Mike Hanafin
@mhanafin.bsky.social
Hiker, snowshoer, cyclist. Weather watcher
Retired media (30 yrs) now spying on good & bad journalism. Gradually escaping twitter
Critical of: slimy politicians; Govt/PHO media cheerleaders; COMMS; media platforming Cdn tax-dodger federation; freedumb
Retired media (30 yrs) now spying on good & bad journalism. Gradually escaping twitter
Critical of: slimy politicians; Govt/PHO media cheerleaders; COMMS; media platforming Cdn tax-dodger federation; freedumb
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
Parents brought their crying babies to protest it, following a marathon public speakers’ session that saw more than 600 people sign up to give council a piece of their mind.
@kehyslop.bsky.social reports. #vanpoli
@kehyslop.bsky.social reports. #vanpoli
Despite Strident Opposition, Vancouver’s ‘Zero Means Zero’ Budget Passes | The Tyee
Mayor Ken Sim’s tax break for homeowners will come at an unknown cost, opposition councillors warn.
thetyee.ca
November 26, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Parents brought their crying babies to protest it, following a marathon public speakers’ session that saw more than 600 people sign up to give council a piece of their mind.
@kehyslop.bsky.social reports. #vanpoli
@kehyslop.bsky.social reports. #vanpoli
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
After two years of FOI requests, the Vancouver police finally let The Tyee review some training modules for the SLO program.
@kehyslop.bsky.social reports. #vanpoli #bced
@kehyslop.bsky.social reports. #vanpoli #bced
We Finally Have Some Info on School Liaison Officer Training | The Tyee
After two years of FOI requests and complaints, the Vancouver police finally let The Tyee review some training modules.
thetyee.ca
November 26, 2025 at 3:32 PM
After two years of FOI requests, the Vancouver police finally let The Tyee review some training modules for the SLO program.
@kehyslop.bsky.social reports. #vanpoli #bced
@kehyslop.bsky.social reports. #vanpoli #bced
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
So ABC passed their horrible budget.
I seriously hope lots of people will show up and protest Sim when he has his FIFA live fest next year. Getting him shamed in front of an international audience would be a great foreplay for booting him and his party out next year. #vanpoli
I seriously hope lots of people will show up and protest Sim when he has his FIFA live fest next year. Getting him shamed in front of an international audience would be a great foreplay for booting him and his party out next year. #vanpoli
November 26, 2025 at 3:01 AM
So ABC passed their horrible budget.
I seriously hope lots of people will show up and protest Sim when he has his FIFA live fest next year. Getting him shamed in front of an international audience would be a great foreplay for booting him and his party out next year. #vanpoli
I seriously hope lots of people will show up and protest Sim when he has his FIFA live fest next year. Getting him shamed in front of an international audience would be a great foreplay for booting him and his party out next year. #vanpoli
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
This is what happens when just 36.3% of people show up to vote in an election with one united right-of-centre party. You may avoid politics, but it can come to bite you in the ass. Eighty percent of success is showing up.
#vanpoli #Vote2026 #TaxTheRich
#vanpoli #Vote2026 #TaxTheRich
Vancouver's 2026 draft budget has PASSED.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
November 26, 2025 at 3:18 AM
This is what happens when just 36.3% of people show up to vote in an election with one united right-of-centre party. You may avoid politics, but it can come to bite you in the ass. Eighty percent of success is showing up.
#vanpoli #Vote2026 #TaxTheRich
#vanpoli #Vote2026 #TaxTheRich
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
ICYMI - here is another snippet of my speech to Vancouver City Council last week about the impact the budget cuts are having on staff morale.
#vanpoli
#vanpoli
November 26, 2025 at 4:48 AM
ICYMI - here is another snippet of my speech to Vancouver City Council last week about the impact the budget cuts are having on staff morale.
#vanpoli
#vanpoli
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
approved despite over 600 speakers signing up to speak to the budget, with all but a tiny number strongly opposed, and following a public engagement survey that found the majority of respondents supported a property tax increase to avoid cuts.
