Erick
@ebeaudry.bsky.social
Reposted by Erick
Government services aren't businesses. Delivering mail to citizens is something we pay for.
But if these are businesses, you won't believe how much money the military loses.
But if these are businesses, you won't believe how much money the military loses.
The USPS faces a tight squeeze. With fewer people using the mail, it’s lost more and more money: $9 billion in the 12 months ending in September alone.
https://cnn.it/4qkeNoF
https://cnn.it/4qkeNoF
December 24, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Government services aren't businesses. Delivering mail to citizens is something we pay for.
But if these are businesses, you won't believe how much money the military loses.
But if these are businesses, you won't believe how much money the military loses.
Excellent thread from the awesome Dr Vipond. Whilst the numbers are for Alberta, it’s not that different everywhere else in Canada.
An important heads up!
But maybe a little light on underlying causes and possible solutions.
I'll provide my perspective on things in this mini-thread.
1/
But maybe a little light on underlying causes and possible solutions.
I'll provide my perspective on things in this mini-thread.
1/
December 24, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Excellent thread from the awesome Dr Vipond. Whilst the numbers are for Alberta, it’s not that different everywhere else in Canada.
Reposted by Erick
If COVID were primarily prevented by handwashing, we'd expect it to surge in water-scarce regions the way true water-washed diseases do.
The fact that it is surging in high-income countries with excellent hygiene is far more consistent with airborne spread than "wash your hands harder"
The fact that it is surging in high-income countries with excellent hygiene is far more consistent with airborne spread than "wash your hands harder"
December 23, 2025 at 7:51 PM
If COVID were primarily prevented by handwashing, we'd expect it to surge in water-scarce regions the way true water-washed diseases do.
The fact that it is surging in high-income countries with excellent hygiene is far more consistent with airborne spread than "wash your hands harder"
The fact that it is surging in high-income countries with excellent hygiene is far more consistent with airborne spread than "wash your hands harder"
Reposted by Erick
@helps.octranspo.com is looking for 3 transit planners jobs-emplois.ottawa.ca/city-jobs/jo...
Transit Planner
Transit Planner
jobs-emplois.ottawa.ca
December 23, 2025 at 8:12 PM
@helps.octranspo.com is looking for 3 transit planners jobs-emplois.ottawa.ca/city-jobs/jo...
Reposted by Erick
With the high rate of severe influenza we are seeing do NOT take part in family gatherings if you are unwell especially if you are going to be with very young, elderly, or immunocompromised folks.
JUST DON’T DO IT.
JUST DON’T DO IT.
December 23, 2025 at 9:44 PM
With the high rate of severe influenza we are seeing do NOT take part in family gatherings if you are unwell especially if you are going to be with very young, elderly, or immunocompromised folks.
JUST DON’T DO IT.
JUST DON’T DO IT.
Reposted by Erick
It’s time for Canada to pull the plug on the F35.
Doesn’t matter how good the stealth or radios are if it can’t fly reliably.
#ElbowsUp
Doesn’t matter how good the stealth or radios are if it can’t fly reliably.
#ElbowsUp
US watchdog says F-35s flew half the time in 2024 due to Lockheed maintenance issues reut.rs/4pSBVuE
US watchdog says F-35s flew half the time in 2024 due to Lockheed maintenance issues
U.S. F-35 fighter jets were available to fly only half the time in 2024 due to maintenance shortcomings by Lockheed Martin , a report from the Defense Department's Office of the Inspector General said.
reut.rs
December 23, 2025 at 9:45 PM
It’s time for Canada to pull the plug on the F35.
Doesn’t matter how good the stealth or radios are if it can’t fly reliably.
#ElbowsUp
Doesn’t matter how good the stealth or radios are if it can’t fly reliably.
#ElbowsUp
Reposted by Erick
Of all the three channels we have in Canada, to imagine that Global is doing treachery (which doesn't quite work as we're not the 51st state yet) is absoutely hilarious.
I take back all my criticisms, this is an incredible article solely for this single sentence
December 23, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Of all the three channels we have in Canada, to imagine that Global is doing treachery (which doesn't quite work as we're not the 51st state yet) is absoutely hilarious.
Reposted by Erick
Trans Mountain is making big profits now, right?
