I guess today is the day

[RetiredAt63]

I guess Ford looked at his popularity numbers and figured they are good and can't get much better.  We in Ontario go to the polls in February.

[GuitarStv]

I guess Ford looked at his popularity numbers and figured they are good and can't get much better.  We in Ontario go to the polls in February.

I think Ford is hoping that by taking a strong stance regarding the Trump issue that people will vote for him as the guy to solve that problem.  He hasn't exactly been building a lot of goodwill with his corruption, cronyism, anti-environment, and city level political meddling.

[RetiredAt63]

I guess Ford looked at his popularity numbers and figured they are good and can't get much better.  We in Ontario go to the polls in February.

I think Ford is hoping that by taking a strong stance regarding the Trump issue that people will vote for him as the guy to solve that problem.  He hasn't exactly been building a lot of goodwill with his corruption, cronyism, anti-environment, and city level political meddling.

For sure, that has been improving his popularity ratings.  It will be interesting to see what the other parties do.  Because I am sure they are as solid about Trump as Ford is.  Or more so.

So Dougie, my vote is only worth $200?      /s

[scottish]

Do you think the Crombie gang will come up with a good platform?    Ford's been doing ok aside from his cronyism and odd fixation on beer sales

[RetiredAt63]

I'm wondering if we need a new thread on the Ontario election?

Problems with the US, definite.  But there are other issues.  I am a member of Ontario Nature (and Nature Canada, I will be a biologist until I am compost), so often the environmental issues get lost in the economic ones.  But they don't go away.

https://ontarionature.org/campaigns/provincial-election-2025/

[RetiredAt63]

Anyone joining the federal Liberal Party to be able to vote in the leadership race? 5 pm deadline tomorrow.

[Stashasaurus]

Good reminder RetiredAt65. Note that if you have signed up provincially with the NDP you are automatically enrolled federally and unable to join the Liberal party federally to help choose a leader.

Anyone want to trade a Federal NDP leadership race vote for a Federal Liberal vote?

[PoutineLover]

How strict are they on the multi party thing? Can they even check?

I'm technically a green but plan to vote abc and my riding might be close enough that I have to vote liberal, so it would be nice to have a say in the leadership race too.

[RetiredAt63]

I haven't joined anything in a long time.  I joined the Quebec Liberals once to make sure we got a local candidate instead of a parachute candidate.  We got her, she won, and I let my membership lapse.

Hmm, maybe I should.  I'm in a double Conservative riding right now, so not sure if there is any chance of it shifting. I mean we are talking outer GTA here.  I may not decide my actual vote until the day of the election.  But I don't have a problem with joining the Liberals (if I do, not sure) and voting something else - if the NDP candidate had a semi-decent chance I would go there.  I am definitely an ABC voter.

I did vote PC once, but that was for Flora MacDonald - if they were still the old PCs and I had the chance to vote for her I probably would.  She was amazing.  But candidates like her don't come along often, and she was a Red Tory.

The weird thing is, I was told once in my late 20s that as I got older I would get more religious and more conservative - and I haven't done either! 

[Stashasaurus]

How strict are they on the multi party thing? Can they even check?

I'm technically a green but plan to vote abc and my riding might be close enough that I have to vote liberal, so it would be nice to have a say in the leadership race too.

I would bet they check against the other party lists. It would be a dirty trick to flood a nomination for an opponent that you would do well against.  Are you registered as a Green federally or provincaly?

[PoutineLover]

How strict are they on the multi party thing? Can they even check?

I'm technically a green but plan to vote abc and my riding might be close enough that I have to vote liberal, so it would be nice to have a say in the leadership race too.

I would bet they check against the other party lists. It would be a dirty trick to flood a nomination for an opponent that you would do well against.  Are you registered as a Green federally or provincaly?

Federally. I can't find proof of when I last renewed my membership though so I don't know if I'm active. Are party membership lists freely available or would that require the cooperation of other parties?

