Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Anne Marie Aikins

@femwriter.bsky.social

620 followers 910 following 370 posts

Former chief spox, journalist, and a variety of other careers. Had some books published & love to write. Now my own boss at AMA Communications. Toronto is home. Friends call me AMA

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · May 3

Now & Next is up and we talk about results of federal election & congestion/traffic czar (I took out my whip) @davetrafford.bsky.social

youtu.be/OVLyP4SRZcU?...

Federal Election Fallout and Olivia Chow Solves TO Congestion with a Traffic Czar

YouTube video by Dave Trafford

youtu.be

1 1

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 52m

His meddling serves as a distraction from the bigger scandals

The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · 12h

Doug Ford is not the mayor of Ontario

The premier’s continual interventions in municipal affairs diverts attention from pressing provincial issues

www.theglobeandmail.com

3 7

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 1h

Well looks like somebody scored big time. This story just keeps getting worse for the Ford government

TorontoToday @torontotoday.ca · 11h

Labour minister was in Leafs glass seats with director of company he granted funding to

The ‘lower-scoring’ company got $7.5M of tax dollars through David Piccini’s office and is a client of the lobbyist whose Parisian wedding the minister recently attended

dlvr.it

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 1d

If you haven’t signed on to Curious Public’s quarterly newsletter, here’s your chance mailchi.mp/curiouspubli...

How to be Seen, Heard, and Trusted as a Leader

mailchi.mp

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 2d

Something I’ve been thinking about: will we ever know how much of the millions in payouts did the identified lobbyists pocket?

Isaac Callan @isaaccallan.bsky.social · 9d

Government ministers are responding to the auditor general's special reports. #OnPoli

globalnews.ca/news/1145833...

Reposted by Anne Marie Aikins

Ethan Kent @ethankent.bsky.social · 3d

“Ultimately, a place is more than the physical environment. It’s about creating a virtuous cycle, where people and places build each other up, generating infinite potential for connection, wisdom, and joy.”

PlacemakingX @placemakingx.bsky.social · 3d

“#PublicSpace and #placemaking are tools to break down silos, foster collaboration, and drive innovation at the intersections of movements.” @ethankent.bsky.social
interviewed by Päivi Raivio of #PlacemakingFinland, #NordicPlacemaking and #PlacemakingEurope: parkly.city/interview_et...

"Shared public spaces can bridge divides, unite communities, and serve as platforms for a more inclusive future." - Parkly

Step into the world of placemaking and inclusive cities with Ethan Kent, one of the leading voices shaping the movement.

parkly.city

3 3

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 3d

“I’ll be very blunt. You never know what comes out of a meeting with Pres Trump,” Ford said. “He’ll say one thing one day & change his mind the next day.”

I’ll be very blunt. You never know what comes out of a meeting with Ford. He’ll say one thing one day & change his mind the next.

Toronto Star @thestar.com · 4d

Hopes are high but expectations low as Mark Carney sits down with Donald Trump

Just hours before Carney left Monday for a two-day visit to D.C. to meet with Trump at the U.S. president's request, government officials wouldn't say specifically what his demands would

www.thestar.com

1 4

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 3d

This would be funny if not incredibly dangerous behaviour. It’s incumbent upon this government to be transparent about this government employee, the consequences for repeatedly breaking the law. If it were anyone else the premier would be using them as an example in one of his PR stunts

Isaac Callan @isaaccallan.bsky.social · 3d

NEW: A vehicle assigned to a Ford cabinet minister has been recorded at stunt driving speeds 12 times.

The premier's office suggested it was the same driver each time, and implied they still work for the government. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1146702...

Ford government vehicle recorded at stunt driving speeds on Ontario highways | Globalnews.ca

At least one cabinet-assigned vehicle was recorded driving more than 50 km/h over the speed limit multiple times in the past three years, according to documents.

globalnews.ca

11 13

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 3d

So many would have given up or accepted a much more reduced goal but it really took a village to make it happen

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 3d

A world without traffic @theglobeandmail.com @brenttoderian.bsky.social
www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article...