Actually, no.
Thanks to accounting wizardry and a shell company, the pipeline has transformed Canadians' losses into gains on its balance sheets.
My deep dive on this for @thetyee.ca:
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Actually, no.
Thanks to accounting wizardry and a shell company, the pipeline has transformed Canadians' losses into gains on its balance sheets.
My deep dive on this for @thetyee.ca:
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Is Trans Mountain’s Profitability an Accounting Illusion? | The Tyee
How the finances of Canada’s government-owned pipeline may look better than they are.
thetyee.ca
December 23, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Trans Mountain is making big profits now, right?
Actually, no.
Thanks to accounting wizardry and a shell company, the pipeline has transformed Canadians' losses into gains on its balance sheets.
My deep dive on this for @thetyee.ca:
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Actually, no.
Thanks to accounting wizardry and a shell company, the pipeline has transformed Canadians' losses into gains on its balance sheets.
My deep dive on this for @thetyee.ca:
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Reposted by Erick
Ottawa’s memorandum of understanding with Alberta shattered all remaining benefit of the doubt. It wasn’t a final straw so much as a cannonball, fired straight into the body of climate science. Ten days after winning the confidence of the House, he lost ours.
thewalrus.ca/no-matter-wh...
thewalrus.ca/no-matter-wh...
No Matter Which Way You Look at It, Carney Has Abandoned Climate | The Walrus
It’s one thing to make compromises in times of national crisis. It’s another to twist the math on emissions
thewalrus.ca
December 23, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Ottawa’s memorandum of understanding with Alberta shattered all remaining benefit of the doubt. It wasn’t a final straw so much as a cannonball, fired straight into the body of climate science. Ten days after winning the confidence of the House, he lost ours.
thewalrus.ca/no-matter-wh...
thewalrus.ca/no-matter-wh...
Reposted by Erick
Your regular reminder that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has gone all-in on AI hype. It’s a big reason why I have trouble accepting the narrative that Carney is an economic genius.
Just like Klarna who fired many people because they thought AI can solve everything, the hype they swallowed was met with the reality that it just doesn't work well.
Same lesson different company. As the AI hype and bubble pop, we will see more of these.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/t...
Same lesson different company. As the AI hype and bubble pop, we will see more of these.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/t...
After laying off 4,000 employees and automating with AI agents, Salesforce executives admit: We were more confident about…. - The Times of India
Tech News News: Salesforce, one of the world's most valuable enterprise software companies, is pulling back from its heavy reliance on large language models after enc.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Your regular reminder that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has gone all-in on AI hype. It’s a big reason why I have trouble accepting the narrative that Carney is an economic genius.
Reposted by Erick
The only thing that bothers me more than the unprofessional behaviour of infection control leaders is the complete lack of enforcement of any meaningful standards of professionalism by the medical associations.
We need to revisit the privilege of self-regulation for medicine.
We need to revisit the privilege of self-regulation for medicine.
I can't believe our small local hospital has a mask mandate and I'm at a hospital in Ottawa and almost no one is masking
There have anyone been daily warning about the current flu strain, the vaccine mismatch, and how the children's hospital is over capacity...
No flu for me please!
There have anyone been daily warning about the current flu strain, the vaccine mismatch, and how the children's hospital is over capacity...
No flu for me please!
December 22, 2025 at 8:11 PM
The only thing that bothers me more than the unprofessional behaviour of infection control leaders is the complete lack of enforcement of any meaningful standards of professionalism by the medical associations.
We need to revisit the privilege of self-regulation for medicine.
We need to revisit the privilege of self-regulation for medicine.
Reposted by Erick
The problem is that you don't get more coherent, long-term policy outcomes by replacing the old approach with the politics of deal-making.
Doing all kinds of things, calling them nation-building, cooperative federalism or a new industrial strategy without explaining what they mean isn't any better.
Doing all kinds of things, calling them nation-building, cooperative federalism or a new industrial strategy without explaining what they mean isn't any better.
December 21, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The problem is that you don't get more coherent, long-term policy outcomes by replacing the old approach with the politics of deal-making.
Doing all kinds of things, calling them nation-building, cooperative federalism or a new industrial strategy without explaining what they mean isn't any better.
