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OttGuy

@gahb13.bsky.social
100 followers 73 following 104 posts

Canadian, Dad, Rugby player, Skier, bicyclists

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Reposted by OttGuy
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 13/10/2026
It's happening in Canada, too, where somehow "digital sovereignty" means "making every device used in Canada vulnerable to foreign spies so that our own spies can access our private communications": www.eff.org/deeplinks/20...
eff.org
Canada’s Bill C-22 Is a Repackaged Version of Last Year’s Surveillance Nightmare
Last year, the Canadian government pushed Bill C-2, which would erode Canadian digital rights in the name of “border security.” The bill was so bad it didn’t even make it to committee because of the b...
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
Trump has cut off intelligence to Ukraine so that Putin can more easily bomb civilians including children.
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Fair Vote Canada 🗳️🍁 @fairvote.ca · 08/10/2026
Great CBC article on how first-past-the-post has distorted Quebec's democracy. The PQ, QS, and PCQ all committed to electoral reform during the election campaign. Now is the time to make that happen. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Parti Québécois win with record-low vote share revives calls for electoral reform | CBC News
A record-low vote share for Quebec's incoming PQ government has reignited a long-simmering debate over how the province elects its leaders.
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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 28/09/2026
NEW DISPATCH: When the going gets tough, legitimate opposition is needed more than ever. www.bugeyedandshameless.com/p/good-leade...
bugeyedandshameless.com
Good Leaders Need Candid Friends
Legitimate opposition spurs innovation, even if it irks
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Alex Bozikovic @alexbozikovic.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
An elderly couple doesn't like the new housing going up next door. So what? This is not news. They'll suffer minor inconvenience. But no one is forcing them to move. And they have the freedom to sell their big multimillion-dollar house and live comfortably elsewhere.
cbc.ca
Toronto needs more homes. These neighbours say they're paying the price | CBC News
An elderly downtown couple says they’re shocked and upset that the city has approved a duplex next door to their three-story Victorian home that they say will tower metres above their chimney and rend...
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The New Orleans @theneworleans.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Allowing small independent shops within residential neighbourhoods can enhance community livability and sustainability. We need to change zoning rules to foster walkable, vibrant communities while addressing potential concerns about noise and traffic.
theneworleans.ca
Walkable Suburbs Aren’t Enough
Allowing small independent shops within residential neighbourhoods can enhance community livability and sustainability. We need to change zoning rules to foster walkable, vibrant communities while addressing potential concerns about noise and traffic.
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Enough to bring down the median rental price? I get that we don't want to over regulate, but we do need more 3+ bedroom units as family options. I agree that figuring out what a good percentage range is isn't straightforward. The basic "let the market decide" probably isn't enough here.
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Strong Towns Ottawa @strongtownsottawa.ca · 15/08/2026
Amazing stuff. It might not seem like much but this is just as important as transit oriented development, safe cycling infrastructure, good pedestrian connections, and all of that!
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Blocking housing for not being affordable enough does not make housing more affordable.
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
More affordable housing is good, but we also need to increase the overall housing supply as well. Accepting a deal from other levels to decrease DC and building more affordable housing should both be part of a serious housing platform. True spine would be lowering DC without using federal funds.
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Janet Bufton 🍁🌻 @janetbufton.ca · 16/07/2026
"We say ‘never again,' but somewhere someone is being tortured right now, and acute fear has again become the most common form of social control." (Judith Shklar, "The Liberalism of Fear")
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Dr. Todd Arrington @btarrington.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
“You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man’s freedom. You can only be free if I am free.” ~Clarence Darrow. Image: Associated Press.
This black and white photo shows a man—Clarence Darrow—standing and wearing a light suit with a dark tie. He looks directly at the camera.
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John Michael McGrath @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
North America (and specifically Ontario) is going to become an island market for gasoline and diesel cars and trucks that's totally defenseless against the EV wave that's coming, and I genuinely don't know what policymakers think is gonna happen.
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
The response should be to improve the reasons to stay, not to try to punish those that decide to leave for whatever reason.
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Sarah McLaughlin @sarahemclaugh.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
You should be able to criticize your government anonymously. And research medical issues. And discuss your sexuality. Or maybe even talk about an abusive partner or family. People have very good reasons to separate their speech from their identity and owe you no explanation or justification.
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
Agree it's great news. But, also would like a different NATO or allied country to develop a similar system to the Patriot so everyone isn't dependent on the US agreeing to export them.
