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Reposted by Iain Campbell

Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 15h

And it has a friggin elevator!! A three-story building in North America with an elevator. You NEVER see that – it’s likely costing around $200,000 (CAD). Stair injuries and deaths are far more common than fire ones. Disability and elderly advocates should be storming City Hall about this decision.

Pamela Blais @pamelablais.bsky.social · 15h

Do we want livable, accessible units in neighbourhoods in Toronto? A 3 storey, single stair, elevatored, sixplex is not radical. It should be the most simple, easily replicable way to provide livable housing within neighbourhoods… the “Toronto Special” of the 2020s. And yet…

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 15h

This far exceeds US (IBC) standards and Toronto still denied – wide stairways and even wider landing, passive ventilation, very low occupant load, and balconies for refuge and rescue. Balconies alone make it safer than code compliance, because they avoid a single point of failure (unit front door)

Pamela Blais @pamelablais.bsky.social · 15h

After TO Council passed a motion indicating the City was open to Alternative Solution Proposals for a single stair in apts up to 4 storeys, I applied for a single stair in a 3 storey Part 9 6plex.

I’m told it’s the first one, so it’s a test case. Here’s how it’s going.

#singlestair #sixplex

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Reposted by Iain Campbell

grantimatter @grantimatter.bsky.social · 6d

Frogs, alignment thereof.

An alignment chart of iconic frogs, with some admittedly questionable neutrals.
LG: Kermit | NG: Frog and Toad | CG: Portland Frog || LN: Over the Garden Wall frog fella | TN: Pulque, the frog-like spirit of drunkenness and friend to children | CN: The “Hello, My Baby…” frog || LE: Frog-dude from Spirited Away | NE: The Loveland Frog | Pepe, the later form.

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Iain Campbell @iainmc.ca · 5d

can we finally bury the “Canada is too big, people live too far apart” myth and build a Netherlands-level intercity rail system now?

Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 5d

Fun fact: despite the enormous land mass, the population-weighted density of Canada — basically the density experienced by the average person — is the same as Denmark and close to the Netherlands.

Canada and Denmark are 3,000 people per km², while the Netherlands is 3,400/km².

Mapping Population Density Across the Globe

Explore the detailed geography of population across the globe with interactive mapping and statistics. Identify global megacity regions and the growth and diversity of urban forms. Data is from the Gl...

luminocity3d.org

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Reposted by Iain Campbell

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 9d

So all of the speed camera and red light camera revenue is going to provincial coffers, administering the program, or the road safety measures that Ford claims don't exist (including cops and crossing guards).

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 9d

In a letter responding to a Councillor Holyday inquiry, City Manager Paul Johnson has provided a breakdown of revenue and expense numbers related to Toronto’s speed and red-light camera programs. Notably, about 24% of fine revenue goes to the provincial gov.
www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis... (PDF)

$In 2024, the City collected $62.6 million in fine revenues, including $37.3 million from ASE and $25.3 million from RLC. In total, the 2024 net revenue associated with the POA regime was $48.2 million, which was leveraged to support the initiatives noted below. For 2025, assuming full operations throughout the year, the City projects to receive $64.6 million in ASE fine revenue and total associated fine revenue of $100.1 million when also including $35.5 million from RLC. Revenues collected, and specifically those collected through ASE violations, are generally allocated to three main purposes: 1. Provincial Remittances • When including the estimated $11 million associated with Victim Fine Surcharges (VFS) for 2025, approximately 24% of fine revenues are remitted annually to the Province, including a charge of $8.25 per infraction for Ministry of Transportation Ontario searches and varying VFS surcharges depending on the fine amount for victim services. 2. City of Toronto Related Administration Costs • It’s estimated that approximately 35% of fine revenues directly fund the City’s costs to administer the operation of ASE. 3. Vision Zero Initiatives • The remaining fine revenues, or approximately 41%, enables the City to invest in public safety and enforcement activities, including:  Toronto Police Service – Annual operating funding is directed to the Police Services Road Safety Program, funding 18 Officers (2 Sergeants and 16 PCs).  Transportation Services Operating – ASE revenue is leveraged to partially offset annual enhancements and inflationary increases to the School Crossing Guard Program and Education Campaign  Transportation Services Capital - ASE revenue is leveraged to offset debt servicing costs associated with Road Safety Initiatives included in the 10-Year$

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Jessica Smith Cross @jessiecatherine.bsky.social · 10d

NEW: Clients of lobby firms connected to the premier and his nephew were given tens of millions from the Skills Development Fund.

