Reposted by Michael D'Costa
This happens everyday at alarming rates. People are spending easy, 200 a month just to get to work on time.
The city is lucky, that people are wealthy enough to have options, and those that are less fortunate, are largely voiceless.
We're really screwing the pooch here.
The city is lucky, that people are wealthy enough to have options, and those that are less fortunate, are largely voiceless.
We're really screwing the pooch here.
Paid my fare to get into Greenboro station. got downstairs. looked at the board. My bus was cancelled. Took an Uber, and out of pocket four bucks for nothing.
#octranspo
#octranspo
January 23, 2026 at 1:11 PM
This happens everyday at alarming rates. People are spending easy, 200 a month just to get to work on time.
The city is lucky, that people are wealthy enough to have options, and those that are less fortunate, are largely voiceless.
We're really screwing the pooch here.
The city is lucky, that people are wealthy enough to have options, and those that are less fortunate, are largely voiceless.
We're really screwing the pooch here.
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
But here's the thing: when he gets to the part about Ottawa having Canada's lowest property taxes, the response is typically...nothing. And I've been present for several of these speeches. Occasionally, there's mild applause. I wouldn't call it enthusiastic. Tepid, maybe? 4/
January 22, 2026 at 1:53 AM
But here's the thing: when he gets to the part about Ottawa having Canada's lowest property taxes, the response is typically...nothing. And I've been present for several of these speeches. Occasionally, there's mild applause. I wouldn't call it enthusiastic. Tepid, maybe? 4/
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
The beauty of the LRT's opaque ownership structure is that it evades accountability so all of the parties can endlessly point fingers to one another and nobody will *ever* be held to account for the failures.
Everyone who signed off on that structure bears responsibility.
Everyone who signed off on that structure bears responsibility.
New bearing problem forcing OC Transpo to take some LRT cars out of service | CBC News
A newly identified problem with the wheel assemblies on Ottawa's Line 1 LRT vehicles is forcing OC Transpo to reduce the number of cars in service, which could exacerbate crowding on trains and platfo...
www.cbc.ca
January 22, 2026 at 3:16 AM
The beauty of the LRT's opaque ownership structure is that it evades accountability so all of the parties can endlessly point fingers to one another and nobody will *ever* be held to account for the failures.
Everyone who signed off on that structure bears responsibility.
Everyone who signed off on that structure bears responsibility.
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
As the Mayor boasts, he's kept our tax increases lower than any major city in Canada. Okay. So, how's our transit ridership doing? How are your roads looking? Pools staying open long enough for you? The City of Ottawa "garbage can" in my neighborhood is a discarded oil barrel from Turkey. 8/
January 22, 2026 at 1:53 AM
As the Mayor boasts, he's kept our tax increases lower than any major city in Canada. Okay. So, how's our transit ridership doing? How are your roads looking? Pools staying open long enough for you? The City of Ottawa "garbage can" in my neighborhood is a discarded oil barrel from Turkey. 8/
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
It's been 4 YEARS since two LRT trains derailed and we still don't have a fix. We don't even know the root cause of this problem. Where is the accountability on this huge project? More important, when can riders start relying on our LRT system? #ottnews
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
OC Transpo reducing O-Train Line 1 service after identifying new issue with trains
OC Transpo will be temporarily reducing the number of train cars running on the O-Train Line 1 after an issue was identified with the vehicles.
www.ctvnews.ca
January 21, 2026 at 9:20 PM
It's been 4 YEARS since two LRT trains derailed and we still don't have a fix. We don't even know the root cause of this problem. Where is the accountability on this huge project? More important, when can riders start relying on our LRT system? #ottnews
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
If Canadians, travelling domestically, want to use the "good" security line at the airport, they need a NEXUS card, even if they aren't going to the US. And they need the blessing of Donald Trump's Homeland Security apparatus to get one. I'm calling on Canada to end this absurdity. #Canada #NEXUS
Why we need a Made-In-Canada Verified Traveller Program
YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons
youtu.be
September 25, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
3) Emergency bus lane and transit priority measures need to be enacted on key corridors to ensure our working buses are used as efficiently as possible. We can't have our limited bus fleet standing still in traffic.
January 20, 2026 at 8:45 PM
3) Emergency bus lane and transit priority measures need to be enacted on key corridors to ensure our working buses are used as efficiently as possible. We can't have our limited bus fleet standing still in traffic.
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
Even today, some things can be said with absolute certainty. These lines will never cross again. www.nathanielbullard.com/presentations
January 19, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Even today, some things can be said with absolute certainty. These lines will never cross again. www.nathanielbullard.com/presentations
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
Funny. I literally talked with my kid about this last week while waiting for a bus.
He said "but nothing happened..."
And I said "not that I saw...but probably because a lot of people were working to make sure 'nothing happened'".
I felt a little light bulb go in over his head......
He said "but nothing happened..."
And I said "not that I saw...but probably because a lot of people were working to make sure 'nothing happened'".