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Jason Paris @jasonparis.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
PULL QUOTE: "If density was allowed in more of Toronto, the pressure to develop main streets for new housing would be far less. That’s not Doug Ford’s meddling, that’s Toronto city council doing what the loudest voters and residents groups wanted."
thestar.com
Shawn Micallef: Toronto has nobody to blame but itself with the possible closure of this cultural landmark
A bar like Sneaky Dee's defines a social scene. Now, we could lose it
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The New Orleans @theneworleans.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Cassie Smith's Master's thesis examines non-work trips in Ottawa, emphasizing the need for sustainable urban mobility. Using a feminist lens, she highlights the gap between proposed reforms and their execution very clearly. Her findings urge for decisive action to reshape community transport habits
theneworleans.ca
This Master’s Thesis Pinpoints Why Ottawa’s Transportation Policy is “Oops, All Cars!”
Cassie Smith's Master's thesis examines non-work trips in Ottawa, emphasizing the need for sustainable urban mobility. Using a feminist lens, she highlights the gap between proposed reforms and their execution very clearly. Her findings urge for decisive action to reshape community transport habits away from car dependency.
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Reposted by OttGuy
It's Jamie @sjamieit.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
I drew a picture.
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
For the municipal taxes collected column, do you know what percentage of last year's taxes went to roadwork costs?
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Jamie doing awesome work again making city data clear to residents. Our infrastructure debt from delayed maintenance is huge and growing.
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Yes, great to see kids using a bike lane. Also really wish that bike lane and parking were swapped, making it safer for all road users. (Bigger issue, slow to fix, but a well used bike lane is a strong start)
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UNITED24 Media @united24media.com · 31/05/2026
⚡️Russia is trying to swap stolen Ukrainian children for prisoners of war, a demand Zelenskyy calls illegal and proof of their crimes.
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Complete streets are such a small cost compared to all the other infrastructure costs. So annoying that they're blaming that, and looking to remove one of the few positive positions the city currently has and implements.
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It's Jamie @sjamieit.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Looks like the city is trying to blame "service enhancements" like complete streets as a reason for why we're so behind on infrastructure renewal - rather than decades of low taxes and maintenance deferrals. That last chart is my own and it shows the year required for road resurfacing, big backlog.
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Meredith Martin 🇨🇦 @meredithmartin.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
🍌🍌🍌 “…a senior couple earning up to a combined $181,994 can each receive the full benefit, while a couple over 75 earning up to $308,392 can each still receive a partial benefit.” 🍌🍌🍌
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: As Canada faces crippling debt, it must do the unpopular thing and cut elderly benefits
The government can reduce its spending while better targeting those genuinely in need
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Matt Gurney @mattgurney.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
"Democracy is not a bunch of the most cowardly people on Earth putting an existential vote on the table without demonstrating even the minimum moral integrity to defend that very vote. This isn’t democracy. This is an abuse of process." Jen Gerson on the news from Alberta. She's not a fan!
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Jeff Kraemer @jeffkraemer.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Hell yes to this, by @justinling.ca. Canada should do all it can to support Ukraine.
thestar.com
Justin Ling: When the war in Ukraine finally ends, will Canada be able to say it did all it could?
We know good news doesn't always last long in Ukraine. That's why the coalition of the willing needs to capitalize on this momentum shift.
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Bicycle Seen @frpaul1.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Kids want to bike to the same places, no matter which generation. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, we rode to school, friends' homes, parks, museum and public pools (there was no admission fee to museums and pools back then). Why do so many adults today don't want kids to have what they had as kids?
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Meredith Martin 🇨🇦 @meredithmartin.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
There's been a lot of discussion over the years about how Canada's population of young people isn't growing fast enough to support the growing number of elderly. A lot of talk about how these young people are going to be financially squeezed. Guess what? It's happening.
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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 08/05/2026
I continue to be flabbergasted that other (non-insane) governments aren't making similar changes. The Canadian government won't shut up about how important "digital sovereignty" is, and then it pours resources into posting everything to Twitter and Facebook.
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Strong Towns Ottawa @strongtownsottawa.ca · 02/04/2026
Please check out the campaign for bikeshare in Ottawa and sign on to their petition! It's a no brainer especially after seeing how successful bikeshare has been around the world. Having easy, reliable, and cheap access to a bike would be a huge quality of life improvement for residents!
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Could also mandate limits on DC's and have municipalities raise property taxes to cover their expenses instead of gauging new owners and renters in the new buildings to subsidize longtime property owners.
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Bike Ottawa @bikeottawa.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
If our elected officials cared about the safety of people outside of cars, starting with kids, we wouldn’t need crossing guards. Our streets would be safe regardless of human error. But here we are. A crossing guard lost their life on duty. We should all be outraged.1/3 www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Ottawa school crossing guard dies after being hit by truck | CBC News
A school crossing guard has died after being injured in a hit-and-run collision in south Ottawa Monday morning, according to city police.
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Reposted by OttGuy
John Michael McGrath @jm-mcgrath.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
zoning rules aren't opaque by accident! cities want the rules to be hard to navigate because they don't want new construction! make the process easier with computers and cities will just make the process even harder!
