHER NEWS

In the “In Other News” section, we’ll share interesting updates and discoveries from the past month. Expect highlights on photography, nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental topics.

Standalone chimney built to house Chimney Swifts in Oshawa

Published on: 08/JUN/2026
To help protect the threatened chimney swift population, Metrolinx constructed a standalone brick chimney at the site of Oshawa's future GO station to replace habitat lost during the partial demolition of a nearby building. Click here to read more

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On June 2, the Doug Ford government announced it was heading into an almost five-month summer recess after a 30-day legislative session; the same day a coalition requested the province’s financial watchdog to launch an independent investigation into the costs associated with building the controversial Highway 413.

Government House Leader Steve Clark said the Legislature will not return until October 27 and the extended break is intended to avoid interfering with this fall’s municipal election campaigns.

Premier Ford, however, has shown little hesitation about weighing into local politics: Speaking to reporters at a housing construction site in Mississauga in March, Ford said if former Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie decided to run for mayor again, he would “send an army down here” to help Carolyn Parrish win the race.

That same day, the province also turned Bill 9, dubbed the Municipal Accountability Act, into law after first tabling it in May last year. The legislation established standardized codes of conduct for municipal council members and local boards, strengthened the powers of integrity commissioners and created a process to remove and disqualify local politicians found guilty of serious misconduct.

But who holds provincial politicians to the same standard?

Queen’s Park sat for just 30 days this spring—Ford was absent for 11 of them before the Legislature adjourned for the summer.

The shortened session ended with Ontario taxpayers still on the hook for $190,865.56 in additional fees tied to the government’s brief purchase and resale of the $28.9-million Bombardier luxury private jet. Ford has made no indication he would reimburse that money from his own pocket after New Democratic Party provincial leader Marit Stiles asked the Premier to dig into his own pocket for the costs.

The RCMP’s criminal investigation into the $8.3 billion Greenbelt land swap remains unresolved after more than two years. While there has been no update on the case, the PCs have also delayed the mandatory ten-year review of the Greenbelt Plan.

On May 19, the Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed the PC government’s attempt to keep Ford’s personal cellphone records hidden, reviving an order requiring officials to review government-related calls made on his private device during the Greenbelt controversy.

Ford recently pushed through a late-night vote passing changes to Ontario’s freedom-of-information laws that could retroactively prevent the records from being publicly released. The new law allows Ford to shield all of his records and those of all his cabinet members and staff from public disclosure.

This could prevent his Greenbelt records, even those on his personal devices, from being made public.

The controversial Highway 413 plan has been directly linked to Ford’s desire to open up the Greenbelt for sprawling residential construction. The highway is slated to run immediately adjacent and through parts of the Greenbelt which is protected from any such encroachment. It has been estimated the 413 Highway could increase the value of land in the Greenbelt that developers have bought by up to ten times. Ford and his government are being investigated by the RCMP for taking instruction from preferred developers who bought land in the Greenbelt and want him to greenlight their properties for future construction, which Ford tried to do in his now infamous Greenbelt swaps scandal.

Information and privacy commissioner Patricia Kosseim said the legislative move to retroactively shield Ford’s Greenbelt records shows the public that “if oversight bodies get in the way, just change the rules.”

She wrote in a statement prior to the April vote by Ford and his fellow PCs shielding the records of cabinet members from public disclosure that, “Freedom of information laws exist to provide Ontarians with vital information about how government decisions are made, on what basis, who influenced them, and whether the public interest is being served.”

Ontario’s top privacy watchdog said, “If records about government business can be shielded from scrutiny simply because they sit in a minister’s office, on a staffer’s device, or within a political account, public accountability is eviscerated.”

In 2024, the Canadian Association of Journalists awarded the Ford government the provincial Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy—a year after Ontario’s Auditor found that government officials had used personal devices and non-governmental channels to conduct official business, a practice deemed “unacceptable” and contrary to the principles of transparency and public accountability.

For a politician who ran on the slogan “For the People”, Ontarians are left with more questions than answers in the ninth year of Ford’s leadership.

But attempts are being made to get an answer on one of the PCs’ big campaign promises: Highway 413.

Environmental Defence, advocacy group Open the 407 Now and representatives from all three opposition parties—the Ontario NDP, Ontario Liberals and Ontario Greens—held a joint press conference at Queen’s Park on Tuesday requesting that Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office (FAO) conduct an independent probe into the costs of constructing and operating what is expected to be the province’s “costliest mega-highway”.

