iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Parties change. The 2026 Liberal Party is different from the 2015 one. (The policy/budget priorities are very different) The 2026 Conservative Party is different from the 2015 one. The CPC could’ve been in power had they not chased away the PC crowd and allowed the LPC to take their voters.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Anecdotally, I’ve met a couple planners in Calgary and they seem to want positive changes to enable more housing and other reforms. We see that with city admin usually bringing up changes like RCG blanket upzoning. It’s the politicians here that push back, not the planners afaik.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

The city voted it down. That’s the trouble with going backwards in gentle density and saying we’ll make up for it with TOD. In the end we’ll get neither…

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

There are some, including local greenhouse grown produce I’ve seen in grocery stores. I guess it is mostly dairy, grains and meat locally.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

How so? Is it due to the Coop’s that are pretty ingrained across the prairies? Or the different scale of farms?

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Interesting! I wonder if that’s a replicable model for other jurisdictions to pursue. But aren’t there still the big few grocery conglomerates in Ontario with a lot of market share and troubling anti-competitive practices (including restrictive land title clauses).

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

It’s because No Frills already exists and is a better niche. But it would be nice to have competition rather than just oligopolies.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Tbf, it’s better than it becoming derelict and demolished. My head canon is that this is a good adaptive for the time being until passenger rail service resumes again (however many years or decades away).

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Interesting. I’ve never seen something like that in western Canada. Arrow signals are pretty much the standard.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

I’ve never seen this in my life. Where is this located?

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

The time of day matters a lot too Calgary’s CTrain has high ridership and is safe. But later at night, there is some of that disorder happening (to a lesser degree) It impacts who is willing to ride the train at night (vs calling an uber) due to this perception / reality. I know this anecdotally

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

But what is a progressive? Housing transcends a simple left/right political spectrum. It’s more dependant on age and homeownership status. You can have pro-housing progressives and conservatives work together against NIMBY progressives and conservatives.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Doesn’t OneCity have a different focus and target electorate compared to Pete Fry / Greens? Specifically on housing policy. Correct me if I’m wrong or mistaken.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

Victoria is known for being a chill, retirement spot. Vancouver is a better comparison - a big hub of economic activity wherein bad housing policy and supply has resulted in people moving to cheaper places or weathering the expensive cost of living. Some neighbourhoods lean older due to this.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

It’s a vocal minority. Still, it sucks and absolutely impacts our politics.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

No. I’m sorry but this type of talk is extremely unhelpful even if it is just a joke.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

From what I’ve seen, planners are mostly on the same page with housing, transit, and urbanism. The job is to make the best case for it (ex: housing reforms in Calgary and Edmonton) but to ultimately follow whatever council directs you to do (council wanting to reverse it now despite warnings).

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

I think I’ve seen a couple in Calgary but the frequency of hail and freeze/thaw cycles could make it be less practical long term?

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

Edmonton does have a downtown tunnel. Calgary was/is planned to have one. That doesn't make Edmonton's LRT a subway. It still uses light rail vehicles instead of subway/metro vehicles. It also still runs in mixed environments, not fully grade separated all the time.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Both Calgary and Edmonton have successful LRT systems that act as the rapid transit backbone of each city. Idk if it would be accurate to call them metros. They’re just good LRTs that make use of the flexibility of that comes with it.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

It is an inevitability. Not providing a subsidy is not the same as a penalty. side note: I personally would prefer a weight tax to replace the gas/EV tax since imo it’s more fair and provides better incentives.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

It’s not a penalty. It’s the EV equivalent to the gas tax

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Reposted by Panda 🇨🇦

Adam MacVicar @adammacvicar.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

NEW: Global News has learned the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has paused $129M in federal Housing Accelerator Fund money to the City of Calgary pending further clarity on citywide rezoning. globalnews.ca/news/1154274...

globalnews.ca

Calgary’s $129M in federal housing funds ‘paused’ pending citywide rezoning status - Calgary | Globalnews.ca

Calgary city council is preparing to debate a motion that calls for the repeal of the citywide rezoning policy in December, which would require a public hearing in the spring.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Ah well I’m more optimistic. Edmonton just had the Valley Line and is now building the west extension. Calgary has shovels on the ground finally with the Green Line and functional planning on Red Line south and Blue Line airport extensions. I also do think CABR will happen sooner rather than later

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Are you saying lack of progress beyond rail? As in for buses?

