Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
@mikedoherty.ca
My other computer is your cloud
#KW #WaterlooRegion #YIMBY #urbanism #cycling #transit #HousingTheoryOfEverything #AbundanceAgenda #cdnpoli #onpoli #SystemsThinking
#KW #WaterlooRegion #YIMBY #urbanism #cycling #transit #HousingTheoryOfEverything #AbundanceAgenda #cdnpoli #onpoli #SystemsThinking
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
Thanks to the signaling system, Line 6 drivers can hardly ever drive faster than 30km/h all in the name of safety. The vehicle on a fixed guideway in the middle of the street needs to travel at half the speed limit. Meanwhile cars and big trucks close to the curb can travel at 60km/h.
It’s great that stronger TSP is now a political priority.
Unfortunately, our $3B+ tramway will STILL take 46-min to go 10km, slower than the bus. This is due to:
- “Vision Zero” speed limits of 35 midblocks, 25 intersections, 15 platforms
- speed limits and gradients enforced by unnecessary CBTC
Unfortunately, our $3B+ tramway will STILL take 46-min to go 10km, slower than the bus. This is due to:
- “Vision Zero” speed limits of 35 midblocks, 25 intersections, 15 platforms
- speed limits and gradients enforced by unnecessary CBTC
December 15, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Thanks to the signaling system, Line 6 drivers can hardly ever drive faster than 30km/h all in the name of safety. The vehicle on a fixed guideway in the middle of the street needs to travel at half the speed limit. Meanwhile cars and big trucks close to the curb can travel at 60km/h.
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
if the city truly believed in "vision zero" for finch avenue it would make transit the fast, compelling option to get people out of cars.
also, ban a bunch of left turns.
also, force tankers to use keele to access the oil terminals.
but instead we get the dumbest idea: slowing down the tram
also, ban a bunch of left turns.
also, force tankers to use keele to access the oil terminals.
but instead we get the dumbest idea: slowing down the tram
It’s great that stronger TSP is now a political priority.
Unfortunately, our $3B+ tramway will STILL take 46-min to go 10km, slower than the bus. This is due to:
- “Vision Zero” speed limits of 35 midblocks, 25 intersections, 15 platforms
- speed limits and gradients enforced by unnecessary CBTC
Unfortunately, our $3B+ tramway will STILL take 46-min to go 10km, slower than the bus. This is due to:
- “Vision Zero” speed limits of 35 midblocks, 25 intersections, 15 platforms
- speed limits and gradients enforced by unnecessary CBTC
December 15, 2025 at 2:10 AM
if the city truly believed in "vision zero" for finch avenue it would make transit the fast, compelling option to get people out of cars.
also, ban a bunch of left turns.
also, force tankers to use keele to access the oil terminals.
but instead we get the dumbest idea: slowing down the tram
also, ban a bunch of left turns.
also, force tankers to use keele to access the oil terminals.
but instead we get the dumbest idea: slowing down the tram
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
Trump's evisceration of US regulatory agencies will hit Canadians hard. Carney's cuts to state capacity are the exact opposite of what he should be doing to strengthen Canada.
We need more -- much more -- regulatory capacity, not less.
We need more -- much more -- regulatory capacity, not less.
New from me: It will be more difficult for Canada to track diseases, food borne illnesses & side effects from pharmaceuticals with the US govt's dismantling of its regulatory agencies. PM Carney's cuts to the federal govt are coming at a time of crisis.
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/12/trum...
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/12/trum...
How Trump’s regulatory cuts threaten Canada’s safety
Trump’s dismantling of U.S. science agencies puts Canadians at risk. Canada must boost regulatory capacity to protect health and food safety.
policyoptions.irpp.org
December 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Trump's evisceration of US regulatory agencies will hit Canadians hard. Carney's cuts to state capacity are the exact opposite of what he should be doing to strengthen Canada.
We need more -- much more -- regulatory capacity, not less.
We need more -- much more -- regulatory capacity, not less.
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
Some of our biggest problems have causes that seem to perplex many people. In my latest blog post I discuss this in great detail.
open.substack.com/pub/cinqpers...
open.substack.com/pub/cinqpers...
Problems of Grand Crystallized Dysfunction.
A Story of Housing and Public Transport.
open.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Some of our biggest problems have causes that seem to perplex many people. In my latest blog post I discuss this in great detail.
open.substack.com/pub/cinqpers...
open.substack.com/pub/cinqpers...
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
Especially now that wall-to-wall carpet is out of fashion, the average American wood frame apartment is a noise pollution disaster. If you have an inconsiderate upstairs neighbor and a useless property manager, you basically just have to live with a lot more stress and a lot less sleep for a year.
December 15, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Especially now that wall-to-wall carpet is out of fashion, the average American wood frame apartment is a noise pollution disaster. If you have an inconsiderate upstairs neighbor and a useless property manager, you basically just have to live with a lot more stress and a lot less sleep for a year.
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
On the theme of, "American planners regulate the wrong things," we should have much stricter regulations on noise-proofing apartments. It's the sort of issue regulation is meant to handle: it's difficult for most consumer to assess it before making a decision, and it really impacts qualify of life.