Clients of Rubicon — a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager — got more than $100M, records show.

www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...

Clients of lobby firms connected to premier, his nephew given tens of millions in training funds

Groups represented by a lobbying firm owned by the premier’s campaign manager got more than $100 million in grant money, a Trillium analysis has found

www.thetrillium.ca

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Isaac Callan @isaaccallan.bsky.social · 10d

NEW: Vehicles registered to Doug Ford's cabinet ministers have been caught by automated speed cameras more than 20 times.

In one case, they were driving 70 in a 40 zone. On average, they were 17 over the limit. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1146373...

Vehicles registered to Ford cabinet ministers caught by speed cameras more than 20 times | Globalnews.ca

Documents obtained by Global News reveal that, over three years, vehicles registered to Ford’s cabinet minister received more than $3,300 in fines for speeding.

globalnews.ca

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Doug Saunders @dougsaunders.bsky.social · 10d

One of the most serious consequences of Canada's low population density is the effect on our climate impact. Not only the extreme inefficiency of low-density homes, but the far greater number of private-automobile trips needed per person, etc. Underpopulation is climate catastrophe

Jason Thorne @jasonthorne.bsky.social · 10d

The Venn diagram of urban density and average household GHG emissions is pretty much a circle. Interesting study on “Mapping household GHG emissions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe” from the University of Toronto School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/mapping-hous...

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John Bowker @johnbowker.bsky.social · 10d

“But Ontario would need to stop listening to people who see energy as one front in the culture war, not to mention Enbridge’s well-compensated lobbyists, and actually press forward the electrotech revolution here in Ontario,” writes @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social www.tvo.org/article/anal... #onpoli

TVO Today | Current Affairs Journalism, Documentaries and Podcasts

www.tvo.org

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Patrick Reynolds for a greater Auckland @patrickreynolds.bsky.social · 11d

Not nearly enough is made of the incredibly impressive feat Indian Railways has made to electrify almost 100% of its 135,000km of track, while also growing renewable sourcing. Huge:

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/ind...

Indian Railways to achieve net zero targets in 2025 itself - 5 years ahead of 2030 goal - Times of India

India Business News: Indian Railways is set to achieve net-zero targets by year-end, surpassing its 2030 goal through extensive electrification. Aiming for 95% electric tr

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Iain Campbell @iainmc.ca · 11d

surreal! amazing

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Damien Moule @damienmoule.bsky.social · 13d

In case anyone is wondering what McGrath means by accounting fiction: TPA makes a "profit" only if you don't include its capital budget and ignore that the maintenance and resurfacing for on-street parking is paid for by Transportation Services.

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Damien Moule @damienmoule.bsky.social · 14d

It's been 4 months since it was revealed that Metrolinx railroader executives had drastically cut back GO expansion and I'm still livid. 2038 to electrify just the Lakeshore line. Longer than the Grand Paris Express for one above ground line. Idiots.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...

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Damien Moule @damienmoule.bsky.social · 14d

Relevant to several ongoing themes of mine. If we want this map to improve we have to
-allow more people to live in low CO2 areas
-tackle our transit construction cost and schedule problems (Line 5, GO expansion)
-allow more neighbourhood retail to reduce car trips
-improve speeds of surface transit

School of Cities @uoftcities.bsky.social · 14d

We go back to the data used in a recent paper on climate impacts of different land-use scenarios to unpack one aspect of the findings: residents in denser, centralized, urban areas have far less impact on emissions than in suburban, exurban & rural areas. schoolofcities.utoro...

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Francesca Bouaoun @francescabouaoun.bsky.social · 14d

A year ago today I paddled around the West Island at Ontario Place - all summer looking at the trees from the water.

