Jude MacDonald
@judemacdonald.bsky.social
Urban activist who defended Toronto’s waterfront, and countered the Fords at city hall. Took care of my mom for a while, as Fordism swallowed the world.
Writer and artist. She / her.
Jude MacDonald on Twitter, too. But Twitter is dead. Long live Bluesky
Writer and artist. She / her.
Jude MacDonald on Twitter, too. But Twitter is dead. Long live Bluesky
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
![Excerpt from a BBC article: ""We usually work, 10, 11 or 12 hours a day," says a 49-year-old woman from Jiangxi unwilling to give her name. "On Sundays we work around three hours less."
She is in an alleyway, where a dozen people are huddled around a row of bulletin boards.
They are reading the job ads on the board, while examining the stitching on a pair of chinos draped over it.
This is Shein's supply chain. The factories are contracted to make clothes on order - some small, some big. If the chinos are a hit, orders will ramp up and so must production. Factories then hire temporary workers to meet the demand their permanent staff cannot fulfil.
The migrant worker from Jiangxi is looking for a short-term contract - and the chinos are an option.
"We earn so little. The cost of living is now so high," she says, adding that she hopes to make enough to send back to her two children who are living with their grandparents.
"We get paid per piece," she explains. "It depends how difficult the item is. Something simple like a t-shirt is one-two yuan [less than a dollar] per piece and I can make around a dozen in an hour.""](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreiber7g4o5pujmzmjjzsp5dkz7blfexburuwjispfpv6dki7akjb7a@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
Internal documents obtained by the NDP reveal Metrolinx covered up serious problems tunnelling under Highway 401 for the Scarborough Subway Extension, forcing highway lane closures & months of repairs that were not disclosed to the public globalnews.ca/news/1152183... #onpoli
Metrolinx struggled to tunnel under Hwy. 401, forcing lane closure and repairs | Globalnews.ca
Since early 2023, a tunnel boring machine has been slowly making its way south from Sheppard Avenue and McCowan Road, digging out a route for the Scarborough Subway Extension.
globalnews.ca
November 12, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Internal documents obtained by the NDP reveal Metrolinx covered up serious problems tunnelling under Highway 401 for the Scarborough Subway Extension, forcing highway lane closures & months of repairs that were not disclosed to the public globalnews.ca/news/1152183... #onpoli
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
The Ford government refuses to release earlier assessments that found “risks to public safety from impacts of the tunnel to Highway 401 such as potential for roadway collapse” globalnews.ca/news/1151718... #onpoli
Ford government refuses to release completed work on Hwy. 401 tunnel idea | Globalnews.ca
Ontario is refusing to release already completed work on the viability of Premier Doug Ford's Highway 401 tunnel vision after signing a $9.1 million contract to study it again.
globalnews.ca
November 10, 2025 at 1:33 PM
The Ford government refuses to release earlier assessments that found “risks to public safety from impacts of the tunnel to Highway 401 such as potential for roadway collapse” globalnews.ca/news/1151718... #onpoli
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
The Liberals' budget -- it mostly helps upper income people, it mostly helps men, it mostly helps war, oil and gas.
Sandy and Nora Talk Politics -- Budget 2025 - Liberal Carnage
sandyandnora.com/episode-348-...
Sandy and Nora Talk Politics -- Budget 2025 - Liberal Carnage
sandyandnora.com/episode-348-...
Episode 348 – 2025 Budget; Liberal Carnage
In this episode, Sandy and Nora talk about the 2025 Liberal budget — Mark Carney’s first — and how he blurs the line between Liberals and Tories like never before.
sandyandnora.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The Liberals' budget -- it mostly helps upper income people, it mostly helps men, it mostly helps war, oil and gas.
Sandy and Nora Talk Politics -- Budget 2025 - Liberal Carnage
sandyandnora.com/episode-348-...
Sandy and Nora Talk Politics -- Budget 2025 - Liberal Carnage
sandyandnora.com/episode-348-...
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
REMINDER: A socialist act by a New Yorker was a major reason why polio was eliminated in the US.