Vancouver's 2026 draft budget has PASSED.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
approved despite over 600 speakers signing up to speak to the budget, with all but a tiny number strongly opposed, and following a public engagement survey that found the majority of respondents supported a property tax increase to avoid cuts.
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
when you hear city councillors like @lisadominato.bsky.social say that this budget reduces the financial pressure on seniors, people with disabilities, and families — remember all of those people can defer their property taxes indefinitely. this is a bad argument I hear too often.
approved despite over 600 speakers signing up to speak to the budget, with all but a tiny number strongly opposed, and following a public engagement survey that found the majority of respondents supported a property tax increase to avoid cuts.
Vancouver's 2026 draft budget has PASSED.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
November 25, 2025 at 10:47 PM
when you hear city councillors like @lisadominato.bsky.social say that this budget reduces the financial pressure on seniors, people with disabilities, and families — remember all of those people can defer their property taxes indefinitely. this is a bad argument I hear too often.
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
Trump never had a fan base.
He had an army of bots who sold his racism and misogyny and xenophobia to uneducated Americans who took voting advice from bald eagle profiles posting Tweets from Eastern Europe.
It’s as stupid as it sounds.
He had an army of bots who sold his racism and misogyny and xenophobia to uneducated Americans who took voting advice from bald eagle profiles posting Tweets from Eastern Europe.
It’s as stupid as it sounds.
November 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Trump never had a fan base.
He had an army of bots who sold his racism and misogyny and xenophobia to uneducated Americans who took voting advice from bald eagle profiles posting Tweets from Eastern Europe.
It’s as stupid as it sounds.
He had an army of bots who sold his racism and misogyny and xenophobia to uneducated Americans who took voting advice from bald eagle profiles posting Tweets from Eastern Europe.
It’s as stupid as it sounds.
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
Carney said the Major Projects Office would develop a strategy for “Pathways Plus” — essentially marrying a major investment in carbon capture with a new pipeline to export oil from Alberta — which seems like it will see a breakthrough tomorrow.
Here's a refresher on why it's a very bad bet.
Here's a refresher on why it's a very bad bet.
Carney's latest pipedream explained
Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to see the Pathways Alliance project built in exchange for a new oil pipeline to the BC coast — a risky bet on the country’s economic future.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Carney said the Major Projects Office would develop a strategy for “Pathways Plus” — essentially marrying a major investment in carbon capture with a new pipeline to export oil from Alberta — which seems like it will see a breakthrough tomorrow.
Here's a refresher on why it's a very bad bet.
Here's a refresher on why it's a very bad bet.
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
“The answer is still no. No pipelines in British Columbia, no further fossil fuel pipelines, period,” said Stewart Phillip, grand chief of Syilx Nation and president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. From @sonalg.bsky.social
BC First Nations denounce reported Alberta-Ottawa agreement
Ahead of Thursday's expected announcement, Indigenous leaders in the province are accusing the federal government of making a "back room deal" to force through a pipeline to the province's northwest c...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:30 PM
“The answer is still no. No pipelines in British Columbia, no further fossil fuel pipelines, period,” said Stewart Phillip, grand chief of Syilx Nation and president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. From @sonalg.bsky.social
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
“The emails, the correspondence that we're receiving from people, are constituents sitting down and actually writing their thoughts and I think that actually speaks volumes in terms of how committed people are to this issue,” MP Will Greaves said. From @natashabulowski.bsky.social
BC Liberal MPs face pressure from voters over pipeline, tanker ban
Liberal MP for Victoria Will Greaves said the feedback he's getting from constituents "is almost universally opposed to lifting the tanker ban and is deeply skeptical of building another pipeline to t...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:30 PM
“The emails, the correspondence that we're receiving from people, are constituents sitting down and actually writing their thoughts and I think that actually speaks volumes in terms of how committed people are to this issue,” MP Will Greaves said. From @natashabulowski.bsky.social
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
Oh please just fuck off
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Oh please just fuck off
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
Police brutality has failed to create safety for 250+ years, and it will fail this time too.
Cutting jobs and slashing the arts will make life less affordable.
Ken Sim hates Vancouverites, which is why he's choosing to undermine democracy by ignoring us.
