Jamie MacKinnon🇨🇦
@jamiemackinnon.bsky.social
Let's reduce economic inequality & build a just, environmentally sustainable society.
Joys include ale, good conversation, travel, literature & theatre.
Interests include design, green engineering & international development.
Joys include ale, good conversation, travel, literature & theatre.
Interests include design, green engineering & international development.
If the federal Conservatives are unsatisfied with how democracy works in Canada, you'd think they'd be in favour of electoral reform, as many of us are. But no: silence.
Ditto the federal Liberals.
#democracy
#cdnpoli
Ditto the federal Liberals.
#democracy
#cdnpoli
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 PM
If the federal Conservatives are unsatisfied with how democracy works in Canada, you'd think they'd be in favour of electoral reform, as many of us are. But no: silence.
Ditto the federal Liberals.
#democracy
#cdnpoli
Ditto the federal Liberals.
#democracy
#cdnpoli
The politics behind our dismal productivity numbers . . .
The provinces--especially AB & QC--have consistently resisted a national securities regulator.
The feds have consistently coddled certain industries: transportation, dairy, financial, telecommunications, for example.
#cdnpoli
#economics
The provinces--especially AB & QC--have consistently resisted a national securities regulator.
The feds have consistently coddled certain industries: transportation, dairy, financial, telecommunications, for example.
#cdnpoli
#economics
November 20, 2025 at 11:23 AM
The politics behind our dismal productivity numbers . . .
The provinces--especially AB & QC--have consistently resisted a national securities regulator.
The feds have consistently coddled certain industries: transportation, dairy, financial, telecommunications, for example.
#cdnpoli
#economics
The provinces--especially AB & QC--have consistently resisted a national securities regulator.
The feds have consistently coddled certain industries: transportation, dairy, financial, telecommunications, for example.
#cdnpoli
#economics
November 20, 2025 at 1:54 AM
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
So what do we do with a *government* that allows vulnerable children to die?
#ONpoli
#children
#neglect
So what do we do with a *government* that allows vulnerable children to die?
#ONpoli
#children
#neglect
November 19, 2025 at 3:24 PM
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
So what do we do with a *government* that allows vulnerable children to die?
#ONpoli
#children
#neglect
So what do we do with a *government* that allows vulnerable children to die?
#ONpoli
#children
#neglect
TorStar:
"Groups with the worst-ranked applications seeking money from Premier Doug Ford's $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund got, on average, the biggest payouts."
One of those "low-scoring" recipients was PostMedia, an American-owned propaganda outlet.
Doug Ford is using . . .
/2
#ONpoli
"Groups with the worst-ranked applications seeking money from Premier Doug Ford's $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund got, on average, the biggest payouts."
One of those "low-scoring" recipients was PostMedia, an American-owned propaganda outlet.
Doug Ford is using . . .
/2
#ONpoli
November 18, 2025 at 11:50 PM
TorStar:
"Groups with the worst-ranked applications seeking money from Premier Doug Ford's $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund got, on average, the biggest payouts."
One of those "low-scoring" recipients was PostMedia, an American-owned propaganda outlet.
Doug Ford is using . . .
/2
#ONpoli
"Groups with the worst-ranked applications seeking money from Premier Doug Ford's $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund got, on average, the biggest payouts."
One of those "low-scoring" recipients was PostMedia, an American-owned propaganda outlet.
Doug Ford is using . . .
/2
#ONpoli
bsky.app/profile/chri...
Self-dealing, secrecy, police investigations, public money 💰 going to insiders & Ford donors.
In the last election, 55% of eligible voters did not bother to vote. #NDP too focused on their small base. #Liberals leaderless and visionless.
Depressing.
#ONpoli
#corruption
Self-dealing, secrecy, police investigations, public money 💰 going to insiders & Ford donors.
In the last election, 55% of eligible voters did not bother to vote. #NDP too focused on their small base. #Liberals leaderless and visionless.
Depressing.
#ONpoli
#corruption
November 18, 2025 at 3:55 PM
bsky.app/profile/chri...
Self-dealing, secrecy, police investigations, public money 💰 going to insiders & Ford donors.
In the last election, 55% of eligible voters did not bother to vote. #NDP too focused on their small base. #Liberals leaderless and visionless.
Depressing.
#ONpoli
#corruption
Self-dealing, secrecy, police investigations, public money 💰 going to insiders & Ford donors.
In the last election, 55% of eligible voters did not bother to vote. #NDP too focused on their small base. #Liberals leaderless and visionless.
Depressing.
#ONpoli
#corruption
No. And the corruption grows.
November 18, 2025 at 12:36 AM
No. And the corruption grows.
Doug Ford 12 years ago:
"I will stop the gravy train for the people of Ontario.”
Conservative donors and insiders are all aboard a very large gravy train. Slush funds. MZOs. Police investigations. Secrecy.
Meanwhile, education and healthcare are collapsing.
#ONpoli
#corruption
"I will stop the gravy train for the people of Ontario.”
Conservative donors and insiders are all aboard a very large gravy train. Slush funds. MZOs. Police investigations. Secrecy.
