So the Ontario NDP stance is that allowing 49,000 Chinese EVs into a country that buys 1.9 million new cars/year will kill Ontario automaker jobs? I really doubt the Ontario plants making F-150s and Chevy Silverados are at risk of being put out of business by a shipment of Wuling Bingos

The 2025 Headline of the Year Nominees 🧵

How Big Things Get Done is a book about how complex problems require significant and thoughtful planning followed by quick execution. Most of the examples are infrastructure projects or massive logistical endeavours, but I think #governments would do well to look at social problems the same way.

This whole ostrich cull story reads like a Canadian version of Burn After Reading with, remarkably, even lower stakes

The immense forces that shape municipalities are largely of Federal and Provincial government creation. Hearing other orders of government complain about municipalities being too rigid is absurd, especially when municipalities have just become the diamonds you’ve forced them to be.

Really about the only thing that’s funnier is the Province setting out to reduce the number of local governments in Peel from 4 to 3 and they end up creating a 5th local government entity instead.

I mean… the timing of this global recognition for Peel’s water and wastewater system couldn’t be funnier. peelregion.ca/press-releas...

The traffic death bill passed?

My reading of the proposed Water and Wastewater Public Corporations Act, 2025, suggests that the entities will be ineligible for DC collections. A lot is still yet to be defined by regulation but barring additional info it looks like water rates in Peel are going to rise a lot. Caveat: not a lawyer

This is a confusing interview. I’m imagining something got lost in translation between the interviewer and interviewee, but it does a poor job of explaining the MSC model at best and at worst misrepresents it as financing source (like IO) for municipalities. nationalpost.com/news/canada/...

We used to build infrastructure where people lived and worked. Then, where people worked changed. Instead of learning a lesson about single purpose districts and getting creative, the best solution governments devise is forcing people to work where infrastructure is. It's become a lost opportunity.

Maybe the MOST IMPORTANT truth for better transportation in cities: The “War on Cars” narrative fuelled by populist politicians, click bait media and such, IS A LIE. Cars have almost all the space, budget etc, and ANY effort to add even a bit more CHOICE is attacked this way. #TheTruthAboutTraffic

INBOX: CMOH Dr. Kieran Moore says an Ontario infant has died of measles. news.ontario.ca/en/statement...

Albertans have good reason to be angry: their real wages are down 10%, their minimum wage is frozen, their inflation is worst in Canada, their health care's at risk. None of that was caused by the rest of Canada. My take in today's @TorontoStar: www.thestar.com/business/opi.... #cdnecon

Peak urbanism for me is walking to buy groceries with my cart and choosing between 3 different grocery stores; walking to get light bulbs at a nearby hardware store; and walking my kids to public school. Aka “the basics.”

Councillors in strong mayor municipalities should be conditioned to pull any mayor bylaws put forth under 284.11.1 of the Municipal Act from consent agendas for discussion.

I want more wholesale idea/platform theft in politics. It would be refreshing as fuck for a politician to look at a competitors idea and say that's a good one, it's mine now too along with these other things I came up with. There's no copyright on good policy.

Fascinating new article that shows that "urban highways are associated with decreased social connectivity," especially over short distances. Gives strong evidence for the importance of the Reconnecting Communities program, designed to connect neighborhoods divided by highways.

How the Toronto Region Board of Trade got lost in traffic. My Toronto Star column on their terrible congestion task force report & how they’ve lost their way of late. $billions on a 401 tunnel? Where’s the rational business people now? www.thestar.com/news/gta/how...

A List of Things Banned by Schools 🧵

My semi-regular reminder of a really important reality about cities, density, services and taxes. Any questions? Recently cleaned up by @kathrynmathias.bsky.social. #CityMakingMath

THREAD: I’m going to share this thread here to clearly state my perspective on electric vehicles, car dependency and better cities, for all those who frequently ask me about it, including media, elected leaders and many others. Here goes. Please share it frequently if you think it will help. 🧵#EVS

The 2024 Headline of the Year Nominees 🧵

It’s [well past] time to ban ‘right on red.’ “It’s unclear that right-on-red did much of anything to reduce gas consumption, but it had a sizable effect on roadway safety. A 1982 study found the new policy triggered a sharp increase in crashes…” @fastcompany.com www.fastcompany.com/90908929/its...

Captain: I'm really nervous about giving this speech. Sun, rubbing his shoulders: Don't worry, big guy. You got this.

An #onpoli listener asks @spaikin.bsky.social and @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social: Are there any legal obstacles to a one-time NDP-Liberal-Green coalition, with a single mandate: to institute preferential voting then immediately call an election? 🎧 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...