I do feel like my intentions are not nefarious.. I generally believe that we are stuck between liberal and conservative governments and that the liberals are preferable, although I prefer minority governments so that everyone has to cooperate a bit more.

Since we can't vote directly for the prime minister, being able to vote for the leader of the party who might win who I generally align with seems like the closest I'm gonna get.

[Stashasaurus]

How strict are they on the multi party thing? Can they even check?

I'm technically a green but plan to vote abc and my riding might be close enough that I have to vote liberal, so it would be nice to have a say in the leadership race too.

I would bet they check against the other party lists. It would be a dirty trick to flood a nomination for an opponent that you would do well against.  Are you registered as a Green federally or provincaly?

Federally. I can't find proof of when I last renewed my membership though so I don't know if I'm active. Are party membership lists freely available or would that require the cooperation of other parties?

I do feel like my intentions are not nefarious.. I generally believe that we are stuck between liberal and conservative governments and that the liberals are preferable, although I prefer minority governments so that everyone has to cooperate a bit more.

Since we can't vote directly for the prime minister, being able to vote for the leader of the party who might win who I generally align with seems like the closest I'm gonna get.

Ya, your probably fine, especially if you have not paid dues in a year . The NDP Constitution specifically outlines the provincial/federal link.

[RetiredAt63]

How strict are they on the multi party thing? Can they even check?

I'm technically a green but plan to vote abc and my riding might be close enough that I have to vote liberal, so it would be nice to have a say in the leadership race too.

I would bet they check against the other party lists. It would be a dirty trick to flood a nomination for an opponent that you would do well against.  Are you registered as a Green federally or provincaly?

Federally. I can't find proof of when I last renewed my membership though so I don't know if I'm active. Are party membership lists freely available or would that require the cooperation of other parties?

I do feel like my intentions are not nefarious.. I generally believe that we are stuck between liberal and conservative governments and that the liberals are preferable, although I prefer minority governments so that everyone has to cooperate a bit more.

Since we can't vote directly for the prime minister, being able to vote for the leader of the party who might win who I generally align with seems like the closest I'm gonna get.

After watching the Conservatives elect leader after leader (and stab a few of them in the back), I would like to see the Liberals get someone who can be there for a while and be stable and sensible.  And be effective internationally and nationally.


Jagmeet Singh has also been around a while.  Any rumblings in the NDP about a leadership review?  I still think they shot themselves in the foot with their lack do support for Thomas Mulcair.  He was a very left Liberal provincially and Layton personally recruited him.  He was overshadowed by Layton. 


Wow my metaphors are violent tonight.   :-(

[Stasher]

I signed up last week and did so to vote for Carney, we will see if my vote counts.

[Metalcat]

I signed up last week and did so to vote for Carney, we will see if my vote counts.

Is there even a question that Carney won't get it at this point though??

[rocketpj]

I'm not a fan of bankers generally, nor 'Central Bankers' specifically.  In my opinion they tend to have swallowed the Friedmanite economic faith a bit too wholly.  I'm also a big fan of Chrystia Freeland, starting when she was working for Reuters in Moscow publishing takedowns of the Russian oligarchs (there is a reason the Russian government hates her).  In my opinion she was the brains and guts of the operation for the last 10 years.  She handled Trump really well last time around, part of the reason he is so toxic towards her (a woman standing up to him is intolerable).

All that said, I also think that Freeland, having been the brains and guts of the government for the last 10 years, is too closely linked to Trudeau's legacy and (well funded) negative public image.  If she becomes the leader they will be handing PP a club to beat them with.  So I am hoping that Carney wins the leadership.

I sincerely hope that, when the Liberals lose the election, whoever wins as leader will stay on as leader of the opposition.  There will be much to oppose, and both Carney and Freeland would do a good job of that role.  I also hope that whoever wins, the other candidates stay in their jobs and work together to provide a strong opposition.  I would be quite disgusted with Carney if he were to win the leadership and then flounce if they lose the election (like Ignatieff before him).

