Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
@henrikbechmann.bsky.social
Retired software dev.
I sometimes discuss City of Toronto budget design and support issues.
IMO government is a collective enterprise, and should be fully transparent and forcefully managed for all, and for the health of the planet.
I sometimes discuss City of Toronto budget design and support issues.
IMO government is a collective enterprise, and should be fully transparent and forcefully managed for all, and for the health of the planet.
Pinned
I've published a new article:
The Fog Around the City of Toronto Operating Budgets — And What To Do About It
It's mostly about the need to change Toronto's budget accounting method, but covers a lot of other issues too.
medium.com/@henrikbechm...
The Fog Around the City of Toronto Operating Budgets — And What To Do About It
It's mostly about the need to change Toronto's budget accounting method, but covers a lot of other issues too.
medium.com/@henrikbechm...
The Fog Around the City of Toronto Operating Budgets — And What To Do About It
Although the City of Toronto Operating Budgets are voluminous and detailed, there’s a lot of fog around them, which makes them hard to…
medium.com
Explore the design and support of the City of Toronto operating budgets in this article.
"The Carney doctrine"
The tariff threat over the Canada-China deal is a first test of the Carney doctrine, and Canada-US relations more generally.
Are we able to make independent decisions or are we a tributary?
Are we able to make independent decisions or are we a tributary?
January 24, 2026 at 9:17 PM
"The Carney doctrine"
A truly fascinating conversation among some of the leading minds in the finance world, providing insights into their mindsets.
(the so-called "clash" is the title was the least of it)
youtu.be/uKNK0TT5fW0?...
(the so-called "clash" is the title was the least of it)
youtu.be/uKNK0TT5fW0?...
FULL DISCUSSION: BlackRock, Citadel & Lagarde Clash Over $38 Trillion U.S. Debt, AI & Market Risks
YouTube video by DRM News
youtu.be
January 24, 2026 at 9:14 PM
A truly fascinating conversation among some of the leading minds in the finance world, providing insights into their mindsets.
(the so-called "clash" is the title was the least of it)
youtu.be/uKNK0TT5fW0?...
(the so-called "clash" is the title was the least of it)
youtu.be/uKNK0TT5fW0?...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Want to point out that if the point is to achieve resilient decisions that withstand scrutiny through honest engagement then the only people for whom this decision is resilient were the empowered neighbourhood busybodies. The rest of the public who pay for it got a completely unreasonable outcome.
Toronto Parks’s consultation manager: “resilient decisions“ must get buy-in from a handful of loud neighbours. If that takes 20x as long and the project costs 3x as much, no problem.
Not the slightest worry that a project might get cancelled for being very late or way over budget.
Not the slightest worry that a project might get cancelled for being very late or way over budget.
January 24, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Want to point out that if the point is to achieve resilient decisions that withstand scrutiny through honest engagement then the only people for whom this decision is resilient were the empowered neighbourhood busybodies. The rest of the public who pay for it got a completely unreasonable outcome.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
The feds murdered an unarmed man committing no crime on his knees in broad daylight.
The guy in grey disarms the man on the ground being beaten—BEFORE shots were fired
January 24, 2026 at 6:30 PM
The feds murdered an unarmed man committing no crime on his knees in broad daylight.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Sayre: "My background is in international humanitarian response in conflict zones in Yemen, Haiti, Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine. What I've seen here is what I've seen there. A powerful entity violently and intentionally terrorizing people."
January 24, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Sayre: "My background is in international humanitarian response in conflict zones in Yemen, Haiti, Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine. What I've seen here is what I've seen there. A powerful entity violently and intentionally terrorizing people."
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
I am a climate scientist and this is correct.
As the planet warms, storms like the one today are getting stronger… and as the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the mid latitudes, it increases the risk of the “freezer door” swinging open.
Technical explanation here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
As the planet warms, storms like the one today are getting stronger… and as the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the mid latitudes, it increases the risk of the “freezer door” swinging open.
Technical explanation here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
January 24, 2026 at 6:38 PM
I am a climate scientist and this is correct.
As the planet warms, storms like the one today are getting stronger… and as the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the mid latitudes, it increases the risk of the “freezer door” swinging open.
Technical explanation here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
As the planet warms, storms like the one today are getting stronger… and as the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the mid latitudes, it increases the risk of the “freezer door” swinging open.
Technical explanation here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Fascinating discussion with Gabriel Zucman (albeit a bit technical) mostly about the extreme power of the super rich.
Notably: the super rich are systematically buying and influencing a majority of large media enterprises.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-XU...
Notably: the super rich are systematically buying and influencing a majority of large media enterprises.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-XU...
