For those asking me, here is a slide from the Island Corridor Foundation summarizing the current studies on the Reconciliation Corridor. There are multiple studies happening, including ridership and technical feasibility. Some due in March, and the big one due next year.

Apparently I posted this too soon. In the new BC Budget, released today, the interest rate is going up quite a bit on this program, to prime + 2%. I’ll be interested to see how it affects the uptake on this program.

🌲🪵 It’s time to chip in. The City’s launching its 2026 Residential Branch Chipping service. Leave tree branches on the grass boulevard by 7 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 23 for chipping. Follow the guidelines at victoria.ca/branch to make sure your branches get picked up!

At the CRD, we are likely to give $1.6m of rail-related reserve monies to the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative for them to complete their feasibility study on returning rail to the E&N line between Vic West & Langford Station. This is starting to feel...real. www.timescolonist.com/local-news/c...

Mayor Dexter of Port Angeles is awesome. I appreciate the respect and hospitality she shows to Canadian visitors. Even though our relationship with the US is generally strained right now, it's not all black & white. The cross-border relationships still matter. www.timescolonist.com/local-news/p...

RIP to one of the last great civil rights leaders who marched alongside MLK Jr.

Now we’re talking.

Soon, the Chief of Police will be coming to City Council to discuss the budget. CBC has claimed, using data from the Ministry of PSSG, that Victorians pay the highest cost per capita for policing in BC. My questions are these: 1. Is this data factually accurate? 2. If yes, why is it the case?

A 26-year-old Victoria athlete Hannah Henry, former Arizona State University standout has died after an alleged hit-and-run in Phoenix. She was riding her bike in a marked lane in south Phoenix, police allege a 46-year-old man swerved into the bike lane, struck Henry from behind & drove away.

This is going to be a challenge for a few months, so prepare accordingly. But the repairs on the bridge need to get done.

I LOVE that my city, Victoria, BC, Canada, keeps building out its protected bike lane network. This means: 1. We can get around easily, safely, and joyfully, avoiding the burden of car ownership AND 2. We don’t have to spend endless hours begging the city for safe infrastructure. #yyj

A reminder that Victoria implemented a permit fee holiday for the next 12 months. *All* building-related fees are waived, including plumbing, electrical, development, etc. Meant to offset high costs and account for changing regs. It’s covered by our dev. reserves. www.victoria.ca/city-governm...

Austerity coming to Halifax. This is what it looks like to devastate local services, including drastic cuts to transit and ferry service.

Downtown for the city-funded lights festival. Packed down here!

Franzi Schimmer captured this Grizzly bear in Brooks Falls, Alaska just floating along, tippy-tapping down the river, browsing the salmon. Prior to hibernation, up to 40% of a bear's body mass is fat, which is less dense than water (~0.9 g/cm^2), so the murder-monster is also a floaty-boaty.

FYI to all my Canadian & US followers. The Trump regime is tracking social media accounts critical of DHS and ICE, which could be used against you. Yet another missed opportunity for a Democratic shadow cabinet secretary to hold a press conference, denounce such actions, and promise to reverse them

Today, the Trump administration repealed the endangerment finding: the ruling that served as the basis for limits on tailpipe emissions and power plant rules. Without it, we’ll be less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change—all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money.

America remains a global embarrassment, virtually the only country in the world still denying the science of climate change. Truly shameful stuff. This decision will eventually be reversed, and woe be the company that assumes consumers are this ignorant. apple.news/AnaDJ7hsSQ_u...

Climate Change in Victoria Our 2024 GHG analysis was just published. * Victoria’s GHGs are down 18.9% since 2007 * GHGs going UP are: natural gas (comm/indust bldgs), diesel (bldgs), gas + diesel (trucks/SUVs), gas + diesel (marine/air) * Down: gas/oil in residential, gas/diesel in cars/trucks

Men die of this more than women. In 2011, a friend died of this at age 41, leaving 2 beautiful girls & a wife behind. Get screened. A FIT test is easy — you just poop! You are NOT too young. And: Get more fibre in your diet. Eat your veggies. Lifestyle can often prevent this kind of cancer.

Rents continue to drop in Victoria, which is good news. This dip is the result of multiple factors -- Provincial housing policies, city housing policies, large-scale economic factors, and reduced demand from the Feds setting limits on foreign students. victoriabuzz.com/2026/02/cana...

The Canadian flag will fly at half-mast at Victoria City Hall to mark the tragic deaths that occurred in Tumbler Ridge on February 10, 2026.