Usually I vote ABC, though I've been an NDP member for 25 years.  I did have a Liberal membership in the late 90s but let it lapse when Paul Martin became so blatant about his willingness to sacrifice the good of the country for his own ambition.  Our local MP is a Liberal and I'll probably vote for him again, because locally it is a race between L and C.

[Metalcat]

On principal, I'm not someone who generally votes against anyone, and I don't vote based on party leaders. I really get to know my local representatives and I vote for who I believe are good people to be in government because the more good people the better.

When people vote based on leaders, that's when really strong politicians lose their jobs and get replaced with really inexperienced people.

Also, there's no fucking way I'm voting for Mona Fortier. She'll win my riding, but not with my vote.

[rocketpj]

Also, there's no fucking way I'm voting for Mona Fortier. She'll win my riding, but not with my vote.

I have no knowledge of that person, but I moved out of that riding >20 years ago, if it is the same as it was back then (Mauril Belanger).

[Metalcat]

Also, there's no fucking way I'm voting for Mona Fortier. She'll win my riding, but not with my vote.

I have no knowledge of that person, but I moved out of that riding >20 years ago, if it is the same as it was back then (Mauril Belanger).

Mauril was MP there for aaaaages. I actually liked him quite a bit.

I take A LOT of issue with things Fortier has done. I could never vote for her. She's the one responsible for the RTO mandate that is going to force my DH out of a job that he loves because she stripped managers of their discretion on the matter. I also have multiple disabled clients who are being seriously harmed by the policy after being hired on with promises from management that they would be able to work remotely.

And that's all to get people to quit so they don't have the bad press and expense of layoffs. It's fucking atrocious. If you want to let people go, do it systematically and with some integrity. Not with a heavy-handed, unilateral "fuck you" to the public service AND the unions.

Ugh, it enrages me.

[scottish]

Also, there's no fucking way I'm voting for Mona Fortier. She'll win my riding, but not with my vote.

I have no knowledge of that person, but I moved out of that riding >20 years ago, if it is the same as it was back then (Mauril Belanger).

Mauril was MP there for aaaaages. I actually liked him quite a bit.

I take A LOT of issue with things Fortier has done. I could never vote for her. She's the one responsible for the RTO mandate that is going to force my DH out of a job that he loves because she stripped managers of their discretion on the matter. I also have multiple disabled clients who are being seriously harmed by the policy after being hired on with promises from management that they would be able to work remotely.

And that's all to get people to quit so they don't have the bad press and expense of layoffs. It's fucking atrocious. If you want to let people go, do it systematically and with some integrity. Not with a heavy-handed, unilateral "fuck you" to the public service AND the unions.

Ugh, it enrages me.

That's a bad approach - the most capable people (like your husband) are the ones who go, leaving the less capable ones behind.

Also, is it true that teams no longer have their own spaces in the government workplace?   It seems kinda counter-productive  to make someone go into the office to sit by themselves away from their team whose members may decide to work at different sites.

[Metalcat]

Also, there's no fucking way I'm voting for Mona Fortier. She'll win my riding, but not with my vote.

I have no knowledge of that person, but I moved out of that riding >20 years ago, if it is the same as it was back then (Mauril Belanger).

Mauril was MP there for aaaaages. I actually liked him quite a bit.

I take A LOT of issue with things Fortier has done. I could never vote for her. She's the one responsible for the RTO mandate that is going to force my DH out of a job that he loves because she stripped managers of their discretion on the matter. I also have multiple disabled clients who are being seriously harmed by the policy after being hired on with promises from management that they would be able to work remotely.

And that's all to get people to quit so they don't have the bad press and expense of layoffs. It's fucking atrocious. If you want to let people go, do it systematically and with some integrity. Not with a heavy-handed, unilateral "fuck you" to the public service AND the unions.

Ugh, it enrages me.

That's a bad approach - the most capable people (like your husband) are the ones who go, leaving the less capable ones behind.

Also, is it true that teams no longer have their own spaces in the government workplace?   It seems kinda counter-productive  to make someone go into the office to sit by themselves away from their team whose members may decide to work at different sites.

