Michael John Lo
@michaeljohnlo.bsky.social
Skeetin' from Victoria, Canada. Reporter with the Times Colonist newspaper, prev. words in the Globe and Mail, The Tyee, Capital Daily & more. He/him. Allergic to eggplant, shrimp, lobster.
Pinned
buckle-up for extremely niche tweets about Victoria BC
Reposted by Michael John Lo
Nice to see @victoria.ca consider this. It doesn’t offset the 10s of thousands added to housing costs in the last few years but this acknowledges that city fees has a large impact on housing costs and housing supply. Story from @michaeljohnlo.bsky.social
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/v...
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/v...
Victoria developers could see 'permit fee holiday' under mayor's proposal
Mayor Marianne Alto says it’s important to keep the momentum of new residential developments going so the cost of housing can come down in Victoria.
www.timescolonist.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Nice to see @victoria.ca consider this. It doesn’t offset the 10s of thousands added to housing costs in the last few years but this acknowledges that city fees has a large impact on housing costs and housing supply. Story from @michaeljohnlo.bsky.social
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/v...
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/v...
Reposted by Michael John Lo
We published our AI policy yesterday. It affirms our commitment to human-made writing, photography and illustrations. #journalism #localnews You can read more here: thetyee.ca/Tyeenews/202...
The Tyee Has a New AI Policy | The Tyee
Long story short: We’re mostly taking a pass on the robots.
thetyee.ca
December 6, 2025 at 6:07 PM
We published our AI policy yesterday. It affirms our commitment to human-made writing, photography and illustrations. #journalism #localnews You can read more here: thetyee.ca/Tyeenews/202...
The changes that were voted in by council would mean that the Times Colonist would lose CoV ad money equivalent to the annual wages for a reporter or two, if I'm understanding this correctly
Item G3, Public Notice Bylaw changes. Staff brought it forward, like other items today, looking for efficiencies. Gardiner pulled this off the consent agenda.
Gardiner: What's the reason for the significant budget decrease?
Staff: Fewer public hearings, fewer statutory notices, less money.
Gardiner: What's the reason for the significant budget decrease?
Staff: Fewer public hearings, fewer statutory notices, less money.
December 4, 2025 at 10:07 PM
The changes that were voted in by council would mean that the Times Colonist would lose CoV ad money equivalent to the annual wages for a reporter or two, if I'm understanding this correctly
OneBC members were speaking to a videographer outside the Clearihue Building near Ring Road when someone began throwing orange-coloured smoke bombs.
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/t...
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/t...
One arrested at OneBC event at UVic that draws protesters
Police did not name the person arrested under the Trespass Act, but OneBC leader Dallas Brodie said it was planned speaker Francis Widdowson, who was later released.
www.timescolonist.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:55 AM
OneBC members were speaking to a videographer outside the Clearihue Building near Ring Road when someone began throwing orange-coloured smoke bombs.
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/t...
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/t...
Reposted by Michael John Lo
Hong Kong police raid construction company responsible for renos at public housing estate engulfed in flames yesterday, @jamestgriffiths.com reports. At least 83 dead, hundreds still unaccounted for, in territory's worst fire disaster since Second World War
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
Hong Kong police raid company linked to Wang Fuk Court fire
At least 83 dead, hundreds missing in territory’s worst fire disaster since the Second World War
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Hong Kong police raid construction company responsible for renos at public housing estate engulfed in flames yesterday, @jamestgriffiths.com reports. At least 83 dead, hundreds still unaccounted for, in territory's worst fire disaster since Second World War
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
Reposted by Michael John Lo
International media, you can do better than this.
"Bamboo" is maybe exotic and a compelling hook but it is too easy. The real story here is the growing culture of corruption, including a lack of accountability and oversight, that enabled a chain of human errors that led to this disaster.
"Bamboo" is maybe exotic and a compelling hook but it is too easy. The real story here is the growing culture of corruption, including a lack of accountability and oversight, that enabled a chain of human errors that led to this disaster.
November 27, 2025 at 9:17 AM
International media, you can do better than this.
"Bamboo" is maybe exotic and a compelling hook but it is too easy. The real story here is the growing culture of corruption, including a lack of accountability and oversight, that enabled a chain of human errors that led to this disaster.
"Bamboo" is maybe exotic and a compelling hook but it is too easy. The real story here is the growing culture of corruption, including a lack of accountability and oversight, that enabled a chain of human errors that led to this disaster.
Reposted by Michael John Lo
Pro-democracy parties existed to be thorns in the government’s side — true enough. But the official story, that they “politicised” everything while the establishment camp championed livelihood issues, does not match the reality.
See below for an example of how they also pushed back on local issues.
See below for an example of how they also pushed back on local issues.
November 27, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Pro-democracy parties existed to be thorns in the government’s side — true enough. But the official story, that they “politicised” everything while the establishment camp championed livelihood issues, does not match the reality.
See below for an example of how they also pushed back on local issues.
See below for an example of how they also pushed back on local issues.
Reposted by Michael John Lo
I saw Thomas King finally admitted he’s not Native. We were going to do a story on him for the old podcast - he was cited in a court case, his books used in schools - so it mattered. But also it would just be so ugly. This is the best way for him to do it.
November 25, 2025 at 12:04 AM
I saw Thomas King finally admitted he’s not Native. We were going to do a story on him for the old podcast - he was cited in a court case, his books used in schools - so it mattered. But also it would just be so ugly. This is the best way for him to do it.
Reposted by Michael John Lo
(everyone has known for years — years!! — that Thomas King is not Cherokee) www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/book...