Doing all kinds of things, calling them nation-building, cooperative federalism or a new industrial strategy without explaining what they mean isn't any better.
Reposted by Erick
"People do not have to get repeatedly sick just because their kids attend daycare or school or take a school bus.”
👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼
ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/12/21/s...
👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼
ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/12/21/s...
Schools have become cesspools for cold and flu, but they don't have to be: Ontario School Safety
The volunteer organization Ontario School Safety is calling on the provincial government to improve air quality in schools as flu spreads.
ottawa.citynews.ca
December 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
"People do not have to get repeatedly sick just because their kids attend daycare or school or take a school bus.”
👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼
ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/12/21/s...
👏🏼 👏🏼 👏🏼
ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/12/21/s...
Reposted by Erick
Quite apart from the misinterpreted and poorly presented science that will continue to get some of his readers killed or disabled, I’d like to point out another glaring factual error.
People that wear masks did not and do not refuse to enter society. Society refuses to accept mask wearers.
People that wear masks did not and do not refuse to enter society. Society refuses to accept mask wearers.
I spoke to the people who continue to shape their lives around avoiding Covid and only breathing ‘clean’ air
‘Refusing to mask during an ongoing pandemic is absolutely violent and it’s undeniably participating in social murder.’
For @telegraph.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12...
‘Refusing to mask during an ongoing pandemic is absolutely violent and it’s undeniably participating in social murder.’
For @telegraph.co.uk
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Quite apart from the misinterpreted and poorly presented science that will continue to get some of his readers killed or disabled, I’d like to point out another glaring factual error.
People that wear masks did not and do not refuse to enter society. Society refuses to accept mask wearers.
People that wear masks did not and do not refuse to enter society. Society refuses to accept mask wearers.
Reposted by Erick
A warning to any automakers slowing down in the EV race: Chinese giant BYD is making the impossible possible.
insideevs.com/features/782...
insideevs.com/features/782...
Why BYD's 5-Minute Fast-Charging Is Our Technology Of The Year
BYD's Megawatt charging, which can recharge an electric vehicle in about five minutes while reaching speeds of up to 1,000 kilowatts, is coming to Europe soon.
insideevs.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:04 PM
A warning to any automakers slowing down in the EV race: Chinese giant BYD is making the impossible possible.
insideevs.com/features/782...
insideevs.com/features/782...
Reposted by Erick
Canada was their top customer! And thanks to President Deals, we stopped buying bourbon months ago. Billions and billions of dollars in sales, gone www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Major Kentucky bourbon maker Jim Beam shuttering distillery for 2026
The move comes as Kentucky’s $9 billion bourbon industry is dealing with a glut of supply and slipping sales.
www.kentucky.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Canada was their top customer! And thanks to President Deals, we stopped buying bourbon months ago. Billions and billions of dollars in sales, gone www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Erick
The article is also spot on here, pointing to a key question I have been asking myself for quite some time now, too:
"To be strategic, the very notion of nation-building projects must be accompanied by the question: building Canada for whom?"
bsky.app/profile/jbro...
"To be strategic, the very notion of nation-building projects must be accompanied by the question: building Canada for whom?"
bsky.app/profile/jbro...
Still trying to understand Ottawa's concept of "nation-building":
What is "the" national interest + who defines it?
How are specific projects supposed to "build" a multi-national federation, from what baseline?
Without clarification it's just fast-tracking an inductively generated project list.
What is "the" national interest + who defines it?
How are specific projects supposed to "build" a multi-national federation, from what baseline?
Without clarification it's just fast-tracking an inductively generated project list.
Prime minister’s resource plan could violate inherent and treaty rights, warns AFN
www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
December 20, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The article is also spot on here, pointing to a key question I have been asking myself for quite some time now, too:
"To be strategic, the very notion of nation-building projects must be accompanied by the question: building Canada for whom?"
bsky.app/profile/jbro...
"To be strategic, the very notion of nation-building projects must be accompanied by the question: building Canada for whom?"
bsky.app/profile/jbro...
Reposted by Erick
today's essential read for all Canadians
energymixweekender.substack.com/p/how-donald...
energymixweekender.substack.com/p/how-donald...