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

This is where TOD is a positive thing though. Lots of people take a high order transit like a train for their commute, and can easily take a pit stop on their way home.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

He’s campaigned differently though, specifically mentioning support for the green line and blue line extension to the airport for example.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Undermine transit? Are you referencing Farkas’ previous councillor record? I think transit is only on a positive trajectory as the Green Line comes online, and other projects like an airport link and CTrain extensions are essentially supported by all.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Calgary avoided a truly bad outcome but there may be some setbacks on housing. We got the centrist mayor who dilly dallies on housing but is overall good on other issues. Council is a mix. I think a continuation of the infighting we have seen.

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Reposted by Panda 🇨🇦

Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Move beyond US standards to allow more European and Asian car models in Canada? Yes please! However, “there are fears that this would increase tensions with the United States, as American automakers would be disadvantaged by a more open Canadian market that gives more options to buyers”.

motorillustrated.com

Volkswagen Canada is Open to Bringing More European Models to Canada if Ottawa allows it - Motor Illustrated

Trade tensions with the United States have led to a push for Transport Canada to review its vehicle safety standards. This could allow automakers to import more models certified for sale in Europe, Ja...

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Charting a new course without the US will take determination and time. It’s only possible if a majority of the electorate understands that the 51st state predicament hasn’t passed. That it will require tough choices.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Based on national polling on the issue, there are definitely many people who do need the reminder though.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

I think the provocative title was a good choice. I also didn’t like it when I heard it but that’s the point. We should remember that and steer long term policy that protects our sovereignty and independence.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 21/09/2025

Glass half full: at least a (slim) majority of CPC voters still disapprove of Trump Glass half empty: rip, I don't see the CPC getting more moderate anytime soon. We won't see another Erin O'Toole style leader for a while - just more of Poilievre and his camp

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

The issue is when it’s used as an alternative when it should just be another tool in the toolbox

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Interesting read. We shall see what happens with the budget.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

I see it as the market building what it’s allowed to build. We should try making family units legal to build across the city (upzoning and single stair reform). How do we even mandate something we make illegal? Let’s try allowing it first and seeing what happens if we do.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

IMO the province introduced parties in bad faith but… In Calgary, the two front runners for mayor are independents. For councillors, I think it’s a mixed battleground with parties and independents. The two main parties I see are a (conservative) NIMBY party and a (centrist/coalition) YIMBY party.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Post secondary education is mainly funded by provincial governments. I agree there should be more funding. The federal government does still fund post secondary with billions of dollars (which is a good thing). Is there any source for it decreasing dramatically under Carney?

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Bankers Hall in Calgary is super cool. That’s all

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

We’re talking about high rises next to SkyTrain stations. This would reduce the number of cars The specific project would have an average of less than 1 car parking spot per unit (many people who’d live here would rely on transit and active mobility) The development also has green space included

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

And why not have both? It is useful to ALLOW more development near rapid transit like SkyTrain AND also have less stringent zoning across the city so that medium density is allowed everywhere. What’s the point in picking and choosing? Let’s do all of the above.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

It’s possible and arguably good to have high density transit oriented development AND medium density allowed by right across the city. It doesn’t have to be either or.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

The federal government does have a digital news subscription tax credit but the percentage covered could be higher. I do wish the G&M had lower non-promo prices, I'm currently on the $1/week student plan but it will expire in a year and I'm not sure whether it's possible to renew for that price.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

New Flyer is Canadian! Also Bombardier made trains (division now owned by Alstom)

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Victoria is the better example. 20 km^2 and 91,000 population. Not sure about the city services though.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Parking lots and car infrastructure also influence the architecture surrounding it. I.e ugly and cheap big box stores, blank walls and less effort put into places that are driven past.

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Panda 🇨🇦 @panda354.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Cities in British Columbia like Vancouver and Victoria are exactly like this.

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