Globe Climate: Your Canadian (and conscientious) travel guide

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Good afternoon, and welcome to Globe Climate, a newsletter about climate change, environment and resources in Canada.

If you’re living in a part of the country that has enjoyed a taste of spring weather, don’t get too excited. The Weather Network’s chief meteorologist warns that winter may still deliver some parting punches. “Get ready for a wild ride,” Chris Scott said last week.

Spring may be slightly chillier in Western and Northern Canada, and the Prairies can expect the rest of March and April to be on cooler side of seasonal. Elsewhere in the country temperatures should be close to normal. It’s already been pretty wet in both Southern Ontario and Quebec, and while much of Atlantic Canada dodged a brutal winter, there is a risk of late winter-like storms.

Now, let’s catch you up on other news.

Noteworthy reporting this week:

1. Environment: First Nation wins second court challenge to Chalk River nuclear waste site over threats to bats and turtles
2. Policy: Planned increase to carbon price under review, Environment Minister says
3. Investing: Canadian support for paying for pollution could help in the fight against Trump tariffs
4. Oil and gas: What U.S. energy dominance looks like – it’s all about natural gas
5. Analysis from The Narwhal: Here’s where Canada’s new Prime Minister stands on the future of oil and gas

A deeper dive

No place like home

For this week’s deeper dive, we take a look at our recent offerings on domestic travel.

Because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and his general rhetoric around Canada as a 51st state, many Canadians are opting out of travelling down south. A weak dollar and inflationary fears aren’t helping either. Air Canada said that starting in March it would scale back flights to Florida, Las Vegas and Arizona – usually go-to hot spots in the spring. Even some snowbirds are bringing it home for the next while.

Whether you’re looking to travel domestically for patriotic reasons or to bring costs down, it’s a great excuse to think about staying closer to home in general, since doing so is more sustainable than flying to international destinations. (Although budgeting for a staycation still requires planning.) Plus, you have a chance to learn about our country’s ecosystems, history and environment.

Tour some of the oldest oysters farms in Canada? Yes please. Dive among shipwrecks in Kingston, Ont.? Why not.

Here are some more ideas.

Road trip

Travelling with your car can be environmentally friendly, and the effort is worth the payoff. Melanie Chambers drives to Toronto from B.C. twice a year. For her, it’s thrilling and revealing – and never boring. She shares her experience, if you want a taste of what it’s like.

For family road trips, we have tips about how to plan for (and maybe even avoid) everything that can go wrong, including restlessness, poor food options, endless toilet breaks.

We have a separate set of advice for excursions off the beaten path. And travelling in our changing climate requires a few reminders, too. It used to be that wildfires, floods and windstorms weren’t on the radar when road-tripping, but now it’s always good to prepare.

Camping

Parks Canada campground reservations are open for summer reservations. If you aren’t sure where to go, Globe Readers shared their favourite spots.

You can also find affordable ideas for getting what you need to make it a comfortable experience, like renting RVs through the sharing economy. If you’re really brave, perhaps winter camping will be a pleasant surprise.

House swaps

Trading homes is a budget-friendly way to see more of the country. But homeowners who use the HomeExchange website, and others such as Intervac and Noad, must rely on trust.

House-sitting is another option. It has enabled this writer to see the world: In 2024 alone, she house-sat 17 different homes, trying on 17 different lives. Or maybe instead of a house on land, you want discover the joy of moving slowly on a houseboat.

Tourism and experiences

Canada’s Indigenous ecotourism industry can uplift local communities and provide unique experiences for travellers.

In places such as North Vancouver Island, Indigenous locals are sharing the area’s rich wildlife on their terms. Visitors have a chance to see animals with these tours – and leave with a deeper understanding of this land, its history and its people.

What else you missed

• Cuts to U.S. weather agency will be felt in Canada – especially in hurricane season
• Endangered salamander to get car-free spring migration routes in parts of GTA
• Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes wins longest-ever Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska

Opinion and analysis

Jorden Dye: Under Trump, the U.S. scores own goal in carbon removal game

Green money

YouTuber sues B.C. conservation officer, government over alleged profit losses

A YouTube hunting personality is suing British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service, alleging one of its officers defamed and targeted him in a “malicious, obsessive and compulsive fashion” and caused him to lose sponsorship deals. The lawsuit alleges that Michel Beaulieu suffered financial losses of at least $150,000 because of the forced shutdown of his YouTube channel and the cancellation of internet sponsorship deals worth $120,000.

• Northern Pulp seeking $2.5-billion in private-public funding to build new pulp mill

The Climate Exchange

We’ve launched the next chapter of The Climate Exchange, an interactive, digital hub where The Globe answers your most pressing questions about climate change. More than 300 questions were submitted as of September. The first batch of answers tackles 30 of them. They can be found with the help of a search tool developed by The Globe that makes use of artificial intelligence to match readers’ questions with the closest answer drafted. We plan to answer a total of 75 questions.

Photo of the week

Guides and Explainer

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