Yep, it's a fucking gong show.

[Dee]

Back to the Ontario election. It seems useless. I feel like Ford *just* got re-elected and there's absolutely no need for another election. At the same time, given who got elected president of the USA, I also feel like exercising our franchise is the Very Most Important thing we can do and that voter turnout should be at an all-time high. I have no belief that this will be the case. In fact, I'd be more inclined to predict a historically low voter turn out. But I will keep showing up to vote. That's about all I've got the energy to do.

[GuitarStv]

Maybe Trump will keep Ford busy enough that he stops ripping out more existing and well-used bike lanes in Toronto at great public cost.

[Metalcat]

Maybe Trump will keep Ford busy enough that he stops ripping out more existing and well-used bike lanes in Toronto at great public cost.

Wait, what? How is that not a mayoral/city council thing? Why would the premiere have control over city bike lanes??

[GuitarStv]

Maybe Trump will keep Ford busy enough that he stops ripping out more existing and well-used bike lanes in Toronto at great public cost.

Wait, what? How is that not a mayoral/city council thing? Why would the premiere have control over city bike lanes??

It absolutely was a mayoral/city council thing until Ford passed a bill that says the province has veto power over any bike lane built in Ontario that might take road space away from cars.  Ford hates bikes.  He hates Toronto.  He doesn't like seeing bike lanes on his way to work.  Combine those things together and . . . https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/ford-government-passes-bill-remove-3-toronto-bike-lanes-9861819

As part of the bill these three popular/heavily used bike lanes between his house and legislature in Toronto will be removed at the cost of about 50 million dollars.  This is despite the years of planning and construction that went into making them a reality, the public consultations, the elected city officials who carefully planned the whole thing out, the studies what show there is negligible impact on traffic from the lanes being there and that construction (like the kind that will be necessary to remove the bike lanes) is the biggest contributor to gridlock in the city, the businesses along the bike route who have seen an uptick in business since installation.  And there's also a special clause in the law that explicitly says that the province will not be on the hook for any lawsuits related to the death/injury that this will cause cyclists.

I cannot overstate the gigantic middle finger that this gives to cyclists, city planners, and traffic in Toronto in general . . . all while wasting our money.

[FLBiker]

Maybe Trump will keep Ford busy enough that he stops ripping out more existing and well-used bike lanes in Toronto at great public cost.

Wait, what? How is that not a mayoral/city council thing? Why would the premiere have control over city bike lanes??

It absolutely was a mayoral/city council thing until Ford passed a bill that says the province has veto power over any bike lane built in Ontario that might take road space away from cars.  Ford hates bikes.  He hates Toronto.  He doesn't like seeing bike lanes on his way to work.  Combine those things together and . . . https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/ford-government-passes-bill-remove-3-toronto-bike-lanes-9861819

As part of the bill these three popular/heavily used bike lanes between his house and legislature in Toronto will be removed at the cost of about 50 million dollars.  This is despite the years of planning and construction that went into making them a reality, the public consultations, the elected city officials who carefully planned the whole thing out, the studies what show there is negligible impact on traffic from the lanes being there and that construction (like the kind that will be necessary to remove the bike lanes) is the biggest contributor to gridlock in the city, the businesses along the bike route who have seen an uptick in business since installation.  And there's also a special clause in the law that explicitly says that the province will not be on the hook for any lawsuits related to the death/injury that this will cause cyclists.

I cannot overstate the gigantic middle finger that this gives to cyclists, city planners, and traffic in Toronto in general . . . all while wasting our money.

Wow, that is awful.  One thing I really love about our little town in Nova Scotia is that they legitimately prioritize active transportation.  It was one of the reasons we moved here.  I'd be pissed if they started ripping out the infrastructure.

[Frugal Lizard]

Maybe Trump will keep Ford busy enough that he stops ripping out more existing and well-used bike lanes in Toronto at great public cost.

Wait, what? How is that not a mayoral/city council thing? Why would the premiere have control over city bike lanes??