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Jim M @hockeyinottawa.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
I want to point out this graph STO is referring to, and take it for a little walk. Because this should be, by all accounts the nail in the coffin of listening to any BIA when they complain about parking ever again @arieltroster.com @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @glengower.ca 1/?
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Strong Towns Ottawa @strongtownsottawa.ca · 18/03/2026
Wow, whoever the Glebe BIA hired for their retail analysis really knows what they're talking about! They directly tell the BIA that the on-street parking on Bank Street is not needed for local businesses, and that there are plenty of available spaces around that are cheaper to use!
A page from the Glebe BIA Retail Market and Gap Analysis Final Report. The highlighted section says "  The analysis concluded that 
even if on-street parking were removed along 
Bank St, there would still be parking available 
on side streets and in the parkades; however, 
the businesses who participated in the study 
perceived there to be an inadequate supply of 
parking. The study posited that the perceived 
lack of parking is likely due to the underutilization 
and lack of awareness about the existing parking 
garages, which cost the same or less than on￾street parking along Bank St."
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André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
In the MAID debates, the patient’s voice must take precedence over the dogma of anti-choice activists, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... via @theglobeandmail.com
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: In the MAID debates, the patient’s voice must take precedence
As Canada’s medical assistance in dying regime is expanded, those who want it shouldn’t be silenced
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
You can be inspiring and have bold ideas without making fun of allies who actually got elected. But then they couldn't pretend to be holier then though.
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Perfect example of people more worried about ideological purity than actually being able to govern and implement change.
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Strong Towns Ottawa @strongtownsottawa.ca · 15/03/2026
An amazing member of ours put together this graphic that really encapsulates perfectly the situation on Bank Street. There is only so much space available, and we must use it as efficiently as possible. Parking isn't that. Please sign up to delegate on March 30th in favour of bus lanes!
An OC Transpo #6 bus in a bus lane. Inside of the bus there are multiple people, each with a text showing what they're going to be doing. They say "Grabbing a bite to eat", "Going to Lansdowne", "Getting a haircut", "Bought groceries", and "Can finally fit on the bus". The final one was a user in a wheelchair.

Beside the bus there is a single person in a truck in the regular travel lane. Pointing to him it says "Just driving through". They have a thought bubble coming out from their head saying "That bus lane is going to ruin local business!".
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Justin Ling @justinling.ca · 05/03/2026
today, like every day, is a good day to challenge the absurd leaps of logic underpinning the "we don't need more homes, actually" argument
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André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
We’re blaming our overstuffed ERs, excruciating surgery waits and family doctor deserts on exactly the wrong people. The old “blame the immigrants” narrative has made a comeback, by @drgorfinkel.bsky.social www.thestar.com/opinion/cont... via @thestar.com
thestar.com
Iris Gorfinkel: We’re blaming our overstuffed ERs, excruciating surgery waits and family doctor deserts on exactly the wrong people
As wait times soar and millions struggle without a family doctor, the old “blame the immigrants” narrative has made a comeback in Canadian politics and media. This kind of rhetoric
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Cara Stern @carastern.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
The City of Toronto approved six-storey units on major roads. But bureaucracy is still killing these projects. I was so mad about this article, I had to rant about it. I can't believe councillors are still fighting for "neighbourhood character" in 2026. www.thestar.com/news...
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Considering Alberta still has billboards up all over Ontario saying basically "Move to Alberta for Opportunity", she could try taking responsibility. But that would mean admitting that this is really a blame Ottawa for Alberta made problems strategy again.
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Reposted by OttGuy
David Noll @david.noll.org · 21/02/2026
Next para: "A regime of secret policing has no place in our society. Here, the Government’s power is derived by the People, and the People must be able to identify the Government when it acts to infringe on their liberty."
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
The housing theory of everything, where rising housing costs are either the root or significant part of so many other societal issues.
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
National Occupancy Standard states kids 5 and older of opposite gender should have seperate rooms, so 3+ bedroom unit. 30% of income is $2825 per month towards mortgage. So rough $525k at 5% down. Probably a bit less as condo fees on top of that. Q is How to support infill to build that size&price?
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OttGuy @gahb13.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
The city needs more housing, and this is a 6 minute walk to an let station. If a main Street feel is your worry, please work with the developer to ensure retail use facing the street. But don't more needed housing.
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Alex Bozikovic @alexbozikovic.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
The $113-million mess of a community centre I wrote about this week is 100% funded from “development charges.” It is going in a neighbourhood with zero population growth. In part, these charges are a tax on newcomers to subsidize existing wealthy homeowners. globalnews.ca/news/1163476...
globalnews.ca
Toronto may cancel new community centres, libraries if development funding dries up - Toronto | Globalnews.ca
The city's chief financial officer reiterated that roughly $300 million had been deferred as revenue from development charges dries up, adding that some projects may be cancelled.
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