Aaron Binder
@aaronbinder.com
Director betterwayalliance.ca | Where good business grows.
3X Business Owner | Serial cyclist
Toronto | Hamilton | Indonesia | Canada
Highly professional human desiring bad boy status.
3X Business Owner | Serial cyclist
Toronto | Hamilton | Indonesia | Canada
Highly professional human desiring bad boy status.
Pinned
A sincerely thank you to @anotherglassbox.bsky.social for being a real champion on neighbourhood retail in Toronto.
It's weird we needed one for *corner stores* but there was and is nobody better for this fight.
It's weird we needed one for *corner stores* but there was and is nobody better for this fight.
The neighbourhood retail report as amended CARRIES 23-2.
Toronto Council votes to permit corner stores in all Old Toronto & East York wards, and expands permission for retail on some (but not all) major streets city-wide.
Toronto Council votes to permit corner stores in all Old Toronto & East York wards, and expands permission for retail on some (but not all) major streets city-wide.
November 13, 2025 at 9:58 PM
A sincerely thank you to @anotherglassbox.bsky.social for being a real champion on neighbourhood retail in Toronto.
It's weird we needed one for *corner stores* but there was and is nobody better for this fight.
It's weird we needed one for *corner stores* but there was and is nobody better for this fight.
Yeah, it's the rent.
Between 2019-2024, retail rents in Toronto spiked by 142%.
Data - betterwayalliance.ca/the-fixed-co...
Between 2019-2024, retail rents in Toronto spiked by 142%.
Data - betterwayalliance.ca/the-fixed-co...
Holyday now has a picture of a local strip mall. He says these businesses can barely survive on a busy street, so he doesn't believe this notion that any "lovely stores" will survive on local streets.
November 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Yeah, it's the rent.
Between 2019-2024, retail rents in Toronto spiked by 142%.
Data - betterwayalliance.ca/the-fixed-co...
Between 2019-2024, retail rents in Toronto spiked by 142%.
Data - betterwayalliance.ca/the-fixed-co...
Reposted by Aaron Binder
I'm hardly a hardcore free-market libertarian, but it does seem like the reality of market forces should be a bigger part of this debate. The basic reason you don't need to worry about a 24/7 bar/potshop/noise-making emporium setting up on a small street is basically "there's no demand for it."
November 13, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I'm hardly a hardcore free-market libertarian, but it does seem like the reality of market forces should be a bigger part of this debate. The basic reason you don't need to worry about a 24/7 bar/potshop/noise-making emporium setting up on a small street is basically "there's no demand for it."
Reposted by Aaron Binder
These are absurd timelines for installing speed bumps and doing road redesigns. Twelve motions to investigate speed bumps? Sixteen months to install? A decade for a road redesign? www.thestar.com/news/gta/dou...
November 4, 2025 at 4:56 PM
These are absurd timelines for installing speed bumps and doing road redesigns. Twelve motions to investigate speed bumps? Sixteen months to install? A decade for a road redesign? www.thestar.com/news/gta/dou...
Reposted by Aaron Binder
I don’t have a whole lot of advice for people younger than me but the earlier in life you stop worrying about what other people will think and just wholeheartedly enjoy the stuff you like the happier you’ll be
One thing people kind of tell you, but not really, about middle age:
One day you'll be like "oh [thing] looks fun but people will think I'm a loser" about a thing
And then you'll say. Wait a second.
Fuck 'em
One day you'll be like "oh [thing] looks fun but people will think I'm a loser" about a thing
And then you'll say. Wait a second.
Fuck 'em
Darn Tough turned me on to Cute Socks and I've never looked back
November 11, 2025 at 1:24 AM
I don’t have a whole lot of advice for people younger than me but the earlier in life you stop worrying about what other people will think and just wholeheartedly enjoy the stuff you like the happier you’ll be
"David Fleming says 267 square foot units like this tend to be built with investors, not tenants, in mind.
'No one is able to pull that off nowadays, which really makes me curious who are these condos for?'"
They're for investors. Story coming in post 2 👇👇
ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/...
'No one is able to pull that off nowadays, which really makes me curious who are these condos for?'"
They're for investors. Story coming in post 2 👇👇
ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/...