November 4, 2025 at 10:41 PM
REMINDER: A socialist act by a New Yorker was a major reason why polio was eliminated in the US.
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
The billionaire loophole: While ordinary Canadians struggle, the top one per cent hide billions in offshore tax havens — a colonial system engineered to protect wealth and starve public services.
New from @readtheorchard.org:
ricochet.media/labour/class...
#cdnpoli #taxtherich #budget2025
New from @readtheorchard.org:
ricochet.media/labour/class...
#cdnpoli #taxtherich #budget2025
The billionaire loophole: How Canada’s tax system fuels inequality
While ordinary Canadians struggle, the top one per cent hide billions in offshore tax havens — a colonial system engineered to protect wealth and starve public services
ricochet.media
October 29, 2025 at 1:46 PM
The billionaire loophole: While ordinary Canadians struggle, the top one per cent hide billions in offshore tax havens — a colonial system engineered to protect wealth and starve public services.
New from @readtheorchard.org:
ricochet.media/labour/class...
#cdnpoli #taxtherich #budget2025
New from @readtheorchard.org:
ricochet.media/labour/class...
#cdnpoli #taxtherich #budget2025
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
You should read this Reddit thread...
From the bicycling community on Reddit: This is the coolest ghost bike I've ever seen.
Explore this post and more from the bicycling community
www.reddit.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:14 PM
You should read this Reddit thread...
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
This photo was taken at Robyn's ghost bike in the Church Hill District of Richmond, Virginia.
There is also a ghost bike in New York City where they were killed doing messenger work.
There is also a ghost bike in New York City where they were killed doing messenger work.
October 31, 2025 at 2:14 PM
This photo was taken at Robyn's ghost bike in the Church Hill District of Richmond, Virginia.
There is also a ghost bike in New York City where they were killed doing messenger work.
There is also a ghost bike in New York City where they were killed doing messenger work.
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
When I was out shopping a woman and her husband approached me after seeing Robyn's 'ghost bike' on my van. She shared with me that her father was a cyclist killed in January of 2017 and gave me the following card:
October 31, 2025 at 1:59 PM
When I was out shopping a woman and her husband approached me after seeing Robyn's 'ghost bike' on my van. She shared with me that her father was a cyclist killed in January of 2017 and gave me the following card:
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
If you think the #COVID19 pandemic is done and ever-evolving variants pose no significant threat, consider these two realities, writes contributing editor Andrew Nikiforuk.
This Physicist Says We Don’t Take COVID Seriously Enough | The Tyee
We downplay the virus at our peril, warns Yaneer Bar-Yam. And children are more at risk than we thought.
thetyee.ca
October 31, 2025 at 1:36 PM
If you think the #COVID19 pandemic is done and ever-evolving variants pose no significant threat, consider these two realities, writes contributing editor Andrew Nikiforuk.
where I live
was a lake
was a lake
Lake Ontario once reached further north to meet the foot of Princess Street in Toronto, where a dock jutted out into the water. This is how it appeared 114 years ago today - Oct 26, 1911.
📸: City of Toronto Archives
#OnThisDay #OTD #1910s #history #torontohistory #toronto #canada #jeremyhopkin
📸: City of Toronto Archives
#OnThisDay #OTD #1910s #history #torontohistory #toronto #canada #jeremyhopkin
October 27, 2025 at 2:10 AM
where I live
was a lake
was a lake
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
Lake Ontario once reached further north to meet the foot of Princess Street in Toronto, where a dock jutted out into the water. This is how it appeared 114 years ago today - Oct 26, 1911.
📸: City of Toronto Archives
#OnThisDay #OTD #1910s #history #torontohistory #toronto #canada #jeremyhopkin
📸: City of Toronto Archives
#OnThisDay #OTD #1910s #history #torontohistory #toronto #canada #jeremyhopkin
October 27, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Lake Ontario once reached further north to meet the foot of Princess Street in Toronto, where a dock jutted out into the water. This is how it appeared 114 years ago today - Oct 26, 1911.
