Iain Campbell
@iainmc.ca
web person, photographer, urbanist
https://iainmc.ca
https://iainmc.ca
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Prince Edward Island has far more autonomy than the City of Toronto
For funsies:
Here's the Toronto Subway Line 1, sized to scale, rotated, and dropped on top of other Canadian cities
Here's the Toronto Subway Line 1, sized to scale, rotated, and dropped on top of other Canadian cities
December 18, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Prince Edward Island has far more autonomy than the City of Toronto
Reposted by Iain Campbell
"The potential to have things seized will send a message that you can't ride on the sidewalk," Burnside said.
December 17, 2025 at 1:25 PM
"The potential to have things seized will send a message that you can't ride on the sidewalk," Burnside said.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
DYK Ontario municipalities have to give Enbridge Gas, a for-profit fossil fuel company company, free access to build pipelines under public land?
In 2026, there will be a local fight to change this. Guelph & Waterloo Region are resisting. Toronto & Ottawa have concerns
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enbr...
In 2026, there will be a local fight to change this. Guelph & Waterloo Region are resisting. Toronto & Ottawa have concerns
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enbr...
Ontario municipalities want Enbridge Gas to pay up | The Narwhal
Guelph, Waterloo Region and other Ontario municipalities argue the gas giant shouldn’t be able to build pipelines on public land for free
thenarwhal.ca
December 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
DYK Ontario municipalities have to give Enbridge Gas, a for-profit fossil fuel company company, free access to build pipelines under public land?
In 2026, there will be a local fight to change this. Guelph & Waterloo Region are resisting. Toronto & Ottawa have concerns
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enbr...
In 2026, there will be a local fight to change this. Guelph & Waterloo Region are resisting. Toronto & Ottawa have concerns
thenarwhal.ca/ontario-enbr...
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Reece criticized this article for ignorance and fair enough but I want to point out the Scarborough Subway is also a disaster. The Ontario Line is a disaster. No one, especially conservatives can get their heads out of their asses long enough to tackle spiralling costs
torontosun.com/opinion/colu...
torontosun.com/opinion/colu...
BLIZZARD: Toronto's two useless TTC transit lines should have been subways
The Finch LRT was barely open for a day or two when it was snarled due to "weather related incidents." Read more.
torontosun.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Reece criticized this article for ignorance and fair enough but I want to point out the Scarborough Subway is also a disaster. The Ontario Line is a disaster. No one, especially conservatives can get their heads out of their asses long enough to tackle spiralling costs
torontosun.com/opinion/colu...
torontosun.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Ford closed the science centre for no reason, is shrinking it dramatically, and gov’t doesn’t want you to know the truth about this.
My column:
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toron...
My column:
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toron...
Doug Ford shrinks Ontario Science Centre to fit in temporary home at Toronto Harbourfront
The space is a fraction of the size of the original building in Don Mills, which has been closed since June, 2024
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Ford closed the science centre for no reason, is shrinking it dramatically, and gov’t doesn’t want you to know the truth about this.
My column:
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toron...
My column:
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toron...
Reposted by Iain Campbell
In any case, if HSR is going to cost a bazillion, does not get downtown or even ends up not being built at all, blame Mulroney. This one guy killed any prospect for modern passenger rail in Canada for the next century for the equivalent of 4 bn in today's dollars. The art of the deal, I guess
December 14, 2025 at 4:36 PM
In any case, if HSR is going to cost a bazillion, does not get downtown or even ends up not being built at all, blame Mulroney. This one guy killed any prospect for modern passenger rail in Canada for the next century for the equivalent of 4 bn in today's dollars. The art of the deal, I guess
Reposted by Iain Campbell
The private financing of ALTO is one of the worst parts of the project. Canada can actually finance the project much easier because we have our own currency unlike Spain which uses the Euro. There's 0 reason we need to rely on private funding to build the line. 1/2
December 12, 2025 at 9:58 PM
The private financing of ALTO is one of the worst parts of the project. Canada can actually finance the project much easier because we have our own currency unlike Spain which uses the Euro. There's 0 reason we need to rely on private funding to build the line. 1/2
Reposted by Iain Campbell
US building codes requiring two stairs in multifamily buildings: not only worse living environments, but also more dangerous in fires! What a combination.
Consultants contracted by Minnesota found that an eight-story single-stair building with 6,000 sq. ft. per floor (building 4) has dramatically lower fire risk than a same-height code-compliant two-stair building with a larger floor plate (building 1) www.dli.mn.gov/sites/defaul...