January 24, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Fascinating discussion with Gabriel Zucman (albeit a bit technical) mostly about the extreme power of the super rich.
Notably: the super rich are systematically buying and influencing a majority of large media enterprises.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-XU...
Notably: the super rich are systematically buying and influencing a majority of large media enterprises.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-XU...
How Canada’s Carney is taking on Trump | The Global Story Podcast
YouTube video by BBC News
youtu.be
January 24, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
An outbreak of the flesh-eating New World screwworm has killed seven people and infected at least 1,190 more across Mexico and South America, and now the CDC is alerting health workers of its northward spread.
www.sciencealert.com/devastating-...
www.sciencealert.com/devastating-...
'Devastating' Flesh-Eating Parasite Is Spreading Toward The US, CDC Warns
An outbreak of the flesh-eating New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) has killed seven people and infected at least 1,190 more across Mexico and South America, and now the US Centers for Disea...
www.sciencealert.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:20 AM
An outbreak of the flesh-eating New World screwworm has killed seven people and infected at least 1,190 more across Mexico and South America, and now the CDC is alerting health workers of its northward spread.
www.sciencealert.com/devastating-...
www.sciencealert.com/devastating-...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
QUÉBEC – Almost 10,000 federal public servants have received notices in the past week warning them that their jobs may be cut, say the unions representing them.
Almost 10,000 federal workers were told this week they may be laid off: unions
QUÉBEC – Almost 10,000 federal public servants have received notices in the past week warning them that their jobs may be cut, say the unions representing them.
www.winnipegfreepress.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:02 PM
QUÉBEC – Almost 10,000 federal public servants have received notices in the past week warning them that their jobs may be cut, say the unions representing them.
It Will All Come Down to Us
Why Mass Resistance Will Decide Democracy's Fate
barbarafwalter.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Time to move the UN out of New York. Montreal?
The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization.
This is a shameful move that puts both Americans and people all over the world at greater risk from disease outbreaks, which require international collaboration to contain.
This is a shameful move that puts both Americans and people all over the world at greater risk from disease outbreaks, which require international collaboration to contain.
January 23, 2026 at 3:51 AM
Time to move the UN out of New York. Montreal?
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
For me, Carney has emerged from Davos and the whole Trump debacle as one of the major leaders of the New World Order he defined.
January 22, 2026 at 8:06 PM
For me, Carney has emerged from Davos and the whole Trump debacle as one of the major leaders of the New World Order he defined.
Re-upping this in advance of tomorrow's City of Toronto budget committee meeting.
I've published a new article:
The Fog Around the City of Toronto Operating Budgets — And What To Do About It
It's mostly about the need to change Toronto's budget accounting method, but covers a lot of other issues too.
medium.com/@henrikbechm...
The Fog Around the City of Toronto Operating Budgets — And What To Do About It
It's mostly about the need to change Toronto's budget accounting method, but covers a lot of other issues too.
medium.com/@henrikbechm...
The Fog Around the City of Toronto Operating Budgets — And What To Do About It
Although the City of Toronto Operating Budgets are voluminous and detailed, there’s a lot of fog around them, which makes them hard to…
medium.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Re-upping this in advance of tomorrow's City of Toronto budget committee meeting.
Here are some examples of normalized City of Toronto Operating Budget statements from my merged data table of Budget Notes Appendix 1 tables. Some recently revised.
Many possibilities! Create your own by downloading/copying the spreadsheet and using with pivots!🧵
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Many possibilities! Create your own by downloading/copying the spreadsheet and using with pivots!🧵
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Toronto 2026 Budgets Appendix 1 Normalized
docs.google.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Here are some examples of normalized City of Toronto Operating Budget statements from my merged data table of Budget Notes Appendix 1 tables. Some recently revised.
Many possibilities! Create your own by downloading/copying the spreadsheet and using with pivots!🧵
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Many possibilities! Create your own by downloading/copying the spreadsheet and using with pivots!🧵
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
My normalized 2026 City of Toronto Budget spreadsheet is now available for you to download/copy and play with.
See the Table tab. It contains the data, plus columns for functional, organizational, and resource taxonomies. 499 records.
Use pivots!.
Have at it! 🙂
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
See the Table tab. It contains the data, plus columns for functional, organizational, and resource taxonomies. 499 records.
Use pivots!.
Have at it! 🙂
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Toronto 2026 Budgets Appendix 1 Normalized
docs.google.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:43 AM
My normalized 2026 City of Toronto Budget spreadsheet is now available for you to download/copy and play with.
See the Table tab. It contains the data, plus columns for functional, organizational, and resource taxonomies. 499 records.
Use pivots!.
