iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Kevin Wilson @kwilsonhfx.bsky.social · 4h

HFX By Bike is proud to announce its new Mega Intelligence AI agent. Its designed to help city councillors make fool-proof public policy decisions decisions to help their constituents. The prompt is a little unconventional: you email me you question and the AI will respond promptly Totally free!

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Angela Capobianco @ange-sometimes.bsky.social · 5h

An HRM staff report has revealed the Capped Assessment Program is putting the biggest tax burden on new homeowners. Coun. Steele put forward a motion asking for the report to be shared with the province and opposition parties to try to at least reform or scrap the cap. globalnews.ca/video/120778...

globalnews.ca

New report to HRM council shows a larger share of property tax burden falling on new homeowners | Watch News Videos Online

Watch New report to HRM council shows a larger share of property tax burden falling on new homeowners Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

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Kevin Wilson @kwilsonhfx.bsky.social · 5h

*quietly* These streets generate that kind of revenue.

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Reece Martin @rmtransit.bsky.social · 7h

Something you often notice when you learn a lot about things like housing and public transportation is that an inordinate amount of time get spent on things that are either not going to help in a meaningful way or might actually be counterproductive

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William @wilcre.bsky.social · 8h

Halifax Nova Scotia Canada interrupter adjustment 12:01am Wed, Sep 30, 2026 ⛽ REGULAR Down 5.4¢/L = 193.7¢/L ⛽ DIESEL N/C 0.00¢/L = 261.9¢/L Effective as of 12:01am Wed, Sep 30, 2026 #ns #NovaScotia #Halifax #Dartmouth #Canada #Gas #Interrupter

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Ned Resnikoff @resnikoff.bsky.social · 10h

"In the states examined in this analysis, a drop of approximately 20% in inflation-adjusted rents—as happened in Austin, Texas, and Minneapolis after those cities made reforms—could reduce poverty by 18% to 26% and child poverty by 21% to 38%." www.pew.org/en/research-...

pew.org

The Housing Shortage Is a Major Driver of Poverty

Housing costs are usually the largest item in a household’s budget and can determine a family’s financial stability.

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Raccoon in the sky @seebo429.bsky.social · 9h

Purdy's Warf Parkade has sheltered parking and a repair station that looks to be in great condition. Also they have a bike lending program for tenants of Purdy's Warf #BikeHFX

Public bike repair station in Purdy's Warf parkade there are some bikes parked nearby. There's a sign in the background that advertises their bike lending program

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Emily @suika.bsky.social · 9h

"Japanese volleyball player Rui Takahashi came out as gay on Tuesday, saying he wanted to help others struggling with their sexuality in a country where openly LGBTQ+ athletes are extremely rare."

japantimes.co.jp

Japanese volleyball player comes out as gay in rare case

Takahashi said his brother Ran, who is a hugely popular star with Japan’s national volleyball team, helped him come to terms with his sexuality.

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Sam @samd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

it is quite confusing that “inclusionary zoning” is not the opposite of “exclusionary zoning”, but actually functions as a tool of exclusionary zoning

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Aaron Wherry @aaronwherry.bsky.social · 10h

And further to that: The best chances for federal electoral reform will flow from reform being implemented at the provincial level.

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Nick P @npilon.bsky.social · 10h

Bad news everyone it turns out the bond vigilantes are real

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Kevin Wilson @kwilsonhfx.bsky.social · 11h

The provincial CAP program is basically a really poorly targeted welfare program with enormous deadweight costs that's downstream of a lot of middle and upper middle class people not wanting to be on an official welfare program. Send skeet.

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Aaron Wherry @aaronwherry.bsky.social · 13h

Canada already has free trade deals with the United States and Europe. The deal with the U.S. was negotiated with the current president. The U.S. is currently violating that deal with tariffs. www.cnbc.com/2026/09/29/j...

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Mark Carney @mark-carney.bsky.social · 12h

We’re referring Alberta’s Calgary-Red Deer-Edmonton high speed rail strategy to the Major Projects Office. It’s time to build the infrastructure that matches our ambition.

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Matt Stickland @landofsticks.bsky.social · 11h

The CAP is the reason for the slow downfall of Nova Scotia cities and also the most broadly popular tax policy in the province. I love democracy.

