I do not care if Canada post is ever profitable. It is a public service, everyone owns it. That’s valuable in and of itself. We don’t ask the emergency room or public schools to turn a profit. We ask them to be accessible for everyone to use.

"The average VicPD officer made $156,293 in 2024. … Defunding the police is the logical first step to balancing the resources that communities need to thrive and survive. This is not about finding new sources of funding – the money is already there." #yyj defundvicpd.org/2025/09/20/h...

Announcing DefundVicPD.org! Your new favourite local resource and info hub for defunding the Victoria Police Department (BC).

this failure of political imagination is a comms strategy for expanding police power and police budgets

Here's an old thread, timely today given VicPD is complaining about its funding again. They are over-resourced; they take up 23% of the city's budget; and for police forces serving more than 50,000 people in Canada, only Montreal has both more police and a higher authorized strength per capita. #yyj

they say this every year and every year we increase their budget exponentially and it makes me feel like i’m fucking insane. stop giving these people more money — clearly they can’t manage themselves!!!

VicPD called its drone program a “new tool to help keep the community safe.” Reporting pegged the cost at $30,000. In reality, VicPD had been using drones for five years; drones will not keep anyone safe; and actual costs were likely closer to $125,000. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/vicpd-d... #yyj

VicPD called its drone program a “new tool to help keep the community safe.” Reporting pegged the cost at $30,000. In reality, VicPD had been using drones for five years; drones will not keep anyone safe; and actual costs were likely closer to $125,000. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/vicpd-d... #yyj

I haven't received any information about the SLOs from SD61 or my kids school, about what programming is planned, whether police officers are already in schools, or how to opt my child out of police activities.

There’s a #yyj police board meeting at 5:00 pm. New board members, new chief, and new regulations. Same old rubber-stamping body! Excerpts from agenda below. Will follow along live when it starts. Public agenda: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... Stream: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKK... #vicpdboard 🧵

This story reminded me that police will go on podcasts and just say stuff. On a recent one from the VicPD police union, the host says "Officers will tell you having to discharge their firearm in a lethal situation isn't their biggest fear. It's the multitude of investigations that follow…." Okay.

There's lots infuriating about this story. I also question the TC's decision not to name the officer "because he has been cleared by the province’s police watchdog and has not previously been publicly identified." He publicly identified himself on the podcast! www.timescolonist.com/islander/aft...

Today is the four-year anniversary of VicPD using a rifle to shoot and kill a man in crisis near Mayfair mall. After they killed the man, Del Manak said he had "'every confidence'…his officers dealt with the incident appropriately." The IIO later asked the BC Prosecution Service to consider charges.

Today is the four-year anniversary of VicPD using a rifle to shoot and kill a man in crisis near Mayfair mall. After they killed the man, Del Manak said he had "'every confidence'…his officers dealt with the incident appropriately." The IIO later asked the BC Prosecution Service to consider charges.

In 2023, the Greater Victoria Teachers' Association recommended ending the school liaison officer program. They cited research by the BCTF, reports from across Canada, and the BC Human Rights Commissioner. VicPD Constable Gord Magee called the letter "disgusting." He is now one of VicPD's two SLOs.

The next VicPD police board meeting is Tuesday, September 16th. It's the first meeting where, per a new government regulation, they're legally required to post their agenda a week in advance. Have they met this new legal requirement, which they've had two months to understand? Heck no. #vicpdboard

the police are defunding us in several ways #vanpoli

The next VicPD police board meeting is Tuesday, September 16th. It's the first meeting where, per a new government regulation, they're legally required to post their agenda a week in advance. Have they met this new legal requirement, which they've had two months to understand? Heck no. #vicpdboard

In 2022, a VicPD officer said "Don’t give me that bullshit about people just saying, 'Well, they’re innocent until proven guilty.'" The BC NDP have adopted that rightwing messaging into the following ad.

www.readtheorchard.org/p/former-mp-... Great work from @readtheorchard.org

Whenever an officer is in the news, it’s always worth searching their name in CanLII. In these rulings a judge found Cst. Scott Eddy, who is seemingly the subject of some public accountability graffiti, displayed “a troubling disregard for the foundational rights that are enshrined in the Charter.”

The question is not whether allowing access to regulated drugs is the right thing to do. The question is whether enough collective will can be mustered to overcome the carceral bureaucracy keeping regulated drugs out of reach. DULF can do it –– with your help. drugdatadecoded.ca/the-most-urg...

It's not an exaggeration to say there isn't a single word of criticism or reminders of VicPD's many failings under chief Del Manak in any of the legacy news outlets this week.