📸: City of Toronto Archives
#OnThisDay #OTD #1910s #history #torontohistory #toronto #canada #jeremyhopkin
📸: City of Toronto Archives
#OnThisDay #OTD #1910s #history #torontohistory #toronto #canada #jeremyhopkin
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
ACORN is also having an emergency meeting Tuesday Oct 28 at 6:30pm to fight back against Doug Ford’s legislation that will renters even more precarious.
Registration Link: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Petition:
acorncanada.org/take_action/...
Registration Link: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Petition:
acorncanada.org/take_action/...
October 25, 2025 at 11:36 PM
ACORN is also having an emergency meeting Tuesday Oct 28 at 6:30pm to fight back against Doug Ford’s legislation that will renters even more precarious.
Registration Link: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Petition:
acorncanada.org/take_action/...
Registration Link: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Petition:
acorncanada.org/take_action/...
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
Doug Ford is showing his true disdain for renters and is testing how much he can get away with.
We can’t let him.
Now is the time to get organized and fight back if you haven’t already!
YSW Tenant Union is hosting a mass zoom call Sunday Oct 26 8pm to fight back.
www.tenantunion.ca/allout
We can’t let him.
Now is the time to get organized and fight back if you haven’t already!
YSW Tenant Union is hosting a mass zoom call Sunday Oct 26 8pm to fight back.
www.tenantunion.ca/allout
October 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Doug Ford is showing his true disdain for renters and is testing how much he can get away with.
We can’t let him.
Now is the time to get organized and fight back if you haven’t already!
YSW Tenant Union is hosting a mass zoom call Sunday Oct 26 8pm to fight back.
www.tenantunion.ca/allout
We can’t let him.
Now is the time to get organized and fight back if you haven’t already!
YSW Tenant Union is hosting a mass zoom call Sunday Oct 26 8pm to fight back.
www.tenantunion.ca/allout
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
I think I understand the many reasons why people believe it's not worth it to phase out fossil fuels, but I also feel exhausted and vaguely insane living my life knowing that while the world seems normal on the surface, the fossil-fuel economy is, right now, breaking the world forever.
October 20, 2025 at 5:37 AM
I think I understand the many reasons why people believe it's not worth it to phase out fossil fuels, but I also feel exhausted and vaguely insane living my life knowing that while the world seems normal on the surface, the fossil-fuel economy is, right now, breaking the world forever.
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
I did this, took like 30 min.
Points I kept hammering: domestic cloud, regulations around copyright and likeness rights, focusing on machine learning with concrete, real world uses (creating new drugs, etc), the damage done by slop, the need to listen to AI experts who are realists, not boosters.
Points I kept hammering: domestic cloud, regulations around copyright and likeness rights, focusing on machine learning with concrete, real world uses (creating new drugs, etc), the damage done by slop, the need to listen to AI experts who are realists, not boosters.
Canadians: The federal government is seeking public input on how AI should be developed and used in business, research, and the military.
If this scares the shit out of you, please let them know:
If this scares the shit out of you, please let them know:
Help define the next chapter of Canada's AI leadership
Current status: Open from October 1 to October 31, 2025
Canada helped invent modern AI. To stay a leader—and protect our digital sovereignty—we're running a 30-day national sprint to shape a renewed...
ised-isde.canada.ca
October 12, 2025 at 4:02 AM
I did this, took like 30 min.
Points I kept hammering: domestic cloud, regulations around copyright and likeness rights, focusing on machine learning with concrete, real world uses (creating new drugs, etc), the damage done by slop, the need to listen to AI experts who are realists, not boosters.
Points I kept hammering: domestic cloud, regulations around copyright and likeness rights, focusing on machine learning with concrete, real world uses (creating new drugs, etc), the damage done by slop, the need to listen to AI experts who are realists, not boosters.
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
Drives me nuts that things like bike lanes get painted as luxury goods or harbingers of gentrification when making it easy and convenient to get around your city by bike could save low-income households thousands of dollars a year.
One of the less discussed harms of car-centric planning is that it imposes a serious financial burden on working families. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/b...