November 10, 2025 at 5:03 PM
"David Fleming says 267 square foot units like this tend to be built with investors, not tenants, in mind.
'No one is able to pull that off nowadays, which really makes me curious who are these condos for?'"
They're for investors. Story coming in post 2 👇👇
ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/...
'No one is able to pull that off nowadays, which really makes me curious who are these condos for?'"
They're for investors. Story coming in post 2 👇👇
ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/...
"Back in early 2020, about 11% of Amazon’s job postings were in offshore locations.
The percentage started climbing during the pandemic hiring boom and just… kept going. By 2023, it had hit 20%. Today? Nearly 28%."
Offshoring, not AI, is displacing US jobs at Amazon bloomberry.com/blog/amazons...
The percentage started climbing during the pandemic hiring boom and just… kept going. By 2023, it had hit 20%. Today? Nearly 28%."
Offshoring, not AI, is displacing US jobs at Amazon bloomberry.com/blog/amazons...
November 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
"Back in early 2020, about 11% of Amazon’s job postings were in offshore locations.
The percentage started climbing during the pandemic hiring boom and just… kept going. By 2023, it had hit 20%. Today? Nearly 28%."
Offshoring, not AI, is displacing US jobs at Amazon bloomberry.com/blog/amazons...
The percentage started climbing during the pandemic hiring boom and just… kept going. By 2023, it had hit 20%. Today? Nearly 28%."
Offshoring, not AI, is displacing US jobs at Amazon bloomberry.com/blog/amazons...
Reposted by Aaron Binder
The budget.
It puts $5 billion into “health infrastructure,” which sounds like healthcare funding. But is it?
My breakdown for Canada Healthwatch looks at what’s new, what’s missing, and why health is now being framed as infrastructure.
It puts $5 billion into “health infrastructure,” which sounds like healthcare funding. But is it?
My breakdown for Canada Healthwatch looks at what’s new, what’s missing, and why health is now being framed as infrastructure.
November 8, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The budget.
It puts $5 billion into “health infrastructure,” which sounds like healthcare funding. But is it?
My breakdown for Canada Healthwatch looks at what’s new, what’s missing, and why health is now being framed as infrastructure.
It puts $5 billion into “health infrastructure,” which sounds like healthcare funding. But is it?
My breakdown for Canada Healthwatch looks at what’s new, what’s missing, and why health is now being framed as infrastructure.
I wonder how this changes over the next 3 months.
"Which of the following politicians do you think is to blame for Canada not having reached an agreement with the United States to reduce tariffs since the last election?"
Empirical Intelligence poll data - empiricalintelligence.ca/budgetsurvey...
"Which of the following politicians do you think is to blame for Canada not having reached an agreement with the United States to reduce tariffs since the last election?"
Empirical Intelligence poll data - empiricalintelligence.ca/budgetsurvey...
November 8, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I wonder how this changes over the next 3 months.
"Which of the following politicians do you think is to blame for Canada not having reached an agreement with the United States to reduce tariffs since the last election?"
Empirical Intelligence poll data - empiricalintelligence.ca/budgetsurvey...
"Which of the following politicians do you think is to blame for Canada not having reached an agreement with the United States to reduce tariffs since the last election?"
Empirical Intelligence poll data - empiricalintelligence.ca/budgetsurvey...
Not everyone's cup of tea but the 2025 Distillery District Winter Village starts in 6 days!
I've put together a Planning Guide, FAQ & rundown of tours my company is offering. The village free most days/times & that's usually when crowds are sparsest.
Details | www.gotourscanada.com/2025-distill...
I've put together a Planning Guide, FAQ & rundown of tours my company is offering. The village free most days/times & that's usually when crowds are sparsest.
Details | www.gotourscanada.com/2025-distill...
November 7, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Not everyone's cup of tea but the 2025 Distillery District Winter Village starts in 6 days!
I've put together a Planning Guide, FAQ & rundown of tours my company is offering. The village free most days/times & that's usually when crowds are sparsest.
Details | www.gotourscanada.com/2025-distill...
I've put together a Planning Guide, FAQ & rundown of tours my company is offering. The village free most days/times & that's usually when crowds are sparsest.