I felt a little light bulb go in over his head......
to young people: you may at some point have heard about the Y2K problem. some people may have told you it wasn't a big deal
i need you to understand the only reason it wasn't a big deal was that everyone spent loads of time fixing code before it could become a problem, which is why it never did
i need you to understand the only reason it wasn't a big deal was that everyone spent loads of time fixing code before it could become a problem, which is why it never did
January 18, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Funny. I literally talked with my kid about this last week while waiting for a bus.
He said "but nothing happened..."
And I said "not that I saw...but probably because a lot of people were working to make sure 'nothing happened'".
I felt a little light bulb go in over his head......
He said "but nothing happened..."
And I said "not that I saw...but probably because a lot of people were working to make sure 'nothing happened'".
I felt a little light bulb go in over his head......
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
If the law prevents the federal government from acting to stop an obvious emergency, especially when the governments of Ottawa and Ontario had essentially abandoned the city of Ottawa to those hooligans, then the law is the problem, not Trudeau’s actions.
For the late/west coast crowd, my latest for @cba-nationalmag.bsky.social, and the reactions to the Federal Court of Appeal ruling on the use of the Emergencies Act #cdnlaw #cdnpoli
Federal Court of Appeal says use of Emergencies Act was overreach
The invocation infringed on freedom of expression and protection against unreasonable search and seizure
www.nationalmagazine.ca
January 17, 2026 at 12:39 PM
If the law prevents the federal government from acting to stop an obvious emergency, especially when the governments of Ottawa and Ontario had essentially abandoned the city of Ottawa to those hooligans, then the law is the problem, not Trudeau’s actions.
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
Verified should just mean verified. That's it. It should apply to anyone who a social media site is able to verify their account is who they claim it is. It shouldn't cost money, come with benefits, or confer status. Just that the account is verified
Why wouldn't we want the Government Department of Fascist Enforcement verified?
Like... If I'm going to block the GDFE, I want to block the right account.
Verified <> Good. Verified means, yeah, they are who they say they are. Who wouldn't want that?
Like... If I'm going to block the GDFE, I want to block the right account.
Verified <> Good. Verified means, yeah, they are who they say they are. Who wouldn't want that?
January 17, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Verified should just mean verified. That's it. It should apply to anyone who a social media site is able to verify their account is who they claim it is. It shouldn't cost money, come with benefits, or confer status. Just that the account is verified
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
As someone who lives downtown Ottawa and who was living dead centre of the "Red Zone" where I had to literally show ID at a police checkpoint in order to get to my apartment, a huge middle finger to this and what it's about to enable.
Federal government loses Emergencies Act appeal | CBC News
The Liberal government unreasonably invoked the Emergencies Act to clear the convoy protests that gridlocked the capital city and border points nearly four years ago, the Federal Court of Appeal said.
www.cbc.ca
January 16, 2026 at 4:59 PM
As someone who lives downtown Ottawa and who was living dead centre of the "Red Zone" where I had to literally show ID at a police checkpoint in order to get to my apartment, a huge middle finger to this and what it's about to enable.
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
Doug Ford decided that pedestrian lives — including kids who ride bikes and walk to school — were less important than drivers who get irritated about being required to obey the law.
January 16, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Doug Ford decided that pedestrian lives — including kids who ride bikes and walk to school — were less important than drivers who get irritated about being required to obey the law.
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
"We have aging infrastructure and we’re accelerating that aging through oversalting... it goes into our water system, destroys our vegetation, kills aquatic life.”
The City of Ottawa uses the most road salt in Canada - time to consider less sodium!
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
The City of Ottawa uses the most road salt in Canada - time to consider less sodium!
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Salt used to keep winter roads safe is also endangering municipal water systems
Every year, Canada scatters around seven million tonnes of sodium chloride on public roads
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:45 PM
"We have aging infrastructure and we’re accelerating that aging through oversalting... it goes into our water system, destroys our vegetation, kills aquatic life.”
The City of Ottawa uses the most road salt in Canada - time to consider less sodium!
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
The City of Ottawa uses the most road salt in Canada - time to consider less sodium!
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
“Thousands of crashes reported as winter storm pounds the Toronto area”
Sorry, cars just aren’t practical here. We’re not California or Texas. We have winter.
Sorry, cars just aren’t practical here. We’re not California or Texas. We have winter.
‘Stay home’: Thousands of crashes reported as winter storm pounds the Toronto area
YouTube video by CTV News
www.youtube.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:17 PM
“Thousands of crashes reported as winter storm pounds the Toronto area”
Sorry, cars just aren’t practical here. We’re not California or Texas. We have winter.
Sorry, cars just aren’t practical here. We’re not California or Texas. We have winter.
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
Follow the money, as they say
Worth remembering: The world has been spending more on solar than oil for the last two years.
January 15, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Follow the money, as they say
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
With “Wikimedia Enterprise”, AI companies have to use (and pay for) dedicated APIs to scrape data, which helps to limit the strain on Wikimedia servers. (See eg arstechnica.com/information-...) This is a good thing for Wikimedia and for its readers.