It absolutely was a mayoral/city council thing until Ford passed a bill that says the province has veto power over any bike lane built in Ontario that might take road space away from cars.  Ford hates bikes.  He hates Toronto.  He doesn't like seeing bike lanes on his way to work.  Combine those things together and . . . https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/ford-government-passes-bill-remove-3-toronto-bike-lanes-9861819

As part of the bill these three popular/heavily used bike lanes between his house and legislature in Toronto will be removed at the cost of about 50 million dollars.  This is despite the years of planning and construction that went into making them a reality, the public consultations, the elected city officials who carefully planned the whole thing out, the studies what show there is negligible impact on traffic from the lanes being there and that construction (like the kind that will be necessary to remove the bike lanes) is the biggest contributor to gridlock in the city, the businesses along the bike route who have seen an uptick in business since installation.  And there's also a special clause in the law that explicitly says that the province will not be on the hook for any lawsuits related to the death/injury that this will cause cyclists.

I cannot overstate the gigantic middle finger that this gives to cyclists, city planners, and traffic in Toronto in general . . . all while wasting our money.

Wow, that is awful.  One thing I really love about our little town in Nova Scotia is that they legitimately prioritize active transportation.  It was one of the reasons we moved here.  I'd be pissed if they started ripping out the infrastructure.

I am so pissed about this over reach. Not in the GTA and our dimwit mayor has halted bike lane projects already under construction. Totally messing with data driven planning policy and lawful procurement. Such a mess.

[GuitarStv]

Maybe Trump will keep Ford busy enough that he stops ripping out more existing and well-used bike lanes in Toronto at great public cost.

Wait, what? How is that not a mayoral/city council thing? Why would the premiere have control over city bike lanes??

It absolutely was a mayoral/city council thing until Ford passed a bill that says the province has veto power over any bike lane built in Ontario that might take road space away from cars.  Ford hates bikes.  He hates Toronto.  He doesn't like seeing bike lanes on his way to work.  Combine those things together and . . . https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/ford-government-passes-bill-remove-3-toronto-bike-lanes-9861819

As part of the bill these three popular/heavily used bike lanes between his house and legislature in Toronto will be removed at the cost of about 50 million dollars.  This is despite the years of planning and construction that went into making them a reality, the public consultations, the elected city officials who carefully planned the whole thing out, the studies what show there is negligible impact on traffic from the lanes being there and that construction (like the kind that will be necessary to remove the bike lanes) is the biggest contributor to gridlock in the city, the businesses along the bike route who have seen an uptick in business since installation.  And there's also a special clause in the law that explicitly says that the province will not be on the hook for any lawsuits related to the death/injury that this will cause cyclists.

I cannot overstate the gigantic middle finger that this gives to cyclists, city planners, and traffic in Toronto in general . . . all while wasting our money.

Wow, that is awful.  One thing I really love about our little town in Nova Scotia is that they legitimately prioritize active transportation.  It was one of the reasons we moved here.  I'd be pissed if they started ripping out the infrastructure.

I am so pissed about this over reach. Not in the GTA and our dimwit mayor has halted bike lane projects already under construction. Totally messing with data driven planning policy and lawful procurement. Such a mess.

Never let data or facts get in the way of car-centric ideology.

[sixwings]

Bike lanes are also a convenient scapegoat that certain types of people love to hate on. It's the same in Victoria/BC, except the NDP isn't stupid about it. Had we elected the conservatives they were promising the same thing.

Victoria has been building lots of bike lanes although the planning around it has been absolutely atrocious. The idea is good and it's what Victoria needs to help alleviate traffic problems. It's a growing city that is rapidly densifying but we're not really able to build new roads, and there's 0 ability to put light rapid transit in place due to local politics, so bike lanes are very necessary for solving the traffic issues. But good lord has the planning and implementation been a complete mess and as a result there's a pretty strong anti-bike lane movement that wants a bunch of them removed.

[RetiredAt63]

Bike lanes are also a convenient scapegoat that certain types of people love to hate on. It's the same in Victoria/BC, except the NDP isn't stupid about it. Had we elected the conservatives they were promising the same thing.