Happy Del Manak Day, everyone! May his legacy be accurate. www.needsmorespikes.com/blog/del-man... #yyj

SLOs are back in SD61 next week after an extended lobbying campaign. It's a slap in the face to those who reported being harmed by the program. Manak once told the police board teachers use SLOs to bring kids 'back in line.' He's getting his wish. www.timescolonist.com/local-news/p...

did they really think that FIVE PERCENT of estimated number of British Columbians who use unregulated opioids was sufficient I call bullshit on this

lol at Horgan considering joining the BC Liberals back in 2013. Sounds about right. The article also follows that up with excerpts showing his complete lack of insight into his failures on drug poisoning deaths. vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...

This is incredibly dangerous and it seems to be a common technique for police.

These 'We stopped someone for an innocuous reason, and look what we found!' stories shouldn't be taken at face value. There's every chance they wanted to stop the person anyway and they found an excuse. With good representation this could probably be tossed out. www.timescolonist.com/local-news/b...

City budgets keep being looted. "Victoria’s incoming police chief has secured a salary nearly $53,000 higher than her predecessor. CTV News Vancouver Island has learned Victoria Police Department (VicPD) Chief Fiona Wilson is earning $350,000 annually." www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/va...

Shoddy record keeping, obstruction, and playing with numbers to create "fear and anxiety." No correspondence between the police chief and the mayor? Sure, why not. And FOI request processing stalled out, as emails are deleted. The Vancouver Police Department, everyone! #cdnfoi

VicPD's new police chief starts today. Nothing will change.

The city proclaimed August 27, 2025, Del Manak’s last day, as “Del Manak Day.” If the city wants to celebrate his legacy, it’s good time to reflect on what policing actually looks like in Victoria. More details and sources in the thread. #yyj 🧵

The city proclaimed August 27, 2025, Del Manak’s last day, as “Del Manak Day.” If the city wants to celebrate his legacy, it’s good time to reflect on what policing actually looks like in Victoria. More details and sources in the thread. #yyj 🧵

I asked VicPD for footage of seagulls attacking its drone, and any messages VicPD sent about seagulls attacking its drone. All denied because VicPD says it could “harm a law enforcement matter.” Police like to claim new tech promotes transparency, but you’ll never see footage unless it suits them.

"why couldn’t people go to a community clinic to get a no-hassle prescription, or buy a limited amount from a pharmacy?" Medical Health Officer: "well that would be safe supply, can’t have that."

Vancouver PD has also taken to sending bills for FOIs based on the hourly wages of the police searching their emails. Which they can't do for individual requesters or media, but it doesn't stop them from trying. Here's a bill I got (similarly, later reduced to $150, but only after OIPC intervened).

SCOOP 🧵 Two years after being caught using Clearview AI facial recognition software, Calgary police signed contracts for "image recognition" software that scours photos and videos for individuals. 1/ drugdatadecoded.ca/calgary-poli...

Great reporting from @drugdatadecoded.ca on Calgary PD's use of image recognition technology. And expensive reporting, too - it took $1,100+ in FOI fees to get this story and report it out! #cdnfoi

"Maurine Karagianis, a nearby resident [and former NDP MLA] who has lived in the neighbourhood for 30 years, said she doesn’t feel the proposed townhomes are in keeping with the size and scope of the neighbourhood." Says past densification took her ocean view. www.timescolonist.com/local-news/w...

An older woman was struck by a motorist in a marked crosswalk in my neighbourhood last week, at Michigan and Douglas. I spoke with a police office at the scene who remarked that "there's poor visibility" (there is excellent visibility) and that the speed limit is 50 km/h (it's 40 km/h)...

Saw the city using seven bylaw vehicles, a dumpster and one police van to displace and steal from someone this morning. The city spends millions actively not housing people. #yyj

There's a #yyj police board meeting at 5pm. I can't make this one - if you tune in, you'll probably be the only person watching in the world! Public agenda: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... Stream: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKK... #vicpdboard

There's a #yyj police board meeting at 5pm. I can't make this one - if you tune in, you'll probably be the only person watching in the world! Public agenda: vicpd.ca/wp-content/u... Stream: www.youtube.com/channel/UCKK... #vicpdboard

NEW Calgary Police Commission sat for a year on at least 2 complaints of wilful deceit by former chief Neufeld following the May 2024 police brutality of protestors at the UofC. In that time, documents show they failed to investigate the claims to any degree. 1/ drugdatadecoded.ca/calgary-poli...

i've got to ask my #yyj city council how increasing the police budget helps me get high-quality and low-cost housing like this

"street disorder" is this moment's euphemism allowing everyone to avoid saying they can't bear to witness the consequences of their cowardice, the violence theyve done to the people they abandoned, many are still alive send the police to address street disorder www.timescolonist.com/local-news/v...

They could have given everyone $680 a month. Instead we get a morally bankrupt vision to jail and displace more people. www.victoria.ca/city-governm...

huh. what have residents requested nothing? REALLY oh i see nobody asked them. here's the BCNDP agreeing to remove supportive housing from the RTA.