William Pratt
@williampratt.bsky.social
Policy Advisor and data enthusiast who lives in Toronto.
It's impressive how quickly that difference spikes. They really set themselves up for failure.
I've been thinking, though - voluntary temporary property tax freezes in exchange for upzoning could potentially be an interesting tool for incentivizing infill and retiree downsizing.
I've been thinking, though - voluntary temporary property tax freezes in exchange for upzoning could potentially be an interesting tool for incentivizing infill and retiree downsizing.
January 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM
It's impressive how quickly that difference spikes. They really set themselves up for failure.
I've been thinking, though - voluntary temporary property tax freezes in exchange for upzoning could potentially be an interesting tool for incentivizing infill and retiree downsizing.
I've been thinking, though - voluntary temporary property tax freezes in exchange for upzoning could potentially be an interesting tool for incentivizing infill and retiree downsizing.
Alternatively, your observation might just be a result of berkson's paradox/collider bias.
Worth thinking about. You could still be right.
Worth thinking about. You could still be right.
January 18, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Alternatively, your observation might just be a result of berkson's paradox/collider bias.
Worth thinking about. You could still be right.
Worth thinking about. You could still be right.
It might just be that people who work on things like politically-sensitive transit projects are bound to secrecy or at least to not be an activist on things related to their own work, making it appear like no passionate transit activists work in transit.
January 18, 2026 at 12:04 AM
It might just be that people who work on things like politically-sensitive transit projects are bound to secrecy or at least to not be an activist on things related to their own work, making it appear like no passionate transit activists work in transit.
Well, hopefully Statcan keeps it open like that.
Though, I suppose your tool might in the end reduce the load on Statcan if its caching and data-selection outperforms their websites, though I would expect increased use to outweigh any of those benefits.
Though, I suppose your tool might in the end reduce the load on Statcan if its caching and data-selection outperforms their websites, though I would expect increased use to outweigh any of those benefits.
January 12, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Well, hopefully Statcan keeps it open like that.
Though, I suppose your tool might in the end reduce the load on Statcan if its caching and data-selection outperforms their websites, though I would expect increased use to outweigh any of those benefits.
Though, I suppose your tool might in the end reduce the load on Statcan if its caching and data-selection outperforms their websites, though I would expect increased use to outweigh any of those benefits.
Maybe it's just statcan's web interface that's slow for me, then. I'm fascinated that Statcan allows a tool like this on their APIs.
January 12, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Maybe it's just statcan's web interface that's slow for me, then. I'm fascinated that Statcan allows a tool like this on their APIs.
(Having spent some time at a Statcan RDC and dealing with their incredibly modest computer systems, I know Statcan is probably hosting all their stuff on the slimmest budget possible, so that may be why I'm baffled at the functionality of this site compared to theirs).
January 12, 2026 at 5:32 PM
(Having spent some time at a Statcan RDC and dealing with their incredibly modest computer systems, I know Statcan is probably hosting all their stuff on the slimmest budget possible, so that may be why I'm baffled at the functionality of this site compared to theirs).
This is beautiful. The R code export function in particular is really useful.
...how expensive is hosting all this data? I'm impressed that all the data seems to download faster than from Statcan's website, not to mention visualizing in browser.
...how expensive is hosting all this data? I'm impressed that all the data seems to download faster than from Statcan's website, not to mention visualizing in browser.
January 12, 2026 at 5:29 PM
This is beautiful. The R code export function in particular is really useful.
...how expensive is hosting all this data? I'm impressed that all the data seems to download faster than from Statcan's website, not to mention visualizing in browser.
...how expensive is hosting all this data? I'm impressed that all the data seems to download faster than from Statcan's website, not to mention visualizing in browser.
Notably, we already have a huge problem of the burden being pushed from single-residential onto multi-residential, which in Ontario, for example, normally pay double the municipal rate, effectively subsidizing single-residential.
I fear this will just shift the burden even further from single-res.
I fear this will just shift the burden even further from single-res.
January 7, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Notably, we already have a huge problem of the burden being pushed from single-residential onto multi-residential, which in Ontario, for example, normally pay double the municipal rate, effectively subsidizing single-residential.
I fear this will just shift the burden even further from single-res.
I fear this will just shift the burden even further from single-res.
What an...interesting...figure they have calculated.While I am open to the idea of giving municipalities new revenue tools, the only future I see in it is municipalities using it to reduce the property tax burden on single-residential dwellings without actually improving municipal finance.