Have at it! 🙂
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
See the Table tab. It contains the data, plus columns for functional, organizational, and resource taxonomies. 499 records.
Use pivots!.
Have at it! 🙂
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
A peculiar fact about the Toronto 2026 Operating Budget is that it no longer uses "Contribution from Capital", once allocated (incorrectly) to Revenues. It's effort in the op budget (>$200M), like engineers, which s/b allocated to Capital Budgets.
Too bad. When it offsets expenses adds to accuracy.
Too bad. When it offsets expenses adds to accuracy.
January 22, 2026 at 11:38 AM
A peculiar fact about the Toronto 2026 Operating Budget is that it no longer uses "Contribution from Capital", once allocated (incorrectly) to Revenues. It's effort in the op budget (>$200M), like engineers, which s/b allocated to Capital Budgets.
Too bad. When it offsets expenses adds to accuracy.
Too bad. When it offsets expenses adds to accuracy.
Here is a normalized 2026 City of Toronto Budget by Resource Grouping
January 22, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Here is a normalized 2026 City of Toronto Budget by Resource Grouping
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Wind and solar surpassed fossil fuels as a source of energy in the European Union last year for the first time.
Wind and Solar Power Overtook Fossil Fuels in Europe Last Year
A third of the power generated in the region came from the two green sources, according to the think tank Ember.
bloom.bg
January 22, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Wind and solar surpassed fossil fuels as a source of energy in the European Union last year for the first time.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
One in four children in England start school without being toilet trained, say teachers
One in four children in England start school without being toilet trained, say teachers
Survey finds rising numbers of reception pupils struggling with basic life skills such as eating independently
About one in four children who started reception in 2025 were not toilet trained, a survey of teachers has found, prompting warnings that growing numbers of pupils are struggling with basic life skills.
In an annual survey of primary school staff in England by the early years charity Kindred Squared, teachers estimated that 26% of the children in their reception class were having frequent toilet mishaps, rising to more than one in three (36%) in the north-east. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 22, 2026 at 8:05 AM
One in four children in England start school without being toilet trained, say teachers
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
As a citizen of another reasonable, democratic middle power it's excellent to see this and hope our PM gets a bit more backbone to do the same.
Seriously, WHEREVER you are in the world, I recommend watching all of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s powerful & already famous speech at Davos.
Can’t underestimate its leadership importance.
Key line: “Middle powers must work together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
Can’t underestimate its leadership importance.
Key line: “Middle powers must work together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
FULL SPEECH: PM Carney’s Most Inspiring Remarks at Davos — Greenland, Trump Tariff Threats | AQ1B
YouTube video by DRM News
youtu.be
January 21, 2026 at 9:09 PM
As a citizen of another reasonable, democratic middle power it's excellent to see this and hope our PM gets a bit more backbone to do the same.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Thank you to Councillor @shelleycarroll.bsky.social ’s office and the City Clerk for formally receiving and circulating our Toronto–Danforth budget submission to Budget Committee and Council.
h/t @henrikbechmann.bsky.social @planningtoronto.bsky.social
#BudgetTO #TransformTO #VisionZero
h/t @henrikbechmann.bsky.social @planningtoronto.bsky.social
#BudgetTO #TransformTO #VisionZero
January 22, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Thank you to Councillor @shelleycarroll.bsky.social ’s office and the City Clerk for formally receiving and circulating our Toronto–Danforth budget submission to Budget Committee and Council.
h/t @henrikbechmann.bsky.social @planningtoronto.bsky.social
#BudgetTO #TransformTO #VisionZero
h/t @henrikbechmann.bsky.social @planningtoronto.bsky.social
#BudgetTO #TransformTO #VisionZero
Here's the normalized City of Toronto 2026 budget by organizational domain.
January 21, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Here's the normalized City of Toronto 2026 budget by organizational domain.
Here's a first high level look (revised).
It's more realistic to see this as a $17.1B budget, not an $18.9B budget.
Operating surplus is down quite a bit (presumably to make the budget more "affordable")
It's more realistic to see this as a $17.1B budget, not an $18.9B budget.
Operating surplus is down quite a bit (presumably to make the budget more "affordable")
January 21, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Here's a first high level look (revised).
It's more realistic to see this as a $17.1B budget, not an $18.9B budget.
Operating surplus is down quite a bit (presumably to make the budget more "affordable")
It's more realistic to see this as a $17.1B budget, not an $18.9B budget.
Operating surplus is down quite a bit (presumably to make the budget more "affordable")
Here's a normalized 2026 City of Toronto budget by functional domain.
January 21, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Here's a normalized 2026 City of Toronto budget by functional domain.