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Charlie Cottreau

@charliecnorth.bsky.social
49 followers 55 following 226 posts

Writer. Photographer. Socialist. Acadian Driftwood. Writes thenorthcolumn.substack.com. Based in Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. AI = Block

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Reposted by Charlie Cottreau
Arrête Mark Carney ⚜️ @lalegault.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
They’ve changed our tax policy to give billionaires a break while 10 million Canadians are food insecure. #cdnpoli
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The Mackenzie Valley Highway, climate change, car dependency, public transit, and Canadian infrastructure all on the docket. Read it today over at Checkpoint Charlie. checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com/p/northwest-...
checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com
Northwest Passage
The Case for the Mackenzie Valley Highway, Climate Change, and Car Dependency
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Occasionally I have to go back through my own archive in search of something. On an unrelated mission today, I dug up this piece from two years ago. I think it's relevant again for Nova Scotians following Cape Breton's deadly floods last week. thenorthcolumn.substack.com/p/hell-and-h...
thenorthcolumn.substack.com
Hell and High Water
North Carolina’s Coastal Resource Commission, a policy panel of geoscientists who advise the state legislature, released a report suggesting that the state should prepare itself for an average of abou...
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The last column of the week. An analysis of the rising far right, The AfD, and the Saxony Anhalt state election. Today on Checkpoint Charlie. checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com/p/dont-menti...
checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com
Don’t Mention the War
The Far-Right, Saxony-Anhalt, and the Rise of the AfD
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
The vanishing arctic, the opening shipping lanes, and the many ways in which they change the world around us. Today on Checkpoint Charlie checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com/p/end-of-the...
checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com
End of the Ice Age
Sea Ice, Shipping Routes, and the Arctic Death Spiral
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Big Oil and its corruption. Today on Checkpoint Charlie checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com/p/snake-oil
checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com
Snake Oil
Big Oil, Subsidies, and a National Ransom Scheme
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Reposted by Charlie Cottreau
Dr Emma Salisbury @salisbot.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
AfD winning elections in Germany, you say?
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
With a global crisis response beginning tomorrow, we could hypothetically hold ourselves to about 1.8 degrees of warming. Hypothetical because our leaders refuse to do that. They have chosen the apocalypse over an inconvenient decade. Act accordingly. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
cbc.ca
Canadians should prepare for a 5 C hotter future, report warns | CBC News
The federal government's new report summarizing the latest science on climate change warns that under current climate policies, the impact on Canadians will likely be "far from benign."
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Remember that the climate crisis will come to you as a series of shaky videos until eventually you're holding the camera. For those of you keeping score at home, that's now six dead Nova Scotians in three years from intense climate change driven flooding www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
46-year-old Cape Breton woman found dead in flooded area | CBC News
In a news release issued Sunday, RCMP said the woman's vehicle was parked near her residence in Cleveland, N.S., on the far side of a flooded bridge. First responders carried out a search Saturday and...
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
My foretold return to The North, my first Canadiana column, after an 18 month hiatus. Feels pretty good to be back at it writing about bears again. Give it a read over on Substack! thenorthcolumn.substack.com/p/into-the-w...
thenorthcolumn.substack.com
Into the Wild
Around this time of the year it has become my habit to make a hiking pilgrimage to Kejimkujik National Park.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Put it this way. The world we know ends at 3.0 degrees. The projected path is 3.5 degrees. In 24 years. You're either fighting climate change or you're bringing about the apocalypse. We're out of time and other options. Act accordingly.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Ending off my writing week with some Canadian political analysis on misogyny, the climate crisis, and the cabinet resignation of Nova Scotia Energy Minister Marco MacLeod. Today on Checkpoint Charlie! checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com/p/straight-o...
checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com
Straight Outta West Pictou
Nova Scotia, Misogyny, and the Resignation of Marco MacLeod
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Canadian wildlife and mall-walkers for the slide into autumn! Today on Checkpoint Charlie. checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com/p/the-wild-i...
checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com
The Wild Indoors
Mall-Walkers, Parking Lots, and the Beginning of Autumn
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
On today's Checkpoint Charlie, commentary on yesterday's Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, North Vancouver-Capilano, and Beaches-East York byelections. checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com/p/the-three-...
checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com
The Three By-Electioneers
By-Elections, Senators, and Political Purgatory
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Provincial politics and the rise and (hopefully) fall of the far-right from Canada's third largest province, British Columbia. Read it today from Checkpoint Charlie over on Substack. checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com/p/party-of-m...
checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com
Party of Minus One
Kerry-Lynne Findley and Self Imposed Implosion of the BC Conservatives
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Today's Canadian thoughts on what's really in a name and the ridiculous attempts of the American baboon regime to rename Lake Ontario. checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com/p/troubled-w...
checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com
Troubled Waters
Lake Ontario and True Names on a Colonial Continent
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
After a few months away from publishing I've made the decision to start a new column covering Canadian politics, global connections, and our search for a better world. Follow along for more Checkpoint Charlie. checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com/p/here-there...
checkpointcharliecolumn.substack.com
Here There Be Monsters
Canadian Trade Deals and an Extractive World
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Canada is giving serious consideration to renaming the Gulf of Maine to the Gulf of Nova Scotia. Unless of course Maine agrees to become our glorious 11th province as this will facilitate greatness by cutting six hours off travel from Montreal to the Maritimes! Thank you for your attention!