December 12, 2025 at 10:58 PM
US building codes requiring two stairs in multifamily buildings: not only worse living environments, but also more dangerous in fires! What a combination.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
As it so happens I was reading this today
Here's why Toronto music venues are frustrated with bylaw officers
Toronto’s bylaw division said its ‘reviewing internal procedures’ after venue owners received confusing messaging from enforcement officers
www.torontotoday.ca
December 12, 2025 at 5:26 PM
As it so happens I was reading this today
Reposted by Iain Campbell
I wanted to compare what I saw on Seattle's Line 1 LRT with Toronto's Finch LRT.
In Seattle, you can see left turning cars waiting while fast-moving transit gets priority. Help TTCriders make it happen in Toronto: www.ttcriders.ca/greenlight
📸: @wk1998.bsky.social / @kevinrupasinghe.bsky.social
In Seattle, you can see left turning cars waiting while fast-moving transit gets priority. Help TTCriders make it happen in Toronto: www.ttcriders.ca/greenlight
📸: @wk1998.bsky.social / @kevinrupasinghe.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 12:29 AM
I wanted to compare what I saw on Seattle's Line 1 LRT with Toronto's Finch LRT.
In Seattle, you can see left turning cars waiting while fast-moving transit gets priority. Help TTCriders make it happen in Toronto: www.ttcriders.ca/greenlight
📸: @wk1998.bsky.social / @kevinrupasinghe.bsky.social
In Seattle, you can see left turning cars waiting while fast-moving transit gets priority. Help TTCriders make it happen in Toronto: www.ttcriders.ca/greenlight
📸: @wk1998.bsky.social / @kevinrupasinghe.bsky.social
Reposted by Iain Campbell
I understand the hypothesis. NIMBYism prioritizes existing residents over future ones. Rent control also does this when it is strict enough to discourage new supply. Both are incumbency-prioritizing views, but I'm not surprised that they can be separated. 🧵
Um, ok...
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
December 12, 2025 at 1:36 PM
I understand the hypothesis. NIMBYism prioritizes existing residents over future ones. Rent control also does this when it is strict enough to discourage new supply. Both are incumbency-prioritizing views, but I'm not surprised that they can be separated. 🧵
Reposted by Iain Campbell
How can we use climate targets to require MPs take the train for all trips between Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal? It wouldn't take long for that to produce fruit in improvements to VIA.
December 11, 2025 at 6:12 PM
How can we use climate targets to require MPs take the train for all trips between Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal? It wouldn't take long for that to produce fruit in improvements to VIA.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
45% of heavy truck sales in China were electric this year. 2024 marketshare in the US was 0.6%.
China’s shift to electric trucks could upend global fuel demand – Morning Overview
morningoverview.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM
45% of heavy truck sales in China were electric this year. 2024 marketshare in the US was 0.6%.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Opening of Finch West LRT was very exciting. I love seeing the new infra, beautiful trains & people excited to ride! But we're clearly not done yet. Scheduled travel time of 46 minutes & often over 50 mins in reality just isn't okay when the local bus was scheduled at 38 off-peak and 53 at peak. 1/
December 8, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Opening of Finch West LRT was very exciting. I love seeing the new infra, beautiful trains & people excited to ride! But we're clearly not done yet. Scheduled travel time of 46 minutes & often over 50 mins in reality just isn't okay when the local bus was scheduled at 38 off-peak and 53 at peak. 1/
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Toronto just opened the 10km Finch W tram today. The total cost of the project with 30-year Ops & Maintenance is 3.7 billion CAD. Assuming 30-year O&M is 1 billion CAD, the project costs 230 million INT$/km to build. That's the same per km unit cost France or China builds an underground urban metro.
December 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Toronto just opened the 10km Finch W tram today. The total cost of the project with 30-year Ops & Maintenance is 3.7 billion CAD. Assuming 30-year O&M is 1 billion CAD, the project costs 230 million INT$/km to build. That's the same per km unit cost France or China builds an underground urban metro.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
This is where blaming solely Ford fails. This is a combo of a few near-retirement unionized public service employees who don't want to write a new manual, or have to learn one new thing, or have to confront the thought that they've been directly sabotaging transit for decades, to whom we acquiesce 😮💨
December 7, 2025 at 6:12 PM
This is where blaming solely Ford fails. This is a combo of a few near-retirement unionized public service employees who don't want to write a new manual, or have to learn one new thing, or have to confront the thought that they've been directly sabotaging transit for decades, to whom we acquiesce 😮💨
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Runners: if you can do a 5:42/km pace you are officially faster than Toronto's new Line 6.