Victoria has been building lots of bike lanes although the planning around it has been absolutely atrocious. The idea is good and it's what Victoria needs to help alleviate traffic problems. It's a growing city that is rapidly densifying but we're not really able to build new roads, and there's 0 ability to put light rapid transit in place due to local politics, so bike lanes are very necessary for solving the traffic issues. But good lord has the planning and implementation been a complete mess and as a result there's a pretty strong anti-bike lane movement that wants a bunch of them removed.

And Victoria would have good biking weather most of the year.  One of the issues I had in Ottawa was that the city didn't clear a lot of the bike paths in the winter, so they were just not available.

[Stasher]

But good lord has the planning and implementation been a complete mess and as a result there's a pretty strong anti-bike lane movement that wants a bunch of them removed.

Victoria is pretty F'ing amazing and is leading the example across Canada, they are doing it right. So much so that Esquimalt, Saanich, Colwood, View Royal, Langford are connecting all their networks into Victoria. The momentum IMO is unstoppable in the region as cyclists from everywhere are moving here because living 100% car-free is a reality, with latest stats of Victoria proper having 20% of residents car-lite households.

To keep on topic, the one reason I hope we get a Liberal coalition government Federally again with a good party leader who continues current work on the Housing Accelerator Fund and also the Environment Transfers have helped immensely our local active transportation and housing investments.

Doug Ford thank goodness is telling Trump to get bent but doesn't get him a get out of jail card for the insanity he has done in office.

[Kmp2]

I'm honestly surprised that we haven't seen Alberta copy Ford's bike lane gong show...

As a car-lite household, I'd be fearful of the emblazoned ire that this would draw to anyone continuing to cycle - but most especially towards my newly minted independent tween rider.
That rhetoric's got to stop... war on cars my ass... cars have everything!

[Metalcat]

Maybe Trump will keep Ford busy enough that he stops ripping out more existing and well-used bike lanes in Toronto at great public cost.

Wait, what? How is that not a mayoral/city council thing? Why would the premiere have control over city bike lanes??

It absolutely was a mayoral/city council thing until Ford passed a bill that says the province has veto power over any bike lane built in Ontario that might take road space away from cars.  Ford hates bikes.  He hates Toronto.  He doesn't like seeing bike lanes on his way to work.  Combine those things together and . . . https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/ford-government-passes-bill-remove-3-toronto-bike-lanes-9861819

As part of the bill these three popular/heavily used bike lanes between his house and legislature in Toronto will be removed at the cost of about 50 million dollars.  This is despite the years of planning and construction that went into making them a reality, the public consultations, the elected city officials who carefully planned the whole thing out, the studies what show there is negligible impact on traffic from the lanes being there and that construction (like the kind that will be necessary to remove the bike lanes) is the biggest contributor to gridlock in the city, the businesses along the bike route who have seen an uptick in business since installation.  And there's also a special clause in the law that explicitly says that the province will not be on the hook for any lawsuits related to the death/injury that this will cause cyclists.

I cannot overstate the gigantic middle finger that this gives to cyclists, city planners, and traffic in Toronto in general . . . all while wasting our money.

Holy crap, I'm in Ontario (sometimes) and I didn't know this was.a thing. I guess his overreach is mostly about Toronto because we've never had anyone tear up our bike lanes, of which we have MANY.

Whenever I'm out here in NL, I'm just so out of touch on this stuff though.

[scottish]

I completely forgot about the bike lane debacle in Toronto.   Ford is way off base on this one.   

[RetiredAt63]

I completely forgot about the bike lane debacle in Toronto.   Ford is way off base on this one.   