How Donald Trump Will Come After Canada Next: With Corporate Lobbyists
Trump aims to leverage private sector power over other nations, especially through the tech and oil and gas sectors that are at the centre of Canada's "nation-building" strategy. What could go wrong?
energymixweekender.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
today's essential read for all Canadians
energymixweekender.substack.com/p/how-donald...
energymixweekender.substack.com/p/how-donald...
Reposted by Erick
Deep cuts to the federal public service put jobs at risk, and families will feel it too. Fewer workers means longer wait times, delayed services, and heavier workloads. psacunion.ca/federal-budg...
Federal Budget: Government plans deep public service cuts and weakens workers’ bargaining rights
<p>The Public Service Alliance of Canada is deeply concerned about the federal government’s plan to slash critical public services, cut more than 40,000 federal public service workers,…
psacunion.ca
December 20, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Deep cuts to the federal public service put jobs at risk, and families will feel it too. Fewer workers means longer wait times, delayed services, and heavier workloads. psacunion.ca/federal-budg...
Reposted by Erick
Les coupes massives au fédéral mettent les emplois et le bien-être des familles en péril. Ça veut dire une surcharge de travail pour les personnes qui restent et des délais d’attente plus longs pour obtenir des services. syndicatafpc.ca/budget-feder...
Budget fédéral : le gouvernement met la hache dans les services publics et brime le droit à la négociation collective
<p>L’Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada est très préoccupée par les coupes massives dans les services publics, la mise à pied de plus de 40 000 fonctionnaires fédéraux et l’atteinte au droit…
syndicatafpc.ca
December 20, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Les coupes massives au fédéral mettent les emplois et le bien-être des familles en péril. Ça veut dire une surcharge de travail pour les personnes qui restent et des délais d’attente plus longs pour obtenir des services. syndicatafpc.ca/budget-feder...
Reposted by Erick
Reposted by Erick
La plus grande promesse du gouvernement est de réduire les dépenses publiques à tout prix. Mais Carney est déterminé à gaspiller des millions pour forcer les gens à venir au bureau. Luttons pour protéger le télétravail et économiser les fonds publics.
www.onlefaitpourvous.ca/teletravail
www.onlefaitpourvous.ca/teletravail
On le fait pour vous | Télétravail
Luttons pour protéger le télétravail dans la fonction publique fédérale.
www.onlefaitpourvous.ca
December 20, 2025 at 3:02 PM
La plus grande promesse du gouvernement est de réduire les dépenses publiques à tout prix. Mais Carney est déterminé à gaspiller des millions pour forcer les gens à venir au bureau. Luttons pour protéger le télétravail et économiser les fonds publics.
www.onlefaitpourvous.ca/teletravail
www.onlefaitpourvous.ca/teletravail
Reposted by Erick
This government’s biggest promise is to reduce public service spending at all costs. But PM Carney is intent on wasting millions just to get butts in seats. Join the fight to protect remote work and save taxpayers money.
www.foryoucanada.ca/remoteworks
www.foryoucanada.ca/remoteworks
For You, Canada | Remote Works
Join the fight to protect remote work for Canada's public service.
www.foryoucanada.ca
December 20, 2025 at 3:02 PM
This government’s biggest promise is to reduce public service spending at all costs. But PM Carney is intent on wasting millions just to get butts in seats. Join the fight to protect remote work and save taxpayers money.
www.foryoucanada.ca/remoteworks
www.foryoucanada.ca/remoteworks
Reposted by Erick
“We have been promised for decades that handouts to business are going to get us more and better jobs,” said D.T. Cochrane, a senior economist at the @canadianlabour.bsky.social Congress. “When are we going to stop falling for this lie? It’s a lie.”
www.readthemaple.com/big-business...
www.readthemaple.com/big-business...
Big Business Is Pushing Mark Carney For More Handouts
“We have been promised for decades that handouts to business are going to get us more and better jobs.”
www.readthemaple.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:56 PM
“We have been promised for decades that handouts to business are going to get us more and better jobs,” said D.T. Cochrane, a senior economist at the @canadianlabour.bsky.social Congress. “When are we going to stop falling for this lie? It’s a lie.”
www.readthemaple.com/big-business...
www.readthemaple.com/big-business...