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
This is exactly what I'd say if I hadn't done a financial impact analysis and really didn't want anyone to know.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
BREAKING: Nova Scotia Premier Houston Limits Access to his Totally Rad Tree Fort with Cardboard Sign. "No poors- I mean commies- I mean special interest groups" said Houston via string phone. "Unless they have a special interest in uranium mining or billionaire boat racing" he added hastily.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Two months later and the Hemlock Walk is at 200.2KM down and 334.8KM left to go! The fundraiser is still active and accepting donations for the Ecology Action Centre. Our local Nova Scotian institutions need our support against our Scroogian government now even more than ever.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
The Wolfville rally at high noon against Tim Houston and his planned liquidation sale of Nova Scotia's arts and culture. By far the largest rally I've ever seen in small town Annapolis Valley. Nova Scotians are a folkloric people. The arts are the basis of our culture with lobsters and Stan Rogers.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
It's really hard to write satire when the legitimate news is that Spain is kicking the Americans out of Moron Air Base. Reports suggest they will be regrouping at Psychotic League of Super Evil War Crimes Air Base due to it being deemed more fitting.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
I was in Cadiz last week and the city was filled with "Yankees Out!" street art regarding the Americans at Rota Naval Base. The recurring theme I've noticed around the world is that you can always tell where the Americans have a military presence by the graffiti hate mail.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
It's time we call this what it is: liquidation. Houston is selling off or cutting off anything that isn't nailed down. If we don't act now and furiously, even if we float him back to Bermuda in three years, we'll be decades picking up the pieces. Lotta rich bastards will be richer bastards though.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
When I was about six, Dubya was my standard villain in my imagination games. Then I found out his dad's VP was Quayle. Then I found out Dick Cheney shot a man while hunting quail. Which sounds like Quayle when you think the sitting VP was hunting a man. Dick Cheney quickly became my villain.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
One thing we have to remember is that Houston was reportedly quite a good accountant at making the rich richer through less than financially ethical means. This isn't mismanagement. It's a continuing mission. Put simply, we're getting robbed.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
I'd be hard pressed to come up with a more direct fuck you to Nova Scotians. This isn't pocket change. My girlfriend's family will now be paying an extra $950 every two years. I walk a lot. Will John Lohr be personally kneecapping me every two years as well? www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/...
saltwire.com
Nova Scotia EV and hybrid owners to pay new tax every time they renew their plates
Owners of fully electric and hybrid vehicles will have to pay a new levy when they renew the stickers on their license plates.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Anyone else remember when these heinous bastards criminalized protesters under the guise of supporting DNR? Pepperidge Farm remembers. And Pepperidge Farm is pretty goddamn pissed about it to be honest with you.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Embracing work from home is the key to revitalizing rural NS. I took a drive down the Eastern Shore last fall and half the houses are standing empty. Imagine if we let the people who'd rather not live in Halifax at all, let alone drive in it, move out there without having to leave their jobs.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
"Is 40% of your catalogue just jokes about Brian Mulroney being in hell?" is still my favourite question I've gotten about my writing. This is why. He set foreign policy entirely to impress Reagan.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Three weeks into the Hemlock Walk and I've covered 97.7/535KM! We're also 30% of the way to our fundraising goal! Onwards and upwards
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
The "rules based order" was built on one rule. Imperialism for the Global South while the privileged North chooses its own fate. The USA has always been like this. Only now they're redefining who's a fair target. Our choice is to stand united with the Global South or become an American vassal.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
My New Year's/Birthday/Anniversary of Moving Back to NS/Motivation to run in the Canadian Winter Project! Raising money for the Ecology Action Centre and NS Environmentalism. 9.1 KM down and 525.9 KM to go! www.gofundme.com/f/the-hemloc...