It took 4 minutes to go this 700 meters. That’s a speed of about 10.5 kph
December 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Runners: if you can do a 5:42/km pace you are officially faster than Toronto's new Line 6.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
I distinctly remember the consensus in Toronto 10+ years ago that subways were about wasting money to preserve more surface space for cars.
LRTs were the sensible progressive option, providing almost as good service for much less money.
It turns out the service is... not so great after all.
LRTs were the sensible progressive option, providing almost as good service for much less money.
It turns out the service is... not so great after all.
The opening of the Finch Light Rail is very exciting, but….
Read my latest in the Toronto Star www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Read my latest in the Toronto Star www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Huzzah! The Finch LRT is finally opening! Now here’s the bad news
Years of waiting and billions spent. Shouldn't it be faster than the bus it replaces?
www.thestar.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I distinctly remember the consensus in Toronto 10+ years ago that subways were about wasting money to preserve more surface space for cars.
LRTs were the sensible progressive option, providing almost as good service for much less money.
It turns out the service is... not so great after all.
LRTs were the sensible progressive option, providing almost as good service for much less money.
It turns out the service is... not so great after all.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Downzoning was used by cities around the world to preserve neighborhood aesthetics & protect property values.
New evidence from Chicago in @findingspress.org ⏬ shows downzoning's effects over several decades:
—Massive drop in housing construction
—Higher home prices
—Increased racial segregation
New evidence from Chicago in @findingspress.org ⏬ shows downzoning's effects over several decades:
—Massive drop in housing construction
—Higher home prices
—Increased racial segregation
Downzoning Chicago: How Local Land Use Policy Has Reduced Housing Construction and Reinforced Segregation | Published in Findings
By Yonah Freemark, George Kisiel. Downzonings were used by US cities in the postwar period to preserve neighborhood character. These land-use policies were associated with lower housing supply, higher...
findingspress.org
December 1, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Downzoning was used by cities around the world to preserve neighborhood aesthetics & protect property values.
New evidence from Chicago in @findingspress.org ⏬ shows downzoning's effects over several decades:
—Massive drop in housing construction
—Higher home prices
—Increased racial segregation
New evidence from Chicago in @findingspress.org ⏬ shows downzoning's effects over several decades:
—Massive drop in housing construction
—Higher home prices
—Increased racial segregation
Reposted by Iain Campbell
One of the three trucks in this picture can Carry full size sheets of plywood.
November 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
One of the three trucks in this picture can Carry full size sheets of plywood.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
The funniest part about this ad is that they clearly had to use half sheets of plywood to fit into the maverick comfortably. Standard Maverick bed size is 4.5 feet while they loaded the car with full 4x8s. Trucks have become much bigger but also less useful.
November 29, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The funniest part about this ad is that they clearly had to use half sheets of plywood to fit into the maverick comfortably. Standard Maverick bed size is 4.5 feet while they loaded the car with full 4x8s. Trucks have become much bigger but also less useful.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
The Canada-Alberta deal "is textbook Carney" @maxfawcett.bsky.social says
He's "daring Danielle Smith to do the work required" to get a pipeline built, knowing she can’t do it. "But Smith’s concessions help advance his govt's climate agenda far more"
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/27/o...
He's "daring Danielle Smith to do the work required" to get a pipeline built, knowing she can’t do it. "But Smith’s concessions help advance his govt's climate agenda far more"
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/27/o...
The method to Mark Carney’s madness
The memorandum of understanding with Alberta might look like surrender. Look closer
www.nationalobserver.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:55 AM
The Canada-Alberta deal "is textbook Carney" @maxfawcett.bsky.social says
He's "daring Danielle Smith to do the work required" to get a pipeline built, knowing she can’t do it. "But Smith’s concessions help advance his govt's climate agenda far more"
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/27/o...
He's "daring Danielle Smith to do the work required" to get a pipeline built, knowing she can’t do it. "But Smith’s concessions help advance his govt's climate agenda far more"
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/27/o...
Reposted by Iain Campbell
so our government made a big deal about banning speed cameras but one city left theirs running to see what difference the ban would make and you are not going to believe this
November 28, 2025 at 12:56 AM
so our government made a big deal about banning speed cameras but one city left theirs running to see what difference the ban would make and you are not going to believe this
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Over 60 per cent of gambling profits come from just 5 per cent of users, many of whom are at high risk of serious harm, including debt, mental health issues, family breakdown and suicide
November 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Over 60 per cent of gambling profits come from just 5 per cent of users, many of whom are at high risk of serious harm, including debt, mental health issues, family breakdown and suicide