Lower-Income Americans Are Missing Car Payments
www.nytimes.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Drives me nuts that things like bike lanes get painted as luxury goods or harbingers of gentrification when making it easy and convenient to get around your city by bike could save low-income households thousands of dollars a year.
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
Tomorrow night!
Next week! I'll be talking about the history of Toronto ghost stories at Toronto's First Post Office!
Happening Tuesday night, then again on Thursday.
Learn more here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/shadows-of...
Happening Tuesday night, then again on Thursday.
Learn more here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/shadows-of...
October 20, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Tomorrow night!
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
New analysis of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first 100 days after the federal election show oil and gas, mining and other industrial groups made up about 60 per cent of lobbying records. Environmental groups couldn’t get a word in. thenarwhal.ca/carney-natur...
Carney welcomed industry lobby, ignored environmental groups: records | The Narwhal
Records show resource industry lobbyists had regular access to Prime Minister Mark Carney in his first 100 days, while environmental groups were shut out
thenarwhal.ca
October 16, 2025 at 12:28 PM
New analysis of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first 100 days after the federal election show oil and gas, mining and other industrial groups made up about 60 per cent of lobbying records. Environmental groups couldn’t get a word in. thenarwhal.ca/carney-natur...
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson calls Sunday's naked bike ride in protest of the Portland ICE facility and and Trump troop deployment "the most threatening thing I’ve seen yet"
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
October 14, 2025 at 11:41 PM
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson calls Sunday's naked bike ride in protest of the Portland ICE facility and and Trump troop deployment "the most threatening thing I’ve seen yet"
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
Americans have become so desensitized to violence that I'm not sure most get the gravity of this
October 6, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Americans have become so desensitized to violence that I'm not sure most get the gravity of this
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
NEW: Vehicles registered to Doug Ford's cabinet ministers have been caught by automated speed cameras more than 20 times.
In one case, they were driving 70 in a 40 zone. On average, they were 17 over the limit. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1146373...
In one case, they were driving 70 in a 40 zone. On average, they were 17 over the limit. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1146373...
Vehicles registered to Ford cabinet ministers caught by speed cameras more than 20 times | Globalnews.ca
Documents obtained by Global News reveal that, over three years, vehicles registered to Ford’s cabinet minister received more than $3,300 in fines for speeding.
globalnews.ca
October 6, 2025 at 11:34 AM
NEW: Vehicles registered to Doug Ford's cabinet ministers have been caught by automated speed cameras more than 20 times.
In one case, they were driving 70 in a 40 zone. On average, they were 17 over the limit. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1146373...
In one case, they were driving 70 in a 40 zone. On average, they were 17 over the limit. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1146373...
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
The two big reasons we don’t have enough housing are racism and classism.
The third is cars.
The third is cars.
October 5, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The two big reasons we don’t have enough housing are racism and classism.
The third is cars.
The third is cars.
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
where to even start. no evan, the problem with AI is about so much more than privacy and deepfakes. what about ai psychosis, environmental impacts, workers’ rights? why are you pushing firms to adopt tech that isn’t creating real productivity benefits? why does tech need to be solely about profit?
AI minister denies that Canada needs to 'catch up' with global industry | Power & Politics
YouTube video by CBC News
www.youtube.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:25 AM
where to even start. no evan, the problem with AI is about so much more than privacy and deepfakes. what about ai psychosis, environmental impacts, workers’ rights? why are you pushing firms to adopt tech that isn’t creating real productivity benefits? why does tech need to be solely about profit?
Reposted by Jude MacDonald
Hoekstra last week: "You know, I've got no direction to, you know, continue a dialogue on the 51st state. It hasn't been in play for months."
Today: www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Today: www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Trump again floats Canada joining the U.S. as the 51st state | CBC News
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he again told some unnamed Canadian official that the country should consider joining the U.S. as the 51st state — returning to the annexationist rhetoric he u...
www.cbc.ca
September 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Hoekstra last week: "You know, I've got no direction to, you know, continue a dialogue on the 51st state. It hasn't been in play for months."
Today: www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Today: www.cbc.ca/news/politic...