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Angela Capobianco @ange-sometimes.bsky.social · 11h

My story from yesterday! The Forum Association and the local councillor are concerned about the demolition pause for the Forum due to cost concerns. Adding that if the project is scrapped now over $6 million already put into the project will be lost. globalnews.ca/video/120770...

globalnews.ca

HRM announces pause to Halifax Forum demolition request | Watch News Videos Online

Watch HRM announces pause to Halifax Forum demolition request Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

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Dale Smith @journodale.bsky.social · 11h

Is it a question of "how" as opposed to "Who is going to pay for it?" Because that's where this project falls down every single time it gets proposed.

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Max Fawcett @maxfawcett.bsky.social · 12h

No matter what happens in the 2026 midterms -- or even the 2028 presidential election -- Canadians will never trust the United States the way it used to. The north remembers. #cdnpoli www.nationalobserver.com/2026/09/29/o...

nationalobserver.com

America still doesn't understand how deep the rift goes

Memo to our friends (and yes, our enemies) to the south: the problem isn’t just Donald Trump. It’s you

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Kevin Wilson @kwilsonhfx.bsky.social · 13h

Likewise, tax reform shifting the collection mechanism off of the general rate and towards area rates for localized services/infrastructure would largely defang the CAP: when there's no one to make up the difference, everyone just pays roughly the same rate.

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stone cold steve autumn @bradis.online · 12h

siiiiiiiiigh Look I don’t want to sound unsympathetic, but “my house is so valuable that I can’t afford the taxes” is not the worst problem to have. You either plan for that as best you can, or you sell your incredibly valuable asset and now you can live out your retirement with the rent paid.

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Adam (he/him) 🇨🇦 @adaminhfx.bsky.social · 12h

This is the part I wish people understood. Without the Cap the tax rate will go down. It will result in fair, equal taxation. It won't result in massive increases unless you have been massively undertaxed

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Nick P @npilon.bsky.social · 12h

Welcome to the anti-cap pro-tax coalition, (confused noises) councillor Trish Purdy?

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Nick P @npilon.bsky.social · 12h

“We know it’s unfair and harmful to us, but the up front numbers look good so we want to keep it” - this is why property tax caps are a bad idea!

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Nick P @npilon.bsky.social · 12h

There are provisions in HRM tax codes for dealing with this! There’s low income tax relief programs, for example.

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Nick P @npilon.bsky.social · 13h

“Transformers but tiny” continues to be an amazing concept that’s far more fun than it should be.

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Terri @terriclarke.bsky.social · 13h

The CAP discourages buying selling and renovating. The cap requires a higher tax rate for the city to meet the needed revenue. The 2026/27 tax rate was 1.135 in the urban area of eligibility with the CAP. Without the CAP, the tax rate would have been 0.854 in the urban area.

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Nick P @npilon.bsky.social · 13h

Deleting and reposting because you were getting dunked on is a bad look.

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Safe Kjipuktuk @safehrm.bsky.social · 13h

when these things are pulled right up to a Crosswalk trying to turn right on red, it is 100% certain kids are not at all safe. per our active travel survey - 78% of parents whose children do not walk or roll as their main mode felt that walking was unsafe.

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Terri @terriclarke.bsky.social · 13h

Council is getting a presentation on the impacts of the NS Capped Assessment Program now

youtube.com

September 29, Regional Council

YouTube video by Halifax Regional Municipality

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Steve Schwinghamer🇨🇦 @sschwinghamer.bsky.social · 14h

"Others pointed to how federal elections appear to be settled before Albertans finish casting their ballots as evidence of how little influence the province has over policies that are crafted in Ottawa." I wonder if anyone has walked them through the ideas of population distribution and time zones.

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Isaiah Bishop @isaiahbishop.bsky.social · 14h

Im not sure how much i believe in like iron-air batteries but we should at least think about it

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Isaiah Bishop @isaiahbishop.bsky.social · 14h

Im for building literally anything including non-market and fixed term leases are bullshit that reduce renter bargaining. But like gotta kill CAP, gotta loosen zoning

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Matt Stickland @landofsticks.bsky.social · 14h

Although to be fair 10 years ago I would have laughed because back then I was much happier because I didn't understand how zoning, car dependency and the CAP created the high housing costs we are seeing today.