January 7, 2026 at 4:09 PM
What an...interesting...figure they have calculated.While I am open to the idea of giving municipalities new revenue tools, the only future I see in it is municipalities using it to reduce the property tax burden on single-residential dwellings without actually improving municipal finance.
If I'm not mistaken, they can change the settings so all comments need approval before showing up.
January 6, 2026 at 11:37 PM
If I'm not mistaken, they can change the settings so all comments need approval before showing up.
I've mostly seen people coming against the caps on education - not as much on TFWs.
I think it's a symptom of how much progressive thought is driven by PhDs - not a bad thing, but they are self-interested like any other group.
There are academics' jobs at stake, so they all come to bat.
I think it's a symptom of how much progressive thought is driven by PhDs - not a bad thing, but they are self-interested like any other group.
There are academics' jobs at stake, so they all come to bat.
December 22, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I've mostly seen people coming against the caps on education - not as much on TFWs.
I think it's a symptom of how much progressive thought is driven by PhDs - not a bad thing, but they are self-interested like any other group.
There are academics' jobs at stake, so they all come to bat.
I think it's a symptom of how much progressive thought is driven by PhDs - not a bad thing, but they are self-interested like any other group.
There are academics' jobs at stake, so they all come to bat.
Most cities also apply higher property tax rates to multi-residential than other types of housing. The subsidization continues long past construction.
November 22, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Most cities also apply higher property tax rates to multi-residential than other types of housing. The subsidization continues long past construction.
As someone who has had their train delayed several times because of people at track level (whether attempted suicides, illegal entry, or otherwise), this was a terrible take.
November 9, 2025 at 10:11 PM
As someone who has had their train delayed several times because of people at track level (whether attempted suicides, illegal entry, or otherwise), this was a terrible take.
Project 2025 is clearly an instruction manual written by narcissists that have too much power. It has very few original ideas.
August 3, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Project 2025 is clearly an instruction manual written by narcissists that have too much power. It has very few original ideas.
I'm perfectly fine with the original height and size.
However, it's clearly trying to match the style of the ROM just down the street...not a good move.
However, it's clearly trying to match the style of the ROM just down the street...not a good move.
July 19, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I'm perfectly fine with the original height and size.
However, it's clearly trying to match the style of the ROM just down the street...not a good move.
However, it's clearly trying to match the style of the ROM just down the street...not a good move.
Unfortunately, Toronto would rather do anything but issue a building permit.
July 15, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Unfortunately, Toronto would rather do anything but issue a building permit.
Unfortunately, we do have "pro-housing" people who think we shouldn't upzone because it will elevate land values, which is functionally exactly that.
July 12, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Unfortunately, we do have "pro-housing" people who think we shouldn't upzone because it will elevate land values, which is functionally exactly that.
I have bad (yet surefire) advice for this scenario: congestion pricing. Start charging for meetings.
July 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I have bad (yet surefire) advice for this scenario: congestion pricing. Start charging for meetings.
Please clarify - are you suggesting that the secondary rental market is more responsive to shifts in the market because they aren't using price-fixing software?
July 8, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Please clarify - are you suggesting that the secondary rental market is more responsive to shifts in the market because they aren't using price-fixing software?
Would take maybe an afternoon.
June 21, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Would take maybe an afternoon.
I've made some haphazard Toronto transit maps before - it wouldn't be all that hard to pull off. Metrolinx makes the shapefiles public on their website.
June 21, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I've made some haphazard Toronto transit maps before - it wouldn't be all that hard to pull off. Metrolinx makes the shapefiles public on their website.
“What worries me is that this is just going to happen without any real thoughtful and nuanced conversation around other forms of housing and scale of development that have served Vancouver very well in the past.”
...does he mean the forms of housing and development that made Vancouver unaffordable?
...does he mean the forms of housing and development that made Vancouver unaffordable?
June 19, 2025 at 6:11 PM
“What worries me is that this is just going to happen without any real thoughtful and nuanced conversation around other forms of housing and scale of development that have served Vancouver very well in the past.”
...does he mean the forms of housing and development that made Vancouver unaffordable?
...does he mean the forms of housing and development that made Vancouver unaffordable?
Well-designed urban spaces are nice - but it is also true that Toronto has one of the longest approval processes in Canada. What are we going to do to shorten it?
June 19, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Well-designed urban spaces are nice - but it is also true that Toronto has one of the longest approval processes in Canada. What are we going to do to shorten it?