“Highway 413 [is] a destructive highway that would cost taxpayers an estimated $16 to $18 billion, pave over protected Greenbelt land and prime farmland, fuel sprawl and worsen congestion,” Environmental Defence Associate Director, Mike Marcolongo, said.

“However, because the Ontario government has exempted this highway from an environmental assessment, proven alternatives and solutions have not been examined.”

In November 2024, the Ford government excluded the 59-kilometre highway linking Highway 401 near Milton to Highway 400 in Vaughan from the provincial Environmental Assessment Act after passing Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, into law—creating the Highway 413 Act and eliminating the project’s traditional environmental assessment requirements, limiting public transparency, allowing 24-hour construction despite the risks to nocturnal wildlife, and making it more difficult for landowners to contest expropriation.

Ten months later, Ford and transportation minister Prabmeet Sarkaria were making a string of misleading claims about construction of the highway beginning when in reality, that was not the case.

“Work is beginning to resurface Highway 10 in preparation for a new bridge over the future Highway 413,” Ford’s PC government announced in August last year. “Crews will also soon begin upgrades at the Highway 401/407 interchange, which will be the western terminus of Highway 413.”

The announcement suggested the long-promised highway was finally taking shape…

In 2024, when the PCs said the province would start building Highway 413 by 2025, there was no final design for the project, no finished environmental assessment and no planned opening date. The project was also being considered by the federal government for a full impact assessment due to the damage it will cause to both environmentally sensitive habitats and indigenous heritage. Ottawa dismissed the idea and created a task force to work alongside the province through a task force to mitigate the issues. The process has been opaque with little indication of any progress made to date to avoid the most damaging impacts of the highway on land inhabited by nearly 30 species at risk, according to an investigation by The Pointer.

So, when the PCs claimed Highway 413 construction was underway, it was not the highway itself, rather a series of limited infrastructure upgrades referred to as “early works.”

“There are two phases to this project. The early works, which are now under construction, and the main highway. What’s interesting is how the early works were chosen specifically to avoid triggering federal approvals,” Macpherson Law Senior Counsel, Laura Bowman, explained.

In 2020, the PCs proposed exempting the GTA West (Highway 413) project from completing a full environmental assessment before beginning “early works,” without clearly defining what those works would entail.

Regulatory agencies warned that the lack of detail made it difficult to assess potential impacts on fish habitat, migratory bird corridors and other sensitive environmental features—concerns that are now pushed under the rug with Bill 5’s watered-down definition of species habitat under the Species Conservation Act. At the time, the province indicated early works could include bridge construction and watercourse crossings but regulators underscored there had been little communication with federal fisheries officials about possible habitat disruption.

The government simultaneously moved to exempt highways shorter than 75 kilometres from Ontario’s individual environmental assessment process, a change that alarmed environmental watchdogs and conservation authorities.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority warned that key protections normally applied to development in flood-prone and environmentally sensitive areas under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act would not automatically apply to Highway 413, creating precariousness about how natural resources, property and public safety would be protected during the detailed design phase; thereby, failing to meet the objectives of the Environmental Assessment (EA) Act, undermining efforts to manage Ontario’s environment wisely.

The early works, therefore, were being carried out in areas that reportedly did not cross endangered species habitat or ecologically sensitive waterways, making it possible for the province to proceed without seeking federal authorization. That strategy became easier to execute after the federal government formally dropped its impact assessment of Highway 413 on April 15, 2024, following a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that limited Ottawa’s authority under the federal Impact Assessment Act, effectively ending the federal review process and leaving oversight of the project largely in the hands of the province.

Marcolongo contends construction of the highway is “many years away” and final design remains incomplete.

“Our understanding is that the MTO will be phasing the highway into four different sections, and only the final design is being completed or started at this point for one of those four sections, which will take up to two years,” he reiterated.

The group’s request is “particularly important given the Ministry of Transportation’s continued refusal to disclose the highway’s costs and the well-documented increases in construction and land acquisition costs for building infrastructure in Ontario”.

When Ford revived the project in 2019 despite recommendations of the province’s own advisory panel in 2017 that the project be cancelled, it carried an estimated price tag of just over $4 billion. Seven years later, after soaring inflation, labour shortages and escalating construction costs, the province has yet to release an updated estimate, hiding a total price tag now estimated to exceed $14 billion, according to a recent report by Enviornmental Defence.

Peter Tabuns, the Ontario NDP’s critic for Environment, Conservation and Parks, believes a financial investigation could shed light on alternatives to Highway 413 and the true costs associated with a project that he argues would increase “environmental damage”, resulting in the direct loss of 2,000 acres of prime agricultural land, park land and forests next to Canada’s biggest city while increasing flooding risks for downstream communities; as reported by The Pointer previously, Peel communities will be especially vulnerable to the ecological breakdown caused by the construction of the highway, adding to the pressures that already exist due to decades of bad land use planning.

