Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Colleen

Cambry Ardship @cambryardship.bsky.social · 2h

If more people are going to live on Avenues (great!), part of the consequence is that Toronto will need to make Avenues more pleasant places to live: wider sidewalks and bike lanes, narrower car lanes, and much slower speed limits set for safety and to reduce noise pollution.

Toronto City Planning and Development Review @cityplanto.bsky.social · 2h

We’re continuing to plan for more mid-rise housing along Toronto’s Avenues as part of Phase 2 of the Avenues Policy Review.

Avenues are major corridors across the city supported by transit, shops and everyday services. They’re key places where new housing and growth are planned to happen.

A modern mid-rise building with shops and restaurants at street level and several residential floors above. People sit on a patio with umbrellas, and cars pass along the street.

2 5

Reposted by Colleen

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 7h

Councillor Bravo asks about the finances of the speed camera program. CFO says 24% of fine revenue is remitted back to the province. Admin costs take 35%. Remainder goes to road safety initiatives, including to pay the salaries of 18 police officers, plus crossing guards, etc.

2 8 18

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 3h

Saw this post in my timeline without context. Correctly guessed who it was about (see post above it). What do I win?

Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 5h

Wasp photoshops are signal that it's time for Council to take a lunch break. They'll be back at 2 p.m. to park this speed camera debate.

1 4

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 1d

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 · 1d

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 $8.25 per infraction for Ministry of Transportation Ontario searches and varying VFS surcharges depending on the fine amount for victim services. 2. City of Toronto Related Administration Costs • It’s estimated that approximately 35% of fine revenues directly fund the City’s costs to administer the operation of ASE. 3. Vision Zero Initiatives • The remaining fine revenues, or approximately 41%, enables the City to invest in public safety and enforcement activities, including:  Toronto Police Service – Annual operating funding is directed to the Police Services Road Safety Program, funding 18 Officers (2 Sergeants and 16 PCs).  Transportation Services Operating – ASE revenue is leveraged to partially offset annual enhancements and inflationary increases to the School Crossing Guard Program and Education Campaign  Transportation Services Capital - ASE revenue is leveraged to offset debt servicing costs associated with Road Safety Initiatives included in the 10-Year$

4 6

Reposted by Colleen

Alex Bozikovic @alexbozikovic.bsky.social · 2d

2021.

All Toronto’s climate policies (subsidizing heat pumps for single-family houses, etc.) are chump change compared to what would happen if we altered the regional growth pattern and let people live in the city. This is true across North America.

www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and...

1 8 22

Reposted by Colleen

Isaac Callan @isaaccallan.bsky.social · 1d

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

10 83 130

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 1d

What a fun way to find out if the "benefit to existing" residents calculation is correct. Councillors and staff who have said in the past that DCs didn't even cover the costs of infrastructure for new residents shouldn't be worried now, unless they were wrong.

4

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 1d

Okay, seems promising.

James McLeod @jamespmcleod.ca · 1d

I think when the government does something that people think is really bad, and then the government responds to the criticism by changing course, we should applaud them for doing so. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Government to table new border bill amid privacy concerns over C-2: sources | CBC News

The federal Liberals are set to introduce a new bill expected to mirror much of what's in their already tabled border legislation — but with some clauses that sparked concerns from opposition parties ...

www.cbc.ca

2 5

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 1d

Wait until you find out that, recently, a justice resigned following allegations of harassment. We have some wacky ideas up here.

1 19

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 1d

Okay, Santa jokes aside,
“We are also united in our deep conviction that the rule of law and judicial independence are not abstract concepts. They are the best defence against tyranny and autocracy,”
is good stuff.

I do have to make the joke though: Richard Wagners currently 1-1 vs history.

Legal Affairs Canada @lawscribes.bsky.social · 1d

39 years ago. 'Last ceremonial opening was held under then-Chief Justice Brian Dickson in 1986. When Charter of Rights (1982) was new and #SCC was facing some of the most challenging issues of the time.' @journodale.bsky.social #cdnpoli #justice www.nationalmagazine.ca/en-ca/articl...

Supreme Court of Canada holds first ceremonial opening in 39 years

CBA President Bianca Kratt says the court is a testament to the stability a country can enjoy when its legal institutions remain respected, independent, and grounded in the rule of law

www.nationalmagazine.ca

1

Reposted by Colleen

Scott @sdlb.bsky.social · 2d

We used to be a proper country

Dale Smith @journodale.bsky.social · 2d

New ceremonial robes vs old ceremonial robes. #SCC

2026 photo of the Supreme Court of Canada, where the new robes are black with red piping.

2025 photo of the Supreme Court of Canada, with the red velvet and ermine robes.