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Nick P @npilon.bsky.social · 14h

It was a pretty weird *week* - I was midstream on my undergrad and suddenly we had no school, no power, no internet.

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Safe Kjipuktuk @safehrm.bsky.social · 15h

What if we had basic stuff like average speed cameras on highways to reduce these regular chaos-causing crashes, also adequate Park & Ride supported with bus lanes

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Matt Stickland @landofsticks.bsky.social · 15h

This is a stupid headline. We will pay for it. If it's public we'll pay through taxes, if it's private we'll pay some other way. But make no mistake, we are going to be the ones paying for it, not the private company.

cbc.ca

Fixing or replacing Halifax's MacKay bridge could cost up to $3B. Who’s paying? | CBC News

The MacKay bridge enhancement was one of three projects the province brought to the Canada Investment Summit.

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Terri @terriclarke.bsky.social · 15h

Oh look, after being called out for all the locations being in rural HRM, he added 2 new locations. Halifax Central Common Multi-Purpose Room – Thursday, Oct 22, 6-7pm St. Andrew’s Community Centre – Wednesday, Oct 28, 2-3pm

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Kevin Wilson @kwilsonhfx.bsky.social · 17h

Lol they have no idea how they're going to pay for it. "We're going to attract private money to the project, which means it has to generate returns. One thing I'll tell you upfront, the main mechanism to generate returns is off the table" www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Quote from the provincial public works minister saying that the bridge will somehow be paid for but definitely not by tolls

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Terri @terriclarke.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

So many good comments in here

“We tried bike bus but quit after getting dangerously close passed daily on
Vernon Street.”
- Parent/caregiver

“Why would anyone drive today?”
- Student

“Engage kids who are natural advocates for walking and biking.
They want to do it.”
- Parent/caregiver

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Nick P @npilon.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

engagehalifax.ca/AST-baseline... - Report is up! "Many students chose AST for enjoyment and environmental reasons, reporting that walking is relaxing and fun compared to a bus or driving." Kids! 🫡

engagehalifax.ca

Active School Travel Program Baseline Study

Assessing feasibility and interests of active school travel (AST) in schools within the Halifax Regional Municipality.

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Terri @terriclarke.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Councillor Virginia Hinch says “Friday came out of left field,” and calls the last-minute communications baffling. Paul Card, chair of the Halifax Forum Community Association, calls Fillmore’s fixation on ice times disingenuous, since 55% of visitors are there for non-ice events.

saltwire.com

Councillor, community association in 'disbelief' after Halifax Forum demolition paused 'out of left field'

A late announcement last week pausing the Halifax Forum’s demolition application has left stakeholders shocked.

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Kevin Wilson @kwilsonhfx.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

When I said one of the best things Halifax does is is keep its water utility at arms length from local politics, yes. I meant to guard against things like this. youtu.be/CkDmqbL_njM?...

youtu.be

The Mailbag Episode

YouTube video by HFX by Bike

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Steve Lafleur @stevelafleur.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This place needs more sports content to compete with the bad place. So I'm going to view it as my civic duty to engage with all hockey content, no matter the team. 🏒

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John Muller @mrjohnmuller.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

It is truly an honour to be this hated by someone this evil. Whatever we're doing, Canada, it's working.

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Nova Scotia Museum @novascotiamuseum.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

🐢 An Update on Gus Today we’re sharing news about Gus’s upcoming surgery. At 104 years old, he continues to receive exceptional care from our animal care and veterinary teams, and we’re optimistic about his recovery. Read the full update: naturalhistory.novascotia.ca/gus-gopher-t... 💚

naturalhistory.novascotia.ca

Gus the Gopher Tortoise

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Kevin Wilson @kwilsonhfx.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

People tend to look for That One Kind Of Housing that NIMBYs won't object to, which can be built at volume, and solve a bunch if other social problems. Mostly we just need ti make our land use radically more flexible.

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Brendan Dawe @dawe.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

www.reddit.com/r/transit/s/... neat map of Ontario passenger train volumes in 1966

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Kevin Wilson @kwilsonhfx.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The median is $400/year in extra taxes. 75th percentile is $800/year 90th percentile is $2650/year 95th percentile is $7050/year. For the bulk of payers, this is a ~13% tax hike.

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