Details | www.gotourscanada.com/2025-distill...
Reposted by Aaron Binder
Toronto Bike Share is one of the best city programs ever.
While I own 5 bikes - Bike Share is fantastic for quick jaunts downtown. It's also huge for tourism in Toronto and we need to talk about this more!
Read @torontotoday.ca | www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
While I own 5 bikes - Bike Share is fantastic for quick jaunts downtown. It's also huge for tourism in Toronto and we need to talk about this more!
Read @torontotoday.ca | www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
October 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Toronto Bike Share is one of the best city programs ever.
While I own 5 bikes - Bike Share is fantastic for quick jaunts downtown. It's also huge for tourism in Toronto and we need to talk about this more!
Read @torontotoday.ca | www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
While I own 5 bikes - Bike Share is fantastic for quick jaunts downtown. It's also huge for tourism in Toronto and we need to talk about this more!
Read @torontotoday.ca | www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
"Hey baby, wanna kill all humans?"
When I think of who should be in charge of a giant robot army - it's not a dude who gets FOMO about not being in charge of the robot army.
Or the world's richest human.
Yet, they're the same person.
@arstechnica.com | arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
When I think of who should be in charge of a giant robot army - it's not a dude who gets FOMO about not being in charge of the robot army.
Or the world's richest human.
Yet, they're the same person.
@arstechnica.com | arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
November 7, 2025 at 4:07 AM
"Hey baby, wanna kill all humans?"
When I think of who should be in charge of a giant robot army - it's not a dude who gets FOMO about not being in charge of the robot army.
Or the world's richest human.
Yet, they're the same person.
@arstechnica.com | arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
When I think of who should be in charge of a giant robot army - it's not a dude who gets FOMO about not being in charge of the robot army.
Or the world's richest human.
Yet, they're the same person.
@arstechnica.com | arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
One day we'll be a real city.
And Dan will be the real mayor that cares.
And Dan will be the real mayor that cares.
I wrote an op-ed on what I think about the fight for local neighbourhood retail (and the grousing about Badiali's) means for the urban vision of Toronto. Gift link here: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
When even the humble corner store is impossible to open in Toronto, it’s a sign of something deeply wrong
We need to accept that Toronto is now a big city.
www.thestar.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:18 AM
One day we'll be a real city.
And Dan will be the real mayor that cares.
And Dan will be the real mayor that cares.
Reposted by Aaron Binder
Yukon Voters: "Okay, yeah, let's adopt ranked voting!"
Yukon Party: "This whole exercise has been a waste of money,"
You were so close, Yukon: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Yukon Party: "This whole exercise has been a waste of money,"
You were so close, Yukon: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
November 5, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Yukon Voters: "Okay, yeah, let's adopt ranked voting!"
Yukon Party: "This whole exercise has been a waste of money,"
You were so close, Yukon: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Yukon Party: "This whole exercise has been a waste of money,"
You were so close, Yukon: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Aaron Binder
STOCKY BOYS FOR LIFE
October 25, 2025 at 3:29 AM
STOCKY BOYS FOR LIFE
I've been speaking to a number of political insiders lately about the Ford government.
They're all saying the same thing - gaps in the PC armor are starting to show.
They're all saying the same thing - gaps in the PC armor are starting to show.
From Monday: 63% of this round’s $345M Skills Development Fund went to groups led by PC donors.
The top recipient held a $120k fundraiser for Labour Minister David Piccini months before it got $14M.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
The top recipient held a $120k fundraiser for Labour Minister David Piccini months before it got $14M.
www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-tri...
Groups led by PC donors received majority of recent Ontario training funds
One group received $14 million, the largest grant of the Skills Development Fund’s fifth round, after hosting a $120,000 fundraiser for the labour minister’s riding association
www.thetrillium.ca
October 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
I've been speaking to a number of political insiders lately about the Ford government.
They're all saying the same thing - gaps in the PC armor are starting to show.
They're all saying the same thing - gaps in the PC armor are starting to show.
"This decades long process of an ever closer economic relationship with the United States is now over."
Mark Carney's speech from yesterday is worth a listen. A pivotal moment for Canada on the global stage.