AI bots strain Wikimedia as bandwidth surges 50%
Automated AI bots seeking training data threaten Wikipedia project stability, foundation says.
arstechnica.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:52 PM
With “Wikimedia Enterprise”, AI companies have to use (and pay for) dedicated APIs to scrape data, which helps to limit the strain on Wikimedia servers. (See eg arstechnica.com/information-...) This is a good thing for Wikimedia and for its readers.
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
🧩🌍 The missing piece of Canada’s climate plan: the Climate-Aligned Finance Act ✏️ CAFA
🫶 Thanks to @environmentaldefence.ca ! It’s time to move forward and turn climate ambition into real opportunities. 🏗️🔍💰🍃🔋🌱🗺️
🔗 environmentaldefence.ca/2025/11/03/l...
#CAFA #ClimatePolicy #Canada
🫶 Thanks to @environmentaldefence.ca ! It’s time to move forward and turn climate ambition into real opportunities. 🏗️🔍💰🍃🔋🌱🗺️
🔗 environmentaldefence.ca/2025/11/03/l...
#CAFA #ClimatePolicy #Canada
Long Live the Climate Aligned Finance Act - Environmental Defence
For the first time since Prime Minister Mark Carney took office, we have something tangible to fight for in our quest to advance climate finance in
environmentaldefence.ca
January 15, 2026 at 7:54 PM
🧩🌍 The missing piece of Canada’s climate plan: the Climate-Aligned Finance Act ✏️ CAFA
🫶 Thanks to @environmentaldefence.ca ! It’s time to move forward and turn climate ambition into real opportunities. 🏗️🔍💰🍃🔋🌱🗺️
🔗 environmentaldefence.ca/2025/11/03/l...
#CAFA #ClimatePolicy #Canada
🫶 Thanks to @environmentaldefence.ca ! It’s time to move forward and turn climate ambition into real opportunities. 🏗️🔍💰🍃🔋🌱🗺️
🔗 environmentaldefence.ca/2025/11/03/l...
#CAFA #ClimatePolicy #Canada
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
January 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
TIL that in finance/investing, the "Energy" category is, for all intents and purposes, fossil fuel only. Renewable energy is categorised elsewhere, mainly "utilities".
Puts @mark-carney.bsky.social 's "energy superpower" talk in a new and very unflattering light. :(
Puts @mark-carney.bsky.social 's "energy superpower" talk in a new and very unflattering light. :(
January 15, 2026 at 4:11 PM
TIL that in finance/investing, the "Energy" category is, for all intents and purposes, fossil fuel only. Renewable energy is categorised elsewhere, mainly "utilities".
Puts @mark-carney.bsky.social 's "energy superpower" talk in a new and very unflattering light. :(
Puts @mark-carney.bsky.social 's "energy superpower" talk in a new and very unflattering light. :(
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
This is what the transition from ICE to BEV via PHEV looked like for private people.
They're done now. Only a few cars in the Industry left.
Please note how PHEV fell off a cliff at some point. That may be a systematic thing we could see elsewhere in the future, not sure yet.
They're done now. Only a few cars in the Industry left.
Please note how PHEV fell off a cliff at some point. That may be a systematic thing we could see elsewhere in the future, not sure yet.
January 13, 2026 at 7:25 PM
This is what the transition from ICE to BEV via PHEV looked like for private people.
They're done now. Only a few cars in the Industry left.
Please note how PHEV fell off a cliff at some point. That may be a systematic thing we could see elsewhere in the future, not sure yet.
They're done now. Only a few cars in the Industry left.
Please note how PHEV fell off a cliff at some point. That may be a systematic thing we could see elsewhere in the future, not sure yet.
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
Elected officials have to stop posting like bystanders who have no power.
January 13, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Elected officials have to stop posting like bystanders who have no power.
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
As was published last week: 32 watermain breaks over the holidays (not all city-owned), with the majority of them in older wards like mine, and River Ward, and Alta Vista Ward. I’m sure data specialists like @sjamieit.bsky.social can weigh in with some useful info here. 1/
Watermain break
Eastbound Baseline Rd is CLOSED at Fisher Ave
Eastbound Baseline Rd is CLOSED at Fisher Ave
January 13, 2026 at 1:21 PM
As was published last week: 32 watermain breaks over the holidays (not all city-owned), with the majority of them in older wards like mine, and River Ward, and Alta Vista Ward. I’m sure data specialists like @sjamieit.bsky.social can weigh in with some useful info here. 1/
Reposted by Michael D'Costa
Anyone with a decent-sized following on a social media platform is both a customer and a product for that platform’s owners. Regardless of whether the former Twitter is banned in Canada, I don’t know how federal ministers can in good conscience be either.
January 11, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Anyone with a decent-sized following on a social media platform is both a customer and a product for that platform’s owners. Regardless of whether the former Twitter is banned in Canada, I don’t know how federal ministers can in good conscience be either.