4-plex going up a few blocks from me. Gonna see about getting a showing when it's done. If we can see 2 adjacent units at the same time I'll bring a lil Bluetooth speaker to test the acoustic performance between units.
There aren't offset studs between units, so I figure it will perform poorly.
There aren't offset studs between units, so I figure it will perform poorly.
December 15, 2025 at 6:05 AM
On the theme of, "American planners regulate the wrong things," we should have much stricter regulations on noise-proofing apartments. It's the sort of issue regulation is meant to handle: it's difficult for most consumer to assess it before making a decision, and it really impacts qualify of life.
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
These massive blunt-nosed bastard trucks need to be taxed out of existence. They're a consistent threat to the safety of pedestrians and cyclists (especially children).
A driver hit a 67-year old woman as she had the walk sign at Belmont and Pulaski. Her condition is unknown. Hope she survives.
Woman run over in Belmont Cragin by driver of pickup truck with snowy windshield
A woman was run over by the driver of a pickup truck with snow partially covering his windshield as she crossed the street with the right-of-way.
www.nbcchicago.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:00 PM
These massive blunt-nosed bastard trucks need to be taxed out of existence. They're a consistent threat to the safety of pedestrians and cyclists (especially children).
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
We've made a lot of progress but our inner and outer suburban neighbourhoods remain zoned in many cases at four units maximum. We aren't going to get fourplexes at a huge scale and apartments in the cores will remain pricey for some time. We need to think slightly bigger.
December 15, 2025 at 2:47 AM
We've made a lot of progress but our inner and outer suburban neighbourhoods remain zoned in many cases at four units maximum. We aren't going to get fourplexes at a huge scale and apartments in the cores will remain pricey for some time. We need to think slightly bigger.
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
The side streets of neighbourhoods in central Kitchener are full of small multiplexes like this one. It easily fits within the street fabric and is a perfect example of the type of density all residential neighbourhoods can handle. Renters deserve more choices than city cores and arterial roads.
December 15, 2025 at 2:45 AM
The side streets of neighbourhoods in central Kitchener are full of small multiplexes like this one. It easily fits within the street fabric and is a perfect example of the type of density all residential neighbourhoods can handle. Renters deserve more choices than city cores and arterial roads.
I already knew which two before clicking -- I love being correct.
December 14, 2025 at 11:25 PM
I already knew which two before clicking -- I love being correct.
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
Say it with me now, "Abolish historic preservation laws"
If I had time for Seattle landmarking drama right now, I would totally follow the case of the Caroline Horton House, which was landmarked by the neighbors against the owner's will and gets its controls and incentives hearing on December 17th. www.seattle.gov/documents/De...
December 14, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Say it with me now, "Abolish historic preservation laws"
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
"Liberalism’s great liability isn’t 'wokeness.' It’s a lack of self-confidence bordering on masochism."
Liberals: Stop the Masochism
Why liberalism romanticizes the Forgotten Man and is reluctant to take its own side in the fight against authoritarianism.
www.thebulwark.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:54 PM
"Liberalism’s great liability isn’t 'wokeness.' It’s a lack of self-confidence bordering on masochism."
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
Exactly. Coddling them is not helping them or anyone else, and makes things worse for others.
Hard times are war, depression, tyranny. Not "I saw on my smartphone that people I don't know are reading books at a library in another town at a voluntary family event that I didn't attend." FFS.
Hard times are war, depression, tyranny. Not "I saw on my smartphone that people I don't know are reading books at a library in another town at a voluntary family event that I didn't attend." FFS.
I can understand, even if I disagree, why French wants to try and empathize with the concerns of these RW culture war types. But that empathy is just reinforcing their whiny, spoiled attitude when what they need to be told is to grow the fuck up, those aren’t real problems.
December 14, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Exactly. Coddling them is not helping them or anyone else, and makes things worse for others.
Hard times are war, depression, tyranny. Not "I saw on my smartphone that people I don't know are reading books at a library in another town at a voluntary family event that I didn't attend." FFS.
Hard times are war, depression, tyranny. Not "I saw on my smartphone that people I don't know are reading books at a library in another town at a voluntary family event that I didn't attend." FFS.
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
But David French, the guys flipping out over Drag Queen Story Hour are the weak men creating hard times.
If they think something has gone terribly wrong, and that the thing is people reading books to kids at a voluntary family event, that's insanely weak. And an excuse to act on irrational hatred.
If they think something has gone terribly wrong, and that the thing is people reading books to kids at a voluntary family event, that's insanely weak. And an excuse to act on irrational hatred.
December 14, 2025 at 2:51 PM
But David French, the guys flipping out over Drag Queen Story Hour are the weak men creating hard times.
If they think something has gone terribly wrong, and that the thing is people reading books to kids at a voluntary family event, that's insanely weak. And an excuse to act on irrational hatred.
If they think something has gone terribly wrong, and that the thing is people reading books to kids at a voluntary family event, that's insanely weak. And an excuse to act on irrational hatred.