The world you were raised to survive in no longer exists.
www.youtube.com/live/70ggpbi...
Mark Carney's speech from yesterday is worth a listen. A pivotal moment for Canada on the global stage.
The world you were raised to survive in no longer exists.
www.youtube.com/live/70ggpbi...
PM Mark Carney outlines plan for Canada’s economy ahead of upcoming federal budget
YouTube video by CHCH News
www.youtube.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
"This decades long process of an ever closer economic relationship with the United States is now over."
Mark Carney's speech from yesterday is worth a listen. A pivotal moment for Canada on the global stage.
The world you were raised to survive in no longer exists.
www.youtube.com/live/70ggpbi...
Mark Carney's speech from yesterday is worth a listen. A pivotal moment for Canada on the global stage.
The world you were raised to survive in no longer exists.
www.youtube.com/live/70ggpbi...
Reposted by Aaron Binder
i like that if your robbery is sufficiently cool it becomes a heist
October 20, 2025 at 11:11 PM
i like that if your robbery is sufficiently cool it becomes a heist
Toronto Bike Share is one of the best city programs ever.
While I own 5 bikes - Bike Share is fantastic for quick jaunts downtown. It's also huge for tourism in Toronto and we need to talk about this more!
Read @torontotoday.ca | www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
While I own 5 bikes - Bike Share is fantastic for quick jaunts downtown. It's also huge for tourism in Toronto and we need to talk about this more!
Read @torontotoday.ca | www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
October 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Toronto Bike Share is one of the best city programs ever.
While I own 5 bikes - Bike Share is fantastic for quick jaunts downtown. It's also huge for tourism in Toronto and we need to talk about this more!
Read @torontotoday.ca | www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
While I own 5 bikes - Bike Share is fantastic for quick jaunts downtown. It's also huge for tourism in Toronto and we need to talk about this more!
Read @torontotoday.ca | www.torontotoday.ca/local/city-h...
"Toronto’s own bike share network, with nearly 1,000 stations, could be expanded to scooters.
Build it, because they are coming if we like it or not."
Great article by @shawnmicallef.bsky.social - however they're already here. I estimate 60k+ privately owned e-scooters already in Toronto.
1/2
Build it, because they are coming if we like it or not."
Great article by @shawnmicallef.bsky.social - however they're already here. I estimate 60k+ privately owned e-scooters already in Toronto.
1/2
October 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
"Toronto’s own bike share network, with nearly 1,000 stations, could be expanded to scooters.
Build it, because they are coming if we like it or not."
Great article by @shawnmicallef.bsky.social - however they're already here. I estimate 60k+ privately owned e-scooters already in Toronto.
1/2
Build it, because they are coming if we like it or not."
Great article by @shawnmicallef.bsky.social - however they're already here. I estimate 60k+ privately owned e-scooters already in Toronto.
1/2
Reposted by Aaron Binder
In the US the top 10% of earners now account for 50% of ALL spending.
In both Canada and the US we could be heading toward major consumer credit defaults.
Read When Will it be Time to Panic About Private Credit by @downtownjoshbrown.bsky.social | www.downtownjoshbrown.com/p/when-will-...
In both Canada and the US we could be heading toward major consumer credit defaults.
Read When Will it be Time to Panic About Private Credit by @downtownjoshbrown.bsky.social | www.downtownjoshbrown.com/p/when-will-...
October 19, 2025 at 11:11 PM
In the US the top 10% of earners now account for 50% of ALL spending.
In both Canada and the US we could be heading toward major consumer credit defaults.
Read When Will it be Time to Panic About Private Credit by @downtownjoshbrown.bsky.social | www.downtownjoshbrown.com/p/when-will-...
In both Canada and the US we could be heading toward major consumer credit defaults.
Read When Will it be Time to Panic About Private Credit by @downtownjoshbrown.bsky.social | www.downtownjoshbrown.com/p/when-will-...
Reposted by Aaron Binder
a car’s horn should be as loud on the inside of the car as it is on the outside
Do you have any extremely niche, but serious, ethical stances?
October 20, 2025 at 2:37 AM
a car’s horn should be as loud on the inside of the car as it is on the outside