“This highway doesn’t make sense environmentally, it doesn’t make sense in terms of transportation, it doesn’t make sense economically,” Tabuns said.

A consulting firm hired by Environmental Defence has already cautioned that Highway 413 would pump an extra 700,000 tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere every year, adding up to 17.4 million tonnes by 2050—an increase Ontarians cannot afford to bear the repurcussions of at a time when the province has already gotten rid of its duty to report on its climate change targets.

The Ontario Liberal party’s Critic for the Environment and Climate, Mary-Margaret McMahon, said the billions of dollars that the province might be projecting to use for the construction of Highway 413 could be used “for education, to improve our dilapidated schools, for transit, so we can get more people out of their cars,” for housing and healthcare.

But a January report by the FAO found that infrastructure spending over the Ford government’s seven years in office is projected to be higher than during its first three years for provincial highways and transportation infrastructure. While the PCs increased focus on road-building projects continues, investments in other areas have lagged behind with projected spending on transit, justice, social services and other sectors expected to be lower “over the last seven years compared to the first three years”.

In 2025, planned spending on provincial highways and other transportation infrastructure had climbed to $28.4 billion in real terms—an increase of $2.9 billion or 11 percent, compared to the $25.5 billion allocated in the 2019 budget. “The largest increase was in 2022, which added $2.9 billion to the spending plan, due in part to costs added for new projects, which included the new Highway 413,” the FAO revealed.

In this year’s budget, the province set aside over $30 billion to be spent over ten years on construction of highway expansion and rehabilitation projects. How much of that money is slated for Highway 413 remains a mystery.

“It’s not only irresponsible, it’s financially reckless to proceed with a project without doing any costing,” Ontario Green party leader Mike Schreiner critiqued, calling Highway 413 a “dangerous” project.

Environmental Defence’s latest report Transit over Traffic estimates three of Ontario’s proposed highway projects namely Highway 413, the Bradford Bypass and the 401 Tunnel together might cost taxpayers up to $80 billion—money that could build “enough light rail to connect Toronto to Sudbury”.

“To subsidize trucks on the 407 would cost on average $300 million a year,” Open the 407 Now Chair, Andre Willi, said.

“You can subsidize truck traffic for at least 45 years to equal the cost of this [Highway 413’s] construction.”

When the GTA West Advisory Panel, appointed by the Ontario Liberals in 2017, reviewed the potential impacts of the project, it made two important deductions: the highway would save drivers just 30 to 60 seconds per trip, a far cry from the 30-minute figure touted by the PCs.

The panel, instead, suggested using toll incentives to shift traffic, especially trucks, onto the underutilized Highway 407, which already runs parallel to the proposed 413 route, just 15 kilometres to the south, as a more cost-effective and immediate alternative.

In 1999, the Mike Harris Progressive Conservative government sold Highway 407 for $3.1 billion to a consortium that included SNC-Lavalin, Quebec’s provincial pension fund, and the Spanish company Ferrovial.

The highway is currently owned by the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board, the Crown corporation responsible for public employees retirement and Old Age Security (OAS) and Ferrovial subsidiary, Cintra, a publicly-traded Spanish toll road and parking lot company.

The Province owns a 22-kilometre stretch of Highway 407 on its eastern side, where tolls are significantly lower compared to the private section of the highway.

Last year, Ford suggested he would “never rule out” Highway 407 buyback. In 2024, a representative from Minister Sarkaria’s office also told The Pointer that the PC government has “been in conversation with the 407”.

But later that year, the owners said they have had no conversations with the province about a buyback.

“We regularly meet with the Ontario government to explore opportunities to alleviate congestion across the region, though we’ve not been engaged in any conversations about a buyback,” a statement shared with The Pointer noted.

The idea of removing tolls for trucks on Highway 407 has long been floated as an alternative. It was included in the Ontario NDP 2022 election platform and resurfaced in November 2023 after Environmental Defence reported that doing so could save transport truck drivers up to 80 minutes in travel time. In February 2024, Ontario Green party also proposed subsidizing truck tolls on Highway 407 and cancelling Highway 413 construction. But the PCs voted down a motion that would have removed tolls for commercial truck traffic on the 407.

“Highway 413 has nothing to do with alleviating gridlock in the GTHA. It is all about unleashing low-density sprawl to build homes that ordinary people can’t afford on thousands of acres of farmland, wetlands, greenbelt, forests, and nature, that is so vital to Ontario’s $52 billion agri-food economy that creates jobs for one in nine people in this province, the largest employer in Ontario, at a time when we’re facing an economic and jobs crisis,” Schreiner said at a recent press conference.