Meanwhile, education and healthcare are collapsing.
#ONpoli
#corruption
November 16, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Doug Ford 12 years ago:
"I will stop the gravy train for the people of Ontario.”
Conservative donors and insiders are all aboard a very large gravy train. Slush funds. MZOs. Police investigations. Secrecy.
Meanwhile, education and healthcare are collapsing.
#ONpoli
#corruption
"I will stop the gravy train for the people of Ontario.”
Conservative donors and insiders are all aboard a very large gravy train. Slush funds. MZOs. Police investigations. Secrecy.
Meanwhile, education and healthcare are collapsing.
#ONpoli
#corruption
Oh boy. When #Poilievre -- of all people -- calls a colleague a "liar" . . .
November 10, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Oh boy. When #Poilievre -- of all people -- calls a colleague a "liar" . . .
It is the Day of the Dead.
You have memories.
You have memories.
November 3, 2025 at 1:19 AM
It is the Day of the Dead.
You have memories.
You have memories.
14 fiefdoms, many bureaucracies.
Canada's healthcare "system " is not patient-centred. And when it comes to approvals for new drugs, it certainly isn't fast.
#cdnpoli
#healthcare
Canada's healthcare "system " is not patient-centred. And when it comes to approvals for new drugs, it certainly isn't fast.
#cdnpoli
#healthcare
November 1, 2025 at 9:15 PM
14 fiefdoms, many bureaucracies.
Canada's healthcare "system " is not patient-centred. And when it comes to approvals for new drugs, it certainly isn't fast.
#cdnpoli
#healthcare
Canada's healthcare "system " is not patient-centred. And when it comes to approvals for new drugs, it certainly isn't fast.
#cdnpoli
#healthcare
In Ontario, electricity is heavily subsidized.
The "rebate," paid with borrowed money, increases today to 23.5 % of the pre-tax electricity bill from 13.1%.
The FAO estimates that the province's various energy rebates will cost well north of $100 billion over 20 years.
/2
#ONpoli
The "rebate," paid with borrowed money, increases today to 23.5 % of the pre-tax electricity bill from 13.1%.
The FAO estimates that the province's various energy rebates will cost well north of $100 billion over 20 years.
/2
#ONpoli
November 1, 2025 at 2:19 PM
In Ontario, electricity is heavily subsidized.
The "rebate," paid with borrowed money, increases today to 23.5 % of the pre-tax electricity bill from 13.1%.
The FAO estimates that the province's various energy rebates will cost well north of $100 billion over 20 years.
/2
#ONpoli
The "rebate," paid with borrowed money, increases today to 23.5 % of the pre-tax electricity bill from 13.1%.
The FAO estimates that the province's various energy rebates will cost well north of $100 billion over 20 years.
/2
#ONpoli
Interesting chart from the new Bank of Canada MPR.
Export-oriented Canadian businesses are finding new markets. Not enough to offset the loss of American markets, but promising.
#trade
#tariffs
#economics
Export-oriented Canadian businesses are finding new markets. Not enough to offset the loss of American markets, but promising.
#trade
#tariffs
#economics
October 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Interesting chart from the new Bank of Canada MPR.
Export-oriented Canadian businesses are finding new markets. Not enough to offset the loss of American markets, but promising.
#trade
#tariffs
#economics
Export-oriented Canadian businesses are finding new markets. Not enough to offset the loss of American markets, but promising.
#trade
#tariffs
#economics
My hope for the forthcoming federal budget is to:
1. Increase GST/HST by 1% → 8B/yr increased revenue.
2. Give OAS only to households < $100k → about 18B/yr saved
3. Reduce health transfers to provinces that have not met explicit performance targets → ?B/yr
~30 billion a year.
#fisc
#cdnpoli
1. Increase GST/HST by 1% → 8B/yr increased revenue.
2. Give OAS only to households < $100k → about 18B/yr saved
3. Reduce health transfers to provinces that have not met explicit performance targets → ?B/yr
~30 billion a year.
#fisc
#cdnpoli
October 28, 2025 at 3:54 PM
"Reputation Lab surveyed citizens of G7 countries to find out which nations have the best international reputation in 2025.
Iraq, Iran, and Russia ranked at the bottom, while the U.S. saw the biggest decline from 2024, falling 18 spots to 48th."
#investment
#reputation
#cdnpoli
#MAGA
Iraq, Iran, and Russia ranked at the bottom, while the U.S. saw the biggest decline from 2024, falling 18 spots to 48th."
#investment
#reputation
#cdnpoli
#MAGA
October 28, 2025 at 1:32 AM
"Reputation Lab surveyed citizens of G7 countries to find out which nations have the best international reputation in 2025.
Iraq, Iran, and Russia ranked at the bottom, while the U.S. saw the biggest decline from 2024, falling 18 spots to 48th."
#investment
#reputation
#cdnpoli
#MAGA
Iraq, Iran, and Russia ranked at the bottom, while the U.S. saw the biggest decline from 2024, falling 18 spots to 48th."