gofundme.com
Donate to The Hemlock Walk, organized by René Doucet Cottreau
I'm walking 535KM by April 30th to raise $500 for the Ecology Action Centre. The Hemlock Walk wi… René Doucet Cottreau needs your support for The Hemlock Walk
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
BREAKING: Canadian Visitors to USA Offered Free Beer and Chance to Win All Expenses Paid One-Way Flight to El Salvador. *Offer Not Available in White, Protestant, Anglophone, or Quebec.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Noise pollution is underappreciated aspect of this too. I've felt bad driving to work through the early morning in my little car with its totally blown exhaust that I haven't had time to fix. I realized the other day that it's still quieter than my coworkers' perfectly operational monster trucks.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Colonial governments like Nova Scotia have been using race and class to separate the haves from the have nots since the beginning. Remember that you're no exception. Only the ruling class are truly safe. Stand up for the people standing up for Nova Scotians and Nova Scotia. We're in this together.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
I've spent close to a month of nights in that tent over the last two years. I'm listening to the wind, -25 by morning they say, and thinking of my friends out there tonight. All to stop world eaters like Tim Houston from finishing what the wildfires started. Write your MLA. Save Goldsmith Lake.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
I met Dermot in a hostel at the edge of the arctic the day after he fought a bear in his tent during his successful attempt to be the first Irishman to canoe the Yukon River from source to sea. Now he's running 1000km for Palestine. Donate what you can. www.gofundme.com/f/the-slo-sl...
gofundme.com
Donate to The SLO SLO DERMO 1000KM CHALLENGE, organized by Dermot Higgins
The SLO SLO DERMO Challenge You may have heard of GOGO Dermo. I’ve also compl… Dermot Higgins needs your support for The SLO SLO DERMO 1000KM CHALLENGE
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Reposted by Charlie Cottreau
Santiago Mayer @santiagomayer.com · 30/11/2025
If the Venezuelan sailors were enemy combatants, then the 2nd strike is a war crime. If the Venezuelan sailors weren’t enemy combatants, then both strikes are criminal murder. It’s that simple.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Stop selling your creativity to a human rights violating Dunning Kruger machine from the real world equivalent of Skynet that burns orphans for fuel and uses the same amount of water as Zimbabwe. It's that easy.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
As part of my recent pledge to bring Nova Scotia climatology to Bluesky, here's one for the locals from the recently reprieved West Mabou Beach. Seems like it'll be a great talk!
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Vancouver's new climate ignoring, union assaulting, people ignoring austerity budget. Hopefully Mayor Ken Sim's last, but this is a symptom of a larger issue of disconnection between service and money on every level of government in Canada. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
ctvnews.ca
Hundreds sign up to speak to council about Vancouver’s ‘Zero Means Zero’ budget
More than 600 people signed up to weigh in on Vancouver’s proposed 2026 budget, which was drafted to deliver a zero per cent property tax increase.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Worth a read. Canada's financescape really has lost the plot and forgotten that profits should serve people and not vice versa. It's not 1980. We know the invisible hand of the free market left unchecked does nothing but choke us and in our world climate change preparedness is an essential service.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Some more good mayoral news. The Seattle Mayoral Election has ended in a razor thin victory for community organizer Katie Wilson over the billionaire funded establishment incumbent. I've only spent six hours in Seattle, but I'm happy to see a good city get better. newrepublic.com/article/2033...
newrepublic.com
The Real Losers in Seattle’s Mayoral Election? Oligarchs.
They poured mountains of dollars into trying to find ways to stop socialist Katie Wilson. But to younger voters, their money stinks.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Some good news from Denmark! The centrist Social Democrats have lost the Copenhagen Mayoral Election to a left wing coalition for the first time in history. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
theguardian.com
Centre-left tipped to lose Copenhagen for first time in electoral history
Political rivals say PM’s divisive politics have encouraged voters to ditch the Social Democrats for the far right
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Oddly the NDP got it right this time. Lori Idlout and Gord Johns directly served their constituents by abstaining and the rest of the party reminded Carney that he's a minority PM. This budget misses nearly every mark, but a winter election would benefit nobody. www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
cbc.ca
Carney government wins crucial confidence vote on budget | CBC
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
For possibly the first time ever, Tim Houston has read the room. West Mabou Beach is safe. At least until Timmy decides it's Round 3. Yelling at politicians works! www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nov...
ctvnews.ca
Nova Scotia government quashes West Mabou Beach golf course plan
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says the Cabot’s proposal to build a third golf course in parts of West Mabou Beach, in West Mabou, N.S., is off the table.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
You know what? We're on the wrong end of forty years of decimation against public transport in Canada. If the enthusiasts want to take matters into their own hands I say we let them. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Man who took Hamilton bus on joy ride 'did a great job' driving, left no dings, say police | CBC News
He made several stops along the way, allowing passengers to get on and off, police say. He was then arrested.
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Charlie Cottreau @charliecnorth.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
BREAKING: Irving Opens Branch Office of Skynet. Volta Grid, which is definitely somehow Irving, said: "After years of paper and oil based climate and social villainy a jump into the digital world felt right!" The disembodied corporate voice then cackled maniacally. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Proposed data centre would need almost half of Tantramar gas plant’s power | CBC News
A proposed data centre in the Lorneville area of Saint John would gobble up the equivalent of almost half the electricity N.B. Power will get from a controversial natural gas plant in the Tantramar ar...
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