“The floods that hit the GTA two summers ago cost $1.3 billion an hour, and that will only get worse if the Ford government continues to pave over the nature that protects us.

Marcolongo estimates for the estimated cost of Highway 413, the province could build “191 km of GO/LRT/BRT that moves twice as many people”.

But Willi asserted that the highway is “another way” Ford is “helping his developer buddies” not about helping Ontarians move or reducing induced demand.

Despite Highway 413 being the subject of years of political debate between Liberal and Progressive Conservative governments, some of Ontario’s most well-connected developers were buying up farmland along the proposed route and near the Greenbelt, positioning themselves to reap enormous gains if the project moved ahead and land values surged.

“We’re not saying don’t build infrastructure projects, build transit for all Ontarians, and move twice the number of commuters…the government does not want to share their financial analysis with the taxpayers. This is our money,” Willi said.

“Voters wouldn’t want this highway once they know the true cost and immediate alternatives available.”

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At the southernmost mainland point in Canada, thousands of birds migrating north will arrive, alongside thousands of visitors to Point Pelee National Park, including The Field & Shutter Press this May.

Beyond being an outdoor destination, the park serves as an important stopping point for birds, as it’s the first piece of land encountered by them as they make their way across Lake Erie. It allows them to rest and recharge along their journeys.

Point Pelee National Park’s unique location offers a chance to see many different species, including rare and uncommon travelers as they pass through. This has brought the park international attention as people travel from all over the world to witness the migration.

The park even hosts an annual Festival of Birds through its supporting organization, the Friends of Point Pelee.

During several days spent photographing spring migration at Point Pelee National Park, we encountered a wide variety of species. Here are some that stood out during our time there this May.

Warblers

One of those uncommon birds mentioned actually calls Point Pelee National Park home: the Prothonotary warbler.

According to Birds Canada, there are only an estimated 30 individuals of this species in the entire country, making it a federally at-risk species. They only nest along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Another similarly coloured warbler, a frequent sight throughout the park, was the Yellow Warbler.

Recent taxonomic updates in 2025 for these warblers split the group into the Northern Yellow Warbler in North America, and the separate Mangrove Yellow Warbler found in coastal mangroves farther south.

We also encountered a few Chestnut-sided Warblers, named for the chestnut-colored streaks along their sides.

The only warbler with an orange throat, the Blackburnian Warbler, could be found hunting for bugs high in the canopy. This one, in particular, appears to have caught an inchworm (a Geometrid Moth).

Orioles

Amid all the fresh spring greenery, these vibrant orange-coloured birds stood out and made a statement: the Baltimore Oriole. These were a frequent sighting throughout the park in May, but sometimes we were the ones being spotted.

Some were a bit more tied up with things, as they worked to build their nests.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Baltimore Orioles build distinctive hanging, sock-like nests woven from a variety of fibres, and these nests typically take about a week to construct.

Although not pictured, Orchard Orioles could also be heard around the park at times.

Vireos

Red-eyed Vireos could often be heard but not seen, as they tend to stay high in the trees.

In the right lighting, it becomes very apparent why they were named after the colour of their eye.

Another vireo, the Philadelphia Vireo, was also spotted around the park.

Cuckoos

It’s often difficult to spot these birds, as they spend lots of time staying perfectly still, typically deep in the dense foliage, but this Black-billed Cuckoo was briefly out in the open.

Flycatchers

Great Crested Flycatchers are another bird that tends to stay high in the canopy, although they are a common bird when they venture to Ontario to breed.

Herons

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology reports that the Green Heron is known to make lures from bread, bugs, or feathers to catch small fish.

Waxwings

These Cedar Waxwings were spotted near “the tip” of Point Pelee.

They made quick work of the berries and fruits on the trees left over from the previous seasons.

The tip at Point Pelee extends into Lake Erie and offers a great opportunity to spot shorebirds.

For bird watchers, Point Pelee offers an amazing opportunity to see many rare species and common species alike as they are funneled through the park each spring. For more information about the spring migration at Point Pelee, visit the Festival of Birds website or Parks Canada.

Editor's note: This article is a personal essay or reflection. It contains editorial perspective and opinion.

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MAY IN REVIEW

Howdy everyone, I hope you have all been doing well.

Spring finally seems to have settled into Ontario, with warmer, more seasonal temperatures finally upon us. But it’s worth mentioning this summer might “simmer instead of sizzle,” according to the Weather Network.