#investment
#reputation
#cdnpoli
#MAGA
EKOS poll.
69% of Conservative Party supporters believe that "opposition parties should vote against the upcoming federal budget" ... despite not knowing what's in it.
And
70% of Canadians disapprove of #Poilievre ... his worst rating yet.
Make of that what you will.
#cdnpoli
#Canada
69% of Conservative Party supporters believe that "opposition parties should vote against the upcoming federal budget" ... despite not knowing what's in it.
And
70% of Canadians disapprove of #Poilievre ... his worst rating yet.
Make of that what you will.
#cdnpoli
#Canada
October 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
EKOS poll.
69% of Conservative Party supporters believe that "opposition parties should vote against the upcoming federal budget" ... despite not knowing what's in it.
And
70% of Canadians disapprove of #Poilievre ... his worst rating yet.
Make of that what you will.
#cdnpoli
#Canada
69% of Conservative Party supporters believe that "opposition parties should vote against the upcoming federal budget" ... despite not knowing what's in it.
And
70% of Canadians disapprove of #Poilievre ... his worst rating yet.
Make of that what you will.
#cdnpoli
#Canada
bsky.app/profile/jami...
Ontario ALREADY has a much higher percentage of people on remand in prisons (held without bail) than France or Britain--and even the US.
Jail is expensive, and demanding tougher bail conditions is tantamount to demanding higher taxes.
#ONpoli
#cdnpoli
#dougford
#poilievre
Ontario ALREADY has a much higher percentage of people on remand in prisons (held without bail) than France or Britain--and even the US.
Jail is expensive, and demanding tougher bail conditions is tantamount to demanding higher taxes.
#ONpoli
#cdnpoli
#dougford
#poilievre
October 24, 2025 at 7:58 PM
bsky.app/profile/jami...
Ontario ALREADY has a much higher percentage of people on remand in prisons (held without bail) than France or Britain--and even the US.
Jail is expensive, and demanding tougher bail conditions is tantamount to demanding higher taxes.
#ONpoli
#cdnpoli
#dougford
#poilievre
Ontario ALREADY has a much higher percentage of people on remand in prisons (held without bail) than France or Britain--and even the US.
Jail is expensive, and demanding tougher bail conditions is tantamount to demanding higher taxes.
#ONpoli
#cdnpoli
#dougford
#poilievre
3/4
A spokesperson for Minister Parsa, who has declined multiple interview requests said in that it’s up to the coroner’s office to decide if further review is required, and pointed out that the provincial ombudsman can also investigate.
Under Doug Ford those investigations seldom happen.
#ONpoli
A spokesperson for Minister Parsa, who has declined multiple interview requests said in that it’s up to the coroner’s office to decide if further review is required, and pointed out that the provincial ombudsman can also investigate.
Under Doug Ford those investigations seldom happen.
#ONpoli
October 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM
3/4
A spokesperson for Minister Parsa, who has declined multiple interview requests said in that it’s up to the coroner’s office to decide if further review is required, and pointed out that the provincial ombudsman can also investigate.
Under Doug Ford those investigations seldom happen.
#ONpoli
A spokesperson for Minister Parsa, who has declined multiple interview requests said in that it’s up to the coroner’s office to decide if further review is required, and pointed out that the provincial ombudsman can also investigate.
Under Doug Ford those investigations seldom happen.
#ONpoli
Globe & Mail.
Alberta ($6.68), Saskatchewan ($5.35) and Ontario ($3.69) have the lowest per capita arts funding in Canada--all with Conservative govts.
Québec funds the arts at a rate six times that of Ontario.
Values.
#arts
#ONpoli
#Quebec
#Alberta
#Saskatchewan
Alberta ($6.68), Saskatchewan ($5.35) and Ontario ($3.69) have the lowest per capita arts funding in Canada--all with Conservative govts.
Québec funds the arts at a rate six times that of Ontario.
Values.
#arts
#ONpoli
#Quebec
#Alberta
#Saskatchewan
October 22, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Globe & Mail.
Alberta ($6.68), Saskatchewan ($5.35) and Ontario ($3.69) have the lowest per capita arts funding in Canada--all with Conservative govts.
Québec funds the arts at a rate six times that of Ontario.
Values.
#arts
#ONpoli
#Quebec
#Alberta
#Saskatchewan
Alberta ($6.68), Saskatchewan ($5.35) and Ontario ($3.69) have the lowest per capita arts funding in Canada--all with Conservative govts.
Québec funds the arts at a rate six times that of Ontario.
Values.
#arts
#ONpoli
#Quebec
#Alberta
#Saskatchewan
The Auditor General of Canada on CRA contact centres highlights delays in responding and--more harmful & costly--providing inaccurate information more than 80% of the time.
Some of this mess is owing to Canada’s complex tax code, "among the most intricate in the OECD."
#cdnpoli
#CRA
#taxation
Some of this mess is owing to Canada’s complex tax code, "among the most intricate in the OECD."
#cdnpoli
#CRA
#taxation
October 21, 2025 at 3:04 PM
October 19, 2025 at 12:27 AM