I think he called the election because he is doing better in polls because of his united against Trump stance.  Perhaps he is hoping we will all forget about everything else?  As someone on the outskirts of the GTA who is also in cottage country, I seem to get a pile of local newspapers (from Huntsville to Toronto) in my news feed.  And of course I am a member of Ontario Nature.  I am paying attention to his environmental stuff - like the massive failure to do anything about Lake Simcoe's pollution problems, or the Bradford Bypass flouting of environmental concerns, or well, lots of things.

https://ontarionature.org/protect-our-planet-vote-for-nature-blog/

[Mighty Eyebrows]

Victoria is pretty F'ing amazing and is leading the example across Canada, they are doing it right. So much so that Esquimalt, Saanich, Colwood, View Royal, Langford are connecting all their networks into Victoria. The momentum IMO is unstoppable in the region as cyclists from everywhere are moving here because living 100% car-free is a reality, with latest stats of Victoria proper having 20% of residents car-lite households.

I love bike lanes and the momentum for active transport in greater victoria. However, the planning has been a real mess in a lot of places. Cramming everyone on the same over-crowded corridor is bad for both bikes and cars. Some places you can't avoid it, but in many places it is just lazy planning.

Add on top of that, lower speed limits to 40km/h or 30km/h on significant car routes and I can understand the backlash. It is unfortunate because I really want to see a good bike network succeed everywhere.

[sixwings]

Victoria is pretty F'ing amazing and is leading the example across Canada, they are doing it right. So much so that Esquimalt, Saanich, Colwood, View Royal, Langford are connecting all their networks into Victoria. The momentum IMO is unstoppable in the region as cyclists from everywhere are moving here because living 100% car-free is a reality, with latest stats of Victoria proper having 20% of residents car-lite households.

I love bike lanes and the momentum for active transport in greater victoria. However, the planning has been a real mess in a lot of places. Cramming everyone on the same over-crowded corridor is bad for both bikes and cars. Some places you can't avoid it, but in many places it is just lazy planning.

Add on top of that, lower speed limits to 40km/h or 30km/h on significant car routes and I can understand the backlash. It is unfortunate because I really want to see a good bike network succeed everywhere.

Yeah and stuff like closing off richardson, a major artery from downtown into fairfield/gonzales/oak bay then funnelled cars down side streets that were not meant to handle traffic like that, closing vancouver, etc. That entire area is a complete mess to try to navigate now.

I bike almost everywhere and love the bike lanes, but the planning for a lot of it is very much a mess. Overall though I think the intention was absolutely correct, we need to density and can't build more roads due to geography, and i think it's been relatively successful. I've been biking to work since 2014 and it's only got easier and more populated, which is good. I dunno what to do about the goose though, e-bikes have made that trail unusable for anyone who isn't on a bike. Maybe that just is what it is, roads aren't usable for anyone not in a car either.

[Sayyadina]

I used to bike to work and stopped when I was pregnant. Moved home to Victoria (really Saanich), and the other day I needed to go downtown - basically the entire route was along Fort so I decided to just go for it and oh my goodness the actual separation between cars and bikes was amazing. We're definitely a car-lite household, but that usually means I have a high tolerance for distance/time to walk places, but I can definitely see integrating the bike again for trips without the kids.

[HenryDavid]

One thing that’s really messed up debates about bike lanes is that city planners use them for things unrelated to bike transport. Bike lanes get built as a form of “stealth” traffic calming. Drivers don’t like that, and they direct their rage at cyclists. But there are lots of bike lanes in places a real cyclist would rarely ride—because they help slow traffic for reasons like pedestrian safety.

I don’t live in Toronto but did once, and cycled everywhere. I would never take main routes like Bloor St. Alternatives could always be found. Yet the city put a major bike lane on Bloor. Until Ford had his tantrum it was kinda working I hear. But it seemed a weird choice.

All this happened in Calgary, where I formerly lived, and it was silly. But the consequences in anti-bike rage were real.

[RetiredAt63]

Ah Dougie.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-trump-win-comments-tariffs-1.7449512

[scottish]

Ah Dougie.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-trump-win-comments-tariffs-1.7449512

C'mon, nobody knew Trump was going to impose tariffs!    Not once did he talk about tariffs in his campaign or before his inauguration.   Dougie was just blindsided by Trump's complete change in behaviour.