#EvictKenSim #vanpoli
Cutting jobs and slashing the arts will make life less affordable.
Ken Sim hates Vancouverites, which is why he's choosing to undermine democracy by ignoring us.
#EvictKenSim #vanpoli
Budget day for the City of Vancouver!
Debate has started on the $2.4 billion 2026 budget, which includes a property tax freeze on the local section, $50 million more for the VPD, and cuts to several other departments, including Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Debate has started on the $2.4 billion 2026 budget, which includes a property tax freeze on the local section, $50 million more for the VPD, and cuts to several other departments, including Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
'I'm proud of this one': Mayor Ken Sim talks budget with $50 million more for police amid property tax freeze | CBC News
In his final budget before facing voters next October, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is presenting a property tax freeze, and $50 million more for police, balanced by major cuts to arts, culture, community ...
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Police brutality has failed to create safety for 250+ years, and it will fail this time too.
Cutting jobs and slashing the arts will make life less affordable.
Ken Sim hates Vancouverites, which is why he's choosing to undermine democracy by ignoring us.
#EvictKenSim #vanpoli
Cutting jobs and slashing the arts will make life less affordable.
Ken Sim hates Vancouverites, which is why he's choosing to undermine democracy by ignoring us.
#EvictKenSim #vanpoli
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
Vancouver's 2026 draft budget has PASSED.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
November 25, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Vancouver's 2026 draft budget has PASSED.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
Colleen Jones asked me to interview her a couple of months ago during a chemotherapy appointment.
She told me to write one heck of a story. I hope I did her proud.
About always believing something wonderful is about to happen.
My tribute to Colleen: www.cbc.ca/sports/olymp...
She told me to write one heck of a story. I hope I did her proud.
About always believing something wonderful is about to happen.
My tribute to Colleen: www.cbc.ca/sports/olymp...
Colleen Jones was something wonderful to happen for anyone who knew her | CBC Sports
Colleen Jones was a tour de force. When you were with her you felt invincible and that anything was possible. She made you a believer.
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Colleen Jones asked me to interview her a couple of months ago during a chemotherapy appointment.
She told me to write one heck of a story. I hope I did her proud.
About always believing something wonderful is about to happen.
My tribute to Colleen: www.cbc.ca/sports/olymp...
She told me to write one heck of a story. I hope I did her proud.
About always believing something wonderful is about to happen.
My tribute to Colleen: www.cbc.ca/sports/olymp...
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
This is exactly what you do
With presidents who coup
With presidents who coup
Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro must begin serving his 27-year prison sentence for plotting an attempted coup, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has ruled. https://cnn.it/4p1dgDV
November 25, 2025 at 9:01 PM
This is exactly what you do
With presidents who coup
With presidents who coup
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
We’re disappointed to see the City of Vancouver approve a devastating austerity budget, with no clarity on what services, programs and plans will be cut. Despite hundreds opposing this budget by speaking in person or writing in, Mayor Sim and ABC party chose to push it through anyway.
#VanPoli
#VanPoli
November 25, 2025 at 10:29 PM
We’re disappointed to see the City of Vancouver approve a devastating austerity budget, with no clarity on what services, programs and plans will be cut. Despite hundreds opposing this budget by speaking in person or writing in, Mayor Sim and ABC party chose to push it through anyway.
#VanPoli
#VanPoli
A big #vanpoli thanks to @seanorr.bsky.social @ptfry.bsky.social @rebeccaleebligh.bsky.social and @lucymaloney.bsky.social for your efforts to fight back against the disgraceful Ken Sim/ABC budget.
Will be remembered next October, esp when people see the cuts that were hiding inside the "envelopes"
Will be remembered next October, esp when people see the cuts that were hiding inside the "envelopes"
November 25, 2025 at 10:28 PM
A big #vanpoli thanks to @seanorr.bsky.social @ptfry.bsky.social @rebeccaleebligh.bsky.social and @lucymaloney.bsky.social for your efforts to fight back against the disgraceful Ken Sim/ABC budget.