3 9

Reposted by Colleen

Negro Frolics @desmondcole.bsky.social · 2d

A group calling itself "New Toronto Initiative" is suing a local councillor and the city over plans to build a shelter in the neighbourhood - a classic Toronto move

2 13 42

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 2d

Weird how none of these tickets are amongst the "stats" from the Premier claiming that 32,000 Toronto tickets are for going 2 km/h over. It's almost like the minimum is around 10 km/h over and the Premier just made up some nonsense that wasn't true.

Isaac Callan @isaaccallan.bsky.social · 2d

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

6 15

Reposted by Colleen

Isaac Callan @isaaccallan.bsky.social · 2d

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

17 120 220

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 3d

I do think that Poilievre is wrong in thinking that there is some magical bill that will only affect law breakers and refugees. A system of control has costs for everyone living under it. That's why such legislation should always be carefully considered. www.liberalcurrents.com/the-totalita...

The Totalitarian Logic of Immigration Controls

Reading Chandran Kukathas' "Immigration and Freedom" during the second Trump administration.

www.liberalcurrents.com

1 2 5

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 3d

"Mail is the easiest thing to get a warrant for. If you suspect there's something suspicious in a parcel or envelope, you set it aside, you go to a judge and you get a warrant. The envelope or parcel is not going to grow legs and run away."
Guys, I don't want to say it but Poilievre is right.

1 1 7

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 3d

I do not think that we should do security theatre to appease the President of another country who has demonstrated that he is unappeasable.

Andrew Kurjata @akurjata.ca · 3d

The proposed bill would let:

* mail be searched without a warrant
* allow intelligence officials to cancel immigration documents
* give access to online activity without a warrant

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association worries it may violate charter rights

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Conservatives won't support Liberal border bill without major changes: Pierre Poilievre | CBC News

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the federal Liberals must either heavily amend their border bill or introduce a new piece of proposed legislation if they want support to pass it into law.

www.cbc.ca

1 12

Reposted by Colleen

Andrew Kurjata @akurjata.ca · 3d

The proposed bill would let:

* mail be searched without a warrant
* allow intelligence officials to cancel immigration documents
* give access to online activity without a warrant

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association worries it may violate charter rights

www.cbc.ca/news/politic...

Conservatives won't support Liberal border bill without major changes: Pierre Poilievre | CBC News

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says the federal Liberals must either heavily amend their border bill or introduce a new piece of proposed legislation if they want support to pass it into law.

www.cbc.ca

10 45 63

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 3d

Some Nuit Blanche photos

“Parade d’ouverture” (Opening parade) - Mind the map(ping)
Colourful images projected onto the side of Gibson House

Lamination 1.0
A vibrant, suspended canopy made from hundreds of reclaimed plastic tiles in North York Centre's Main Atrium

S'imbriquer in the Mel Lastman Square Orchard
Performers are in a large landscape of bricks, piled or organized chaotically. They move the bricks around one-by-one.

Future Perfect in Mel Lastman Square
A large sign with an image of cut up words reads "This is where all that is least intended is done." The City of Toronto sign for the North York Civic Centre appears behind and a line of stores on Yonge Street is visible across the street. Behind that, a condo tower rises out of the top of the image frame.

6

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 3d

Pedestrianizing Yonge in North York in preparation for #NuitBlanche. Security so tight that even the smash burger truck can't get in (he convinced them eventually).

1 9

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 4d

"Three Waverley West Residents are appealing it."
Perhaps the threshold for appeal should be higher for things like schools and daycares? Or, even, we could just use representative democracy in the usual way and vote out those nefarious politicians trying to build too many schools?

1 16

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 4d

This is the second "Bicycles deliver the freedom..." shirt that I saw today. Another at the "speed cameras save lives" event in Davenport. Always in fashion!

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 4d

Perp walks should always have been considered a violation of the presumption of innocence by the state. This just spells it out. I know that there is already a long list of what needs to be reformed in the police/justice system but this should be on it.

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 4d

“.. leadership asked for ‘large, beefy’ agents to conduct an arrest of Comey ‘in full kit,’ including Kevlar vests and exterior wear emblazoned with the FBI logo.”

@macfarlanenews.bsky.social
www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-arr...

1 6

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 4d

Knitters once took on USOC and fought them to what was basically a draw, so they have the experience. www.npr.org/sections/the...

The "push it somewhere else" meme from Spongebob.
Top panel: Patrick has his arms directed to his right. Caption says "We take out internet drama with each other"
Bottom panel: Patrick has his arms directed to his left with his hands up in a pushing motion. Caption "And push it to POTUS"

3

Colleen @cbailey6.bsky.social · 4d

Previously

Kevin Wilson @kwilsonhfx.bsky.social · Mar 15

I think there's a place for the province to set a service floor and then leave the specifics up to municipalities: "make it so you can get from Bedford to Downtown in 25 minutes; don't care about mode"

I think we're more likely to get "remove this bike lane in particular" instead, though.

2 7