Unknowingly this was the last evening they stood, as they were cut down that night.

The West Island at Ontario place viewed from the water. A tree-lined rocky shoreline on Toronto’s waterfront.

The West Island at Ontario place viewed from the water. A tree-lined rocky shoreline on Toronto’s waterfront. Black fencing surrounds the perimeter.

A juvenile black-crowned night heron perched on a rock on the Toronto shoreline.

The West Island at Ontario place viewed from the water. A tree-lined rocky shoreline on Toronto’s waterfront. Some leaves have turned orange.

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Iain Campbell @iainmc.ca · 14d

progress!! but we will get our cafes and corner stores back, even if it takes several rounds

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Fatima Syed @fatimabsyed.bsky.social · 15d

I’ve reported on the Doug Ford gov’t’s environmental record for 7 years and I remain concerned that Ontario’s only climate plan is a 2018 draft the auditor says isn’t evidence-based — and the gov’t now admits it won’t release a new plan or set stronger emissions-reduction targets

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Damien Moule @damienmoule.bsky.social · 15d

In an article about rapidly rising commercial rents, I think it would be very relevant to mention commercial properties are heavily restricted (the thin red lines on the map) and that less than a year ago the city voted against allowing more in neighbourhoods.
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...

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Iain Campbell @iainmc.ca · 16d

“It’s a textbook example of Ford’s patented brand of chummy corporate socialism: To each according to whoever has the premier’s ear last, from each according to whoever was foolish enough to assume things were going to roll out as originally planned.”

Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · 16d

Damning editorial at the Star of Ford’s blue box program. Corporate socialism is the way to term it, it’s how Greenbelt et al went. Benefit for the few, not the most.

Once again, it’s all reported on. It’s there but Ontario voters don’t seem to care & will continue to eat GFL-full trucks of shit.

Star Editorial Board: Ontario’s botched Blue Box reform is a showcase for everything wrong with Doug Ford’s Ontario

Ontario's revamped curbside recycling regime has been so watered down it can no longer reasonably be expected to achieve the policy goals for which it was originally designed.

www.thestar.com

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John Michael McGrath @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social · 22d

was listening to a podcast where a China-resident analyst talked about visiting NYC and being stunned at how LOUD it was compared to Shanghai (not exactly a bucolic small town!)

Ben Sanderson @benmsanderson.bsky.social · 22d

It's weird - but now in Oslo, there's so many EVs that you notice the noise and the smell from individual ICE cars, and you realise how much we've been normalising it for ever. You can smell them half a street away.

And inside parking lots are just *quiet*.

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 23d

It's absolutely astonishing: In just about 13 years, Norway has skyrocketed from virtually no sales of zero-emission battery electric vehicles to nearly 100% of all new passenger car purchases.

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Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 21d

Weird how the other provinces aren't in the same cycle. I wonder if the difference is that their Premiers are doing more than hoping?

Tweet from @ColinDMello https://x.com/ColinDMello/status/1971243509970808970:
“We’re going to get out of this cause it’s a cycle,” Premier Ford says of the low home construction numbers in the province.

“We're going to have a thriving and booming housing sector, hopefully sooner than later,” Ford says.

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Iain Campbell @iainmc.ca · 21d

have you read the death and life of the great lakes?

Reposted by Iain Campbell

Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 22d

3/ Tech fascism in a nutshell: “Computers are so much more rule-based, controllable, fixable, and comprehensible than any human will ever be. As many political schools of thought do, these technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect.“ She wrote this in 2000!

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Albert Wu 吳孟軒 @albertmwu.bsky.social · 25d

In our latest post, we show how arguments that cast Taiwan as a "destabilizer" are troubling and flatly untrue. Taiwan isn't the one bending the world order. Taiwan's story deserves to be seen in its own right, not as a scapegoat. ampleroad.substack.com/p/a-sense-of...

A Sense of Dread: Isolationists under Trump Lay the Groundwork for Abandoning Taiwan, Marking a Radical Departure in Foreign Policy

Hello everyone,

ampleroad.substack.com

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Daniel Reynolds @akareynolds.bsky.social · 27d

I'm at a loss for what the solution for this could be.

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