This month, your Field & Shutter Press team (aka Hayley and me) travelled down to Point Pelee National Park to witness some of the spring bird migration. We’ve both got some articles in the works, but we’ve included a brief photo selection for you in this month’s issue, so keep scrolling!

Speaking of migrating birds, Wasaga Beach has seen two Piping Plovers return for the 2026! We’ve got more details below.

Lastly, I also contributed a new piece to The Narwhal, which is included in this month’s issue. It covers the recent issuance of mining permits that could worsen the mercury crisis Grassy Narrows First Nation is facing. Please take the opportunity to read it.

Until the next one
-Greg

Grassy Narrows is taking steps to appeal mine permits that could worsen the mercury crisis

Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) has taken the first step to appeal two permits issued to the mining company, Kinross Gold, that would allow the taking and discharge of water, which Grassy Narrows says would worsen the mercury crisis the community already faces.

You can read the full story over at The Narwhal, “Grassy Narrows seeks to appeal Ontario mine permits over mercury concerns.”

“The birds are back in town,” says Town of Wasaga Beach

The Town of Wasaga Beach announced on May 28 that two Piping Plovers have returned to the beach. Plovers have nested in Wasaga Beach since 2008, after returning to Ontario in 2007 following decades of absence.

This comes as the Town recently passed a new Beach Use Bylaw, which will protect both wildlife and the environment, with fines of up to $3,000 for “harming or disturbing wildlife” and up to $2,500 for “damaging vegetation or natural features,” the Town says. They also said that “Piping Plover stewardship training” has been made mandatory for all staff.

Wasaga Beach now has a stewardship team composed of Parks staff, Beachfront Ambassadors and two “Destination Wasaga Piping Plover Technicians,” which were announced earlier this month.

“We’re proud of our parks, communications, and municipal law enforcement teams who are leading this work on the ground, with support from Birds Canada and our provincial and federal partners,” said Mayor of Wasaga Beach, Brian Smith, in a press release.

The Town also said on May 4 that they started installing “educational and interpretive signage along the critical habitat zone” of the Piping Plover to help residents and visitors understand and support the recovery of the plovers during the nesting season.

Ford government expands Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park

On May 29, the Ford government announced that Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park would expand by 23 acres to protect important ecological lands within the Oak Ridges Moraine while also increasing local tourism and economic growth.

The land, approximately the size of “12 Canadian football fields,” as the province described it, is being transferred from Metrolinx and will become part of the park’s northern boundary. It could potentially host new trails and parking to support outdoor recreation, according to the province.

“We want Uxbridge Urban Provincial Park to be a place where families and future generations can connect with nature close to home,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

The park is Ontario’s first Urban Provincial Park, first announced in 2023 and opened in July of 2024. The expansion is part of a $19 million three-year commitment the province made in 2024.

May migration at Point Pelee National Park

At the southernmost point of mainland Canada, in southern Ontario, you will find Point Pelee National Park, just as thousands of migrating birds do on their migration routes every spring.

Point Pelee is unique because of how far it extends into Lake Erie, providing the perfect landing site for birds to rest as they cross the lake into Canada on their northerly migration routes. Because of this, the park, through its supporters, Friends of Point Pelee, hold an annual Festival of Birds in May, attracting birders from around the world.

This year, The Field & Shutter Press was there to capture some of these spring migrants. A photo essay is in preparation for the June issue, but in the meantime, we invite you to enjoy this small selection of images.

Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea)

Point Pelee National Park is one of the few places in Canada where this warbler can be found. According to Birds Canada, there are believed to be only about 30 individuals in the entire country.

Blackburnian warbler (Setophaga fusca)

These warblers tend to be a fan favourite due to their bold colouring; no other warblers have an orange throat, according to Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s website, All About Birds.

Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus)

You’re not “cuckoo” if you’ve never seen one of these birds before; they’re known to spend their time deep in the forests and perch motionless, making spotting them quite difficult. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds website, the oldest known Black-billed Cuckoo was found in Connecticut in 1969, having been banded in Ontario in 1965, making it at least 4 years old.

THE FIELD & SHUTTER PRESS

FEATURES & INVESTIGATIONS

IN OTHER NEWS

In the “In Other News” section, we’ll share interesting updates and discoveries from the past month. Expect highlights on photography, nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental topics.

Greenbelt home to 70% more species at risk than twenty years ago, according to Ontario Nature report

Published on: 23/MAY/2026
The new report explains how the number of at-risk species living in the Greenbelt has outpaced provincial trends, highlighting the Greenbelt's important role. Click here to read more

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