iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sadly I think this is the experience most of us will now have lawfully riding our bikes on Bloor Street. The funny thing is, the car ends up behind other cars at a red light, anyway. Not sure where all the rage comes from? #biketo.

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Toronto Live! Ford's undemocratic bike lane removal saga continues...

I am sure that TO Police will investigate and arrest this person who tried to kill cyclists lawfully cycling in the traffic lane, just as they arrested 3 protestors for peacefully protesting @cycletoronto.bsky.social @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social youtu.be/pt5jVq-3yTQ?.... Right?

youtu.be

YouTube video by Johnny Strides

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Agreed. I have spent 6 months doing this myself. In the process of switching to Linux. Switched from Google to Proton. Setup my own home NAS server/apps. In addition to not supporting American tech, I'm finding tech to be fun again! Realized how soulless big tech is.

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Negro Frolics @desmondcole.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

I would love for the Canadian government to adopt a policy like this -- similar to France -- to ensure Canadian digital sovereignty (@liberalca.bsky.social). At the provincial level, as well (@maritstilesndp.bsky.social). Canada can work to develop a custom linux distro.

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Reposted by Brandon Mattalo

Doug Ford’s war on bike lanes isn’t about traffic—it’s part of a global right-wing backlash to vilify urban residents and defend fossil fuel interests. @breachmedia.ca dove into the politics of cycling, and debunked some myths along the way www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoCz...

youtube.com

Doug Ford’s attack on Toronto’s bike lanes is part of a global right-wing playbook

YouTube video by The Breach

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It wouldn't absolve them from any liability in the matter. They would still be at fault for the accident.

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Given that Toronto Police generally fail at enforcing the HTA against any road users, I would guess even if this happened nobody would follow it, and if anything, would cause more cyclists to take the lane in protest.

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I agree. What I have found with modern journalism is that it tends to carry two political talking points without scrutiny. It should be: "Doug Ford says 'X'. We checked the facts and that is false. Here is why." I don't understand the tendency to just carry patently false talking points.

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The other issue is how hostile driving makes a city feel. Walking around a city, having a meal or coffee outside, is simply not enjoyable when it's next to s 4-lane highway if speeding and loud cars. Cities are for living in, not driving through.

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This is precisely why it is such an important issue (and why I care about it so much). One of the only ways I can often get around the city is by biking (I have a car, but it's so inefficient in the city to use). Removing the bike lanes means I may now die just trying to move around the city.

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That's sad. I would hope they would get a little creative with their arguments here to delay it further. Force the province to amend their legislation or get an injunction. Anything to make this as painful as possible and force the province to burn a lot of political capital.

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Yes, but I would think proper statutory interpretation would mean that 195.7(2) must be interpreted in light of 195.7(1). I think it's up for debate, is all, so would hope the confusion would mean the police actually shouldn't be allowing the work to proceed until it can be clarified.

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It wouldn't supersede permits unless the Bill lawfully provided for it (which it does, but only under the conditions I noted, above). Therefore, assuming they didn't follow their own conditions, then they can't be exempt from the permits. They would need to have the legislation amended.

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I believe the removal of these lanes was done without reviewing any traffic information (but am happy to be corrected). If that is the case, then the Minister cannot invoke the exemption under 195.7(4).

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Brandon Mattalo @bmattalo.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Not sure if this is correct. The exemption from permits only applies if (a) the province requested traffic information under s. 195.4; and (b) the Minister reviewed it and made an order to remove the lanes. I don't believe any of that happened (unless I am mistaken), and therefore the permits apply.

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Would love for the federal government to make some of its funding of new infrastructure (particularly for transit projects/highways/rail/housing) contingent on building active transport (thereby denying ON any funding for projects if it decides to go forward with this). @liberalca.bsky.social.

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Brandon Mattalo @bmattalo.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This is truly disappointing. I really hope @cycletoronto.bsky.social decides to appeal the Court of Appeal's decision. I know the odds of being granted leave are slim, but I think it's worth a fighting chance.

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Reposted by Brandon Mattalo

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 17/09/2026

New research from Proton finds 87% of top Canadian companies depend on US tech companies. For governments, it’s even worse: 100% of federal, provincial, and territorial governments rely on US companies for email. As Canada turns away from the US, major institutions need to cut that reliance.

100% of Canadian governments and 87% of major Canadian companies depend on US companies for email services.

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Brandon Mattalo @bmattalo.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I think you are 100% correct on this. Doug Ford is a populist. His approach is to divide people to get an edge in polls, it is not an approach of good governance or policy. He focuses on issues where people have strong emotional attachments. Can't fight against that with logic or facts, sadly.

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Brandon Mattalo @bmattalo.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Might I add: announcing that any bidder on the provincial project will be blacklisted from all city projects indefinitely.

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Brandon Mattalo @bmattalo.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Yes - our premiere is unfortunately a populist -- he has no interest in policy. He has largely won his elections by courting suburban voters. Our suburbs are car-dependent, and so they have few means to get into the city due to underfunding of transit by the province. This is designed for votes.

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Brandon Mattalo @bmattalo.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I noticed my mistake as soon as I read back my own message! Edmonton, of course!

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Brandon Mattalo @bmattalo.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Agreed. What helps me find new music: - I switched to Qobuz , a French (partly Canadian owned) streaming service. They are very human curated. - Canadian college radio -- specifically out of Calgary and Victoria CKUA/CFUV - Independent music publications like @hearingthingsco.bsky.social

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Brandon Mattalo @bmattalo.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I actually think it's much easier to pinpoint than that. In the last 10 years the GTA has added a million new cars to the road and 1.2 million new licensed drivers and went from about 5,000 taxi medallions to over 80,000 ubers/lyfts. There's more traffic because there's more drivers.

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Brandon Mattalo @bmattalo.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I have spent considerable time over the last little while getting rid of US-centric technology from my life. For this specific question there are many good options: - duckduckgo.com - kagi.com - www.ecosia.org - www.qwant.com

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Couple this with the increased complexity of our problems and the higher degree of thinking required to solve it, it would seem like over time our politicians can get away with less reasoned policy decisions since they can rely on misconceptions as opposed to research.

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I have been meaning to write a piece on the words "common sense". It often is used to reject scientific fact, and instead, substitute common misconceptions about topics that are uninformed. The more misconceptions there are about a subject, the more "common sense" it is.

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I think their path of least resistance (which they did not follow) would be to say the lower court found that adding a driving lane would reduce congestion in the short term; therefore, even if congestion gets worse in the long term, that balance between short/long term is a policy decision.

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I certainly dislike the outcome of the judgment, but I do think the court was saying something different, which is that judge's should not be making policy decisions. I do think they over-reached with their rhetoric here, though.

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I feel like the Court of Appeal was deciding a caricature of a case that was not before it. I understand their reasoning, and respect it (of course), but they don't seem to have fully appreciated the facts of the case or what the lower court decided.

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The lower court also did not make a Charter right to bike lanes. This was addressed by the lower court in para. 18. The government can do nothing, and has no positive obligation to do anything. However, once it does do something, it must do so in accordance with the Charter.

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The court of Appeal seems to have mischaracterized what the lower court said. The lower courts decision did not mandate that the current government not change its policy, it simply mandated that any laws it passes must be in accordance with s. 7 and the principles of fundamental justice.

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"In order to make use of the lifesaving and health-protecting services offered at Insite, clients must be allowed to be in possession of drugs on the premises.... to prohibit possession at Insite engages their rights to life and to security of the person." (para 92)

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PHS: "In 2008, the federal exemption for Insite from the operation of the criminal drug laws expired. This action was started in an effort to keep Insite open." (para 20)

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