A world without traffic? Three urban experts rethink how cities move

Gridlock is costing us billions, but bold solutions like bus-only lanes, congestion charges and flexible work hours could get cities moving again

www.theglobeandmail.com

1 1

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 3d

A recipe for creating a mixed-use community requires equal parts vision, passion, determination and grit

publicprogress.ca/housing-matt...

Revitalizing Queen & Coxwell: Toward Housing Affordability

In July 2019 the City of Toronto approved a deal with Context Development to redevelop Toronto Community Housing’s Don Summerville housing project. The ribbon-cutting was last Wednesday, six years lat...

publicprogress.ca

1 3

Reposted by Anne Marie Aikins

Toronto Star @thestar.com · 6d

‘Stay with me, brother’: Man reconnects with stranger who saved his life from a heart attack in Liberty Village

After his heart attack, Brijesh Patel said his pleas for help were ignored by six passersby before a stranger stopped to help call him an ambulance.

www.thestar.com

3 10 31

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 7d

Glad Ed didn’t stick to the ten minutes. Loved the rant

Reposted by Anne Marie Aikins

Toronto Mike @torontomike.com · 7d

Ed Keenan visited yesterday and after we talked Bradford, Tory and Chow, we really got into the whole speed camera debacle.

www.torontomike.com/2025/10/edwa...

4 1 6

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 7d

Will be listening this morning. Love when Ed is in your show

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 7d

The @thestar.com was unable to verify any evidence of people getting speeding tickets for going 1-5 km over the limit. So where is your proof of a cash grab Doug Ford? If it was really as rampant as he claims, wouldn’t there be lots of examples?
www.thestar.com/opinion/publ...

Donovan Vincent: Are drivers really getting speed camera tickets for going a few km/h over the limit?

Part of the contentiousness of speed cameras is confusion about when exactly drivers are ticketed.

www.thestar.com

4 5

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 8d

It is good to see media explicitly & quickly calling out disinformation campaigns @thestar.com

www.thestar.com/business/fac...

Fact File: Claims government built fake homes for photo op misleading

False claims about Mark Carney's announcement of the Build Canada Homes agency appeared on Facebook, TikTok and the X platform, formerly Twitter.

www.thestar.com

1 2

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 8d

I can’t actually see the sunrise from my condo but there are signs….

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 9d

I can barely contain myself from standing in front of Presto machines to tell people

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 9d

Great news. That’s smart planning. Remember, weekend day passes (e-tickets - no tapping) are only $10 for all-day GO service saving you a lot of cash www.gotransit.com/en/partners-...

1 1 7

Reposted by Anne Marie Aikins

My IRL friends call me Chris @christyceeck.bsky.social · 10d

Mayor Carolyn Parrish told CP24 in an interview that Mississauga has done its own speed camera research. Here's what she said:

"We're finding speeds have been reduced an average of 14 kilometers per hour."

Apparently, Mayor Parrish isn't one of the mayors Ford has spoken with about this.

12/?

Mississauga mayor ‘disappointed’ at Premier Ford’s decision to scrap speed cameras

Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish says she hopes there will be exceptions, citing concerns in school zones. CP24’s Beatrice Vaisman reports.

www.cp24.com

1 4 9

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 9d

Next Elbows Up Toronto meeting booked for October 6. More Jobs for Young People is the call for action.

1 2

Anne Marie Aikins @femwriter.bsky.social · 10d

I didn’t get to see it in person but this is peak grown up Toronto and she is a beauty. Congratulations and thank you for all the magic you’ve brought to the city.

The Bentway @thebentway.bsky.social · 15d

A Lake Story by Melissa McGill 🛶

Witness a procession of over 100 canoes moving in unison across Toronto’s eastern Waterfront!

🖼 Photos by: Andrew Williamson