We don't know what's happening, but there's no good news here. As long as we keep burning fossil fuels, the world will continue to become more dangerous and chaotic.

French President Emmanuel Macron: “Horror has struck a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, the injured, and the entire educational community. France stands alongside the Canadian people.”

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy: “We are shocked by news of the shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada. When children are killed, no one should remain indifferent. Such tragedies should never happen anywhere, in any country... We hope that all those who were injured will recover quickly.”

A statement from King Charles. “In such a closely connected town, every child’s name will be known, and every family member will be a neighbour.”

😔

Much of my life right now is about sorting out the transportation challenges in the region. I’ll be on the radio discussing it today at 3:30 (CFAX) and tomorrow at 7:50 am (CBC). We have immense opportunities to get the BC Transit, CRD, LGs, and FNs working together to solve big problems.

These right-wing activists have been fighting to destroy the basis of US climate regulation for almost TWENTY YEARS. Which makes me want to say: Don’t give up, fam! We can be *at least* as determined as these freaks. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/c...

Listen to this. Not a penny more for this. Abolish and prosecute anyone who had anything to do with it.

Alberta - Support For Independence: All: Remain: 65% Independence: 29% Among UCP Voters: Independence: 57% Remain: 38% Among NDP Voters: Remain: 93% Independence: 6% Angus Reid / Feb 6, 2026

💯 percent this could happen

I was not aware of this story. The US has placed sanctions on a Canadian judge for prosecuting war crimes and atrocities. But she’s brave and resolute in the face of the authoritarians down south. The US is now the bad guy, attacking the ICC. apple.news/AX3mvYqrtQ26...

Am I crazy or does this article say that Vonn ruptured her ACL **nine days ago** and then competed in Olympic downhill skiing, subsequently breaking her leg during the competition? As a soccer fan, I know that ACL injuries generally take 10-12 months of recovery. www.cbc.ca/sports/olymp...

Let’s talk about the property tax deferral program in BC. This is a genius initiative that allows seniors and others to defer their property taxes indefinitely. The interest rates for the main program recently fell to 2.95%, which is applied to the future land sale. www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...

You don’t necessarily need to be in a standing position to chortle at the birds.

Victoria council has unanimously approved a motion to ask provincial and federal governments to review and update safety regulations for vehicle designs.

Yay! "Victoria joins the call for an update to provincial legislation to clearly allow the use of wheelchairs and three- and four-wheel mobility scooters on bike and roll routes." Read more at: vicnews.com/2026/02/05/p... #yyj #bcpoli @davethompsonvic.bsky.social

Lots of good stuff in the federal EV strategy 1. Focus on tech-neutral emissions reduction 2. Subsidy for vehicles has reasonable price cap 3. Exemption for Canadian-made to encourage local production 4. More charging infra 5. Goal to double grid capacity (!)

If you’re trying to make sense of Epstein, Trump, and the current situation in the US — and also why the PM of Poland today formally accused Epstein of being a Russian agent — you can check out this analysis by Prof. Phillips Obrien, the great historian. phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/why-does-a...

Stop everything and read this thread by David Simon on AI fabrications.

Please take this survey from BC Transit. We are seeking input on thoughts and priorities related to a proposed direct bus service from Victoria to YYJ.

Please watch and share this. Boycotts, resistance, protests work. In the United States, and Canada too.

This week, Coun. Dell and I have an advocacy motion coming to City Council, aimed at the Feds, to better regulate the pollution that come from large marine vessels. It includes marine shipping and cruise ships. We are requesting: phase-in of low-sulphur fuels, prevention of scrubber wash discharge.

I disagree with these sentiments, but I appreciate that someone actually tried to make the case. Consumers want companies to act ethically and not aid fascism. Seems reasonable. Boycotts of South African companies was a main driver for ending apartheid. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...

"Except in Manitoba the question is going to be 'do you want to stay a part of Canada?' and the two choices are going to be yeah and heck yeah." Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew weighs in on the conversations around Alberta's potential referndum on sovereignty.

The new Coda Club is fantastic. Very happy the City bought this venue. My friend Brooke is playing a cover show tonight, of songs from artists who died in 2025. Awesome homage.

For anyone wondering if public pressure works. Bravo to all Canadians who said “no” to a Canadian-based company being involved in fascism.

It’s fascist totalitarianism. We must never let this dystopia come to Canada.

👏 👏 I have never understood why right-wing extremists seem to have a monopoly on patriotism, when they are literally the ones seeking to break apart and leave the country. Can’t have it both ways.