This seems like such an easy fix, why do they need to micromanage the white bar signals to this degree - or why not fix it now? Should be a very easy amendment to write and pass, no?
If the ON Highway Traffic Act were amended to legalize diagonal white bars, the existing white bar signals in Toronto could be changed to diagonal, allowing vertical bars to be used on transit signals indicating "proceed straight".
December 14, 2025 at 6:30 PM
This seems like such an easy fix, why do they need to micromanage the white bar signals to this degree - or why not fix it now? Should be a very easy amendment to write and pass, no?
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
I can’t get over the fact that Toronto + Ontario shut down transit on one of the busiest weekends of the year. It’s contempt for the people who live here.
A> when subway is closed you really see how much work it does. Sardine buses. Imagine everyone in cars.
B> it’s bananas the TTC scheduled TWO separate downtown subway closures the 2nd weekend before Xmas. Busiest time. If not emergency why not wait till January doldrums? Punishing organization.
B> it’s bananas the TTC scheduled TWO separate downtown subway closures the 2nd weekend before Xmas. Busiest time. If not emergency why not wait till January doldrums? Punishing organization.
December 14, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I can’t get over the fact that Toronto + Ontario shut down transit on one of the busiest weekends of the year. It’s contempt for the people who live here.
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock Kimberly Prost, a Canadian judge at the International Criminal Court out of daily life www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock International Criminal Court judge out of daily life
Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards, transfer money or book everyday services in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary
www.irishtimes.com
December 14, 2025 at 2:15 AM
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock Kimberly Prost, a Canadian judge at the International Criminal Court out of daily life www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
While I appreciate the mayor sending condolences to those impacted by these deaths, it feels somewhat hollow if it's not followed up with a commitment to action. www.cambridge.ca/Modules/News...
Statement from Mayor Jan Liggett
Tragedy from pedestrian fatalities has struck our community for the second time in three weeks. The pain of families is unfathomable, particularly in a holiday season where family gatherings are a maj...
www.cambridge.ca
December 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM
While I appreciate the mayor sending condolences to those impacted by these deaths, it feels somewhat hollow if it's not followed up with a commitment to action. www.cambridge.ca/Modules/News...
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
*slaps roof of car*
You could easily fit 5 million people here
You could easily fit 5 million people here
December 12, 2025 at 6:54 PM
*slaps roof of car*
You could easily fit 5 million people here
You could easily fit 5 million people here
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
There's also a housing accelerator program from Trudeau's time that pays municipalities to fix zoning that has a couple years of funding left. It got quite a few places to legalize missing middle although some are trying to walk it back now. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Calgary housing funds from Ottawa face uncertainty as council reconsiders blanket rezoning | CBC News
"No official decision" has been made regarding more than $129 million in federal funding meant for the City of Calgary through the Housing Accelerator Fund, in light of council's upcoming debate on wh...
www.cbc.ca
December 13, 2025 at 12:03 PM
There's also a housing accelerator program from Trudeau's time that pays municipalities to fix zoning that has a couple years of funding left. It got quite a few places to legalize missing middle although some are trying to walk it back now. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
Land use reforms are provincial jurisdiction. A federal bill to exempt homes over $1.5 million from federal sales tax is about to be signed into law, although it only applies to first time buyers. www.parl.ca/DocumentView...
Government Bill (House of Commons) C-4 (45-1) - Third Reading - Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act - Parliament of Canada
Government Bill (House of Commons) C-4 (45-1) - Third Reading - Making Life More Affordable for Canadians Act - Parliament of Canada
www.parl.ca
December 13, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Land use reforms are provincial jurisdiction. A federal bill to exempt homes over $1.5 million from federal sales tax is about to be signed into law, although it only applies to first time buyers. www.parl.ca/DocumentView...
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
When is Ontario going to start being part of the solution instead of part of the problem?
(Not til we get rid of Doug "NIMBY Premier" Ford)
(Not til we get rid of Doug "NIMBY Premier" Ford)
Canadian housing permits jumped 14% in data released today, hitting the 4th-highest level in modern history as multifamily permits hit the 3rd-highest ever
Canada is now on track to allow roughly 300k housing units this year
Canada is now on track to allow roughly 300k housing units this year
December 13, 2025 at 1:35 PM
When is Ontario going to start being part of the solution instead of part of the problem?
(Not til we get rid of Doug "NIMBY Premier" Ford)
(Not til we get rid of Doug "NIMBY Premier" Ford)
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
Ford and Downey are at it again. Another “tough on crime” bail bill that won’t reduce crime, won’t improve safety, and will violate the Constitution while punishing poverty.
Their Cash bail grift is bad law and worse policy.
www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion...
Their Cash bail grift is bad law and worse policy.
www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion...
Ford and Downey’s bail proposal gives freedom to the rich and cages the poor
Their soundbite-driven policy is a mask to hide their failures to ensure community safety
www.canadianlawyermag.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Ford and Downey are at it again. Another “tough on crime” bail bill that won’t reduce crime, won’t improve safety, and will violate the Constitution while punishing poverty.