[Metalcat]

Ah Dougie.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-trump-win-comments-tariffs-1.7449512

C'mon, nobody knew Trump was going to impose tariffs!    Not once did he talk about tariffs in his campaign or before his inauguration.   Dougie was just blindsided by Trump's complete change in behaviour.

Lol!

[GuitarStv]

In his defense, Doug Ford was very busy re-planning Toronto's bike infrastructure.  He couldn't be expected to pay attention to things at the provincial level.

[Chaplin]

A bit late to this thread, but I thought I'd toss out my pick for Trudeau's worst sin: not following through on the very explicit and clear promise to switch to a system of proportional representation. The irony, when a few months ago it looked like PP would get a majority, was that if he had implemented such a system then Liberals would lose less power to the Conservatives.

I still think that proportional representation is step 0 to solving so many other problems, but once a party is power, generally with more power (seats) than their votes would call for, they suddenly decide it's not a good idea any more. I haven't heard anything about Carney's position on it, but I doubt it's much on his radar, and certainly isn't going to be a pressing issue in this election.

All that aside, even if you hate a candidate, the only logical thing to do is to support them if the other candidates are worse. However, as our neighbours to the south keep proving, that logic isn't universal.

[rocketpj]

A bit late to this thread, but I thought I'd toss out my pick for Trudeau's worst sin: not following through on the very explicit and clear promise to switch to a system of proportional representation. The irony, when a few months ago it looked like PP would get a majority, was that if he had implemented such a system then Liberals would lose less power to the Conservatives.

I still think that proportional representation is step 0 to solving so many other problems, but once a party is power, generally with more power (seats) than their votes would call for, they suddenly decide it's not a good idea any more. I haven't heard anything about Carney's position on it, but I doubt it's much on his radar, and certainly isn't going to be a pressing issue in this election.

All that aside, even if you hate a candidate, the only logical thing to do is to support them if the other candidates are worse. However, as our neighbours to the south keep proving, that logic isn't universal.

100% agreed.  That was why I voted for him in 2015, and I was very pissed when he tossed that almost immediately.  When he announced he was stepping down he said it was his main regret.  Too late for that.

[sixwings]

338 new forecast is out and has cons with a pretty small minority, the CPC HQ has got to be in full panic mode now. They’ve dropped like 100 seats in 3 weeks. I thought the election was baked for a cons majority but it has changed rapidly!

[Metalcat]

338 new forecast is out and has cons with a pretty small minority, the CPC HQ has got to be in full panic mode now. They’ve dropped like 100 seats in 3 weeks. I thought the election was baked for a cons majority but it has changed rapidly!

Yep, PP was playing a really solid game of checkers against a severely handicapped opponent, then Trump cleared the board and now it's covered in chess pieces with totally new opponents.

So far his game plan is just to use the exact same playbook and hope it works well...it doesn't seem to.

[rocketpj]

338 new forecast is out and has cons with a pretty small minority, the CPC HQ has got to be in full panic mode now. They’ve dropped like 100 seats in 3 weeks. I thought the election was baked for a cons majority but it has changed rapidly!

Yep, PP was playing a really solid game of checkers against a severely handicapped opponent, then Trump cleared the board and now it's covered in chess pieces with totally new opponents.

So far his game plan is just to use the exact same playbook and hope it works well...it doesn't seem to.

PP is facing a debate against a room full of people who are all smarter and better at policy than he is. 

I thought for a long time that Trudeau was making a mistake by not stepping down a year ago.  I now suspect he was waiting for the US election results.

Trudeau's speech this morning was pitch perfect.  PP has nothing like that.  Him in charge in the context of a trade war is a terrifying prospect.

[GuitarStv]

I'm convinced that Trump want's PP in power.  PP loves Trump's ideas and they share a great many talking points on issues.

[rocketpj]

I'm convinced that Trump want's PP in power.  PP loves Trump's ideas and they share a great many talking points on issues.

I'm sure he does.  That won't help PP up here, as you know.