Inconvenient Indian author Thomas King says he is not part Cherokee
Writer ‘still in shock’ after a whistle-blowing organization showed him genealogical evidence that he wasn’t part Indigenous as he originally assumed
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:33 PM
(everyone has known for years — years!! — that Thomas King is not Cherokee) www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/book...
Reposted by Michael John Lo
Today, DULF co-founders launch their constitutional challenge to Canada’s drug laws that criminalize possession for the purposes of trafficking.
“[The law] is over broad in that it prohibits non medical safer supply programs no matter how efficacious” - lawyer Tim Dickson
@pressprogress.ca
“[The law] is over broad in that it prohibits non medical safer supply programs no matter how efficacious” - lawyer Tim Dickson
@pressprogress.ca
November 24, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Today, DULF co-founders launch their constitutional challenge to Canada’s drug laws that criminalize possession for the purposes of trafficking.
“[The law] is over broad in that it prohibits non medical safer supply programs no matter how efficacious” - lawyer Tim Dickson
@pressprogress.ca
“[The law] is over broad in that it prohibits non medical safer supply programs no matter how efficacious” - lawyer Tim Dickson
@pressprogress.ca
Reposted by Michael John Lo
Reposted by Michael John Lo
My latest Left Coast Dispatch reflects on one of my most memorable public history efforts. The “Top 10” list of inspiring Canadians contained no women - so I suggested Dr. Frances Kelsey. What happened next? Read on! buttondown.com/leftcoastdis...
Inspiring Public History
The Top 10 list of Inspiring Canadians contained no women, so I set out to correct that.
buttondown.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:09 PM
My latest Left Coast Dispatch reflects on one of my most memorable public history efforts. The “Top 10” list of inspiring Canadians contained no women - so I suggested Dr. Frances Kelsey. What happened next? Read on! buttondown.com/leftcoastdis...
Reposted by Michael John Lo
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
November 14, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
Reposted by Michael John Lo
Hi Bluesky 👋
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
November 7, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Hi Bluesky 👋
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/f...
Have no idea why our Liberal MPs are so smarmy-looking in this photo but here's my file on up to $6M promised to Royal Athletic Park, filed on deadline
Have no idea why our Liberal MPs are so smarmy-looking in this photo but here's my file on up to $6M promised to Royal Athletic Park, filed on deadline
Federal government to provide up to $6M for Royal Athletic Park upgrades
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto said the funding will go toward upgrading the park “a little more quickly than we had hoped.”
www.timescolonist.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:07 PM
www.timescolonist.com/local-news/f...
Have no idea why our Liberal MPs are so smarmy-looking in this photo but here's my file on up to $6M promised to Royal Athletic Park, filed on deadline
Have no idea why our Liberal MPs are so smarmy-looking in this photo but here's my file on up to $6M promised to Royal Athletic Park, filed on deadline
Reposted by Michael John Lo
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Michael John Lo
BC's anti-SLAPP legislation was critical to keeping a meritless lawsuit @torimarlan.bsky.social and I faced to the "affordable" sum of ~$50k in legal fees. Journalists like Luke not protected by these laws have much higher exposure — even when, like us, they did nothing wrong.
In other provinces, journalists can use anti-SLAPP legislation to challenge lawsuits when they believe they are groundless or undermine the public interest
Alberta has no such laws, leaving journalists vulnerable to long and expensive legal battles
I believe that is fundamentally bad for democracy
Alberta has no such laws, leaving journalists vulnerable to long and expensive legal battles
I believe that is fundamentally bad for democracy
November 7, 2025 at 4:04 PM
BC's anti-SLAPP legislation was critical to keeping a meritless lawsuit @torimarlan.bsky.social and I faced to the "affordable" sum of ~$50k in legal fees. Journalists like Luke not protected by these laws have much higher exposure — even when, like us, they did nothing wrong.
This freaking unmute/mute clownshow...
November 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
This freaking unmute/mute clownshow...
Reposted by Michael John Lo
🚨Scoop: Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont says he is considering crossing the floor to join the Liberal Party.
He tells me he'll make a decision “in the next few days” after reviewing the federal budget. Other Conservatives are also being courted.
He tells me he'll make a decision “in the next few days” after reviewing the federal budget. Other Conservatives are also being courted.
Conservative MP says he’s considering joining Canada’s Liberal government
The stunning twist moves Mark Carney one step closer to a secure hold on the prime minister’s office until 2029.
www.politico.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:40 PM
🚨Scoop: Nova Scotia MP Chris d'Entremont says he is considering crossing the floor to join the Liberal Party.
He tells me he'll make a decision “in the next few days” after reviewing the federal budget. Other Conservatives are also being courted.
He tells me he'll make a decision “in the next few days” after reviewing the federal budget. Other Conservatives are also being courted.
absolute loss for teen vogue
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 8:21 PM
absolute loss for teen vogue
Been hugely enjoying the live coverage put out by the Globe and Mail team for the Jays games this weeked. This update from @grahamisador.bsky.social made me laugh:
November 2, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Been hugely enjoying the live coverage put out by the Globe and Mail team for the Jays games this weeked. This update from @grahamisador.bsky.social made me laugh:
A OneBC political staffer is organizing a rally in Victoria this Sunday to "raise awareness about the alarming rise in antisemitism and to stand united for safety, respect, and protection of our Jewish community."
The event is being billed as family-friendly. A police escort is expected.
The event is being billed as family-friendly. A police escort is expected.
October 31, 2025 at 2:20 PM
A OneBC political staffer is organizing a rally in Victoria this Sunday to "raise awareness about the alarming rise in antisemitism and to stand united for safety, respect, and protection of our Jewish community."
The event is being billed as family-friendly. A police escort is expected.
The event is being billed as family-friendly. A police escort is expected.