Will be remembered next October, esp when people see the cuts that were hiding inside the "envelopes"
Will be remembered next October, esp when people see the cuts that were hiding inside the "envelopes"
Bye @vote4abc.bsky.social u just sealed your demise & hopefully every 1 of you supporting this poor excuse for governance in budget without details-becomes a FORMER city councillor in Oct 26.
And Montague-hopefully u resign asap now that you've successfully completed your VPD lobbyist role #vanpoli
And Montague-hopefully u resign asap now that you've successfully completed your VPD lobbyist role #vanpoli
November 25, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Bye @vote4abc.bsky.social u just sealed your demise & hopefully every 1 of you supporting this poor excuse for governance in budget without details-becomes a FORMER city councillor in Oct 26.
And Montague-hopefully u resign asap now that you've successfully completed your VPD lobbyist role #vanpoli
And Montague-hopefully u resign asap now that you've successfully completed your VPD lobbyist role #vanpoli
Kudos to @ptfry.bsky.social for the perfect summation of this sham #vanpoli 2026 budget, including a perfect jab at the councillor representing North Van and Penticton, who somehow has a vote.
Well done.
Well done.
November 25, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Kudos to @ptfry.bsky.social for the perfect summation of this sham #vanpoli 2026 budget, including a perfect jab at the councillor representing North Van and Penticton, who somehow has a vote.
Well done.
Well done.
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
Swagger "proposed" #Vancouver 2026 budget
“People who pay for this expect the money is going to go back into the park systems, making our community centres, our arenas better. But the city is taking that money out of the park board and putting it into other priorities of the city.”
#VanPoli
“People who pay for this expect the money is going to go back into the park systems, making our community centres, our arenas better. But the city is taking that money out of the park board and putting it into other priorities of the city.”
#VanPoli
November 25, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Swagger "proposed" #Vancouver 2026 budget
“People who pay for this expect the money is going to go back into the park systems, making our community centres, our arenas better. But the city is taking that money out of the park board and putting it into other priorities of the city.”
#VanPoli
“People who pay for this expect the money is going to go back into the park systems, making our community centres, our arenas better. But the city is taking that money out of the park board and putting it into other priorities of the city.”
#VanPoli
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
Re: Core services like children’s swimming lessons and recreation programs... treated as line items to trim:
“[These] services aren’t efficiencies to be found, they are core public service. I will not support a motion that protects a slogan."
#Vancouver #VanPoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
“[These] services aren’t efficiencies to be found, they are core public service. I will not support a motion that protects a slogan."
#Vancouver #VanPoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Vancouver Park Board hikes fees amid divisions over 0% property increase plan | CBC News
The Vancouver Park Board has approved a series of fee increases in its 2026 budgets following a tense meeting Monday night, with commissioners split over how the mayor’s push for a zero per cent prope...
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Re: Core services like children’s swimming lessons and recreation programs... treated as line items to trim:
“[These] services aren’t efficiencies to be found, they are core public service. I will not support a motion that protects a slogan."
#Vancouver #VanPoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
“[These] services aren’t efficiencies to be found, they are core public service. I will not support a motion that protects a slogan."
#Vancouver #VanPoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Hard to believe @vote4abc.bsky.social could make this #vanpoli budget any worse, but Lenny Zhou and ABC just did with a horrible amendment.
Just awful. And some ABC councillors come off as huge hypocrites when they twist themselves into pretzels to cover for their ABC colleagues.
Just awful. And some ABC councillors come off as huge hypocrites when they twist themselves into pretzels to cover for their ABC colleagues.
November 25, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Hard to believe @vote4abc.bsky.social could make this #vanpoli budget any worse, but Lenny Zhou and ABC just did with a horrible amendment.
Just awful. And some ABC councillors come off as huge hypocrites when they twist themselves into pretzels to cover for their ABC colleagues.
Just awful. And some ABC councillors come off as huge hypocrites when they twist themselves into pretzels to cover for their ABC colleagues.
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
The Pete Hegseth 'Try Not Committing Unlawful Command Influence For One Entire Day' Challenge
November 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
The Pete Hegseth 'Try Not Committing Unlawful Command Influence For One Entire Day' Challenge
Reposted by Mike Hanafin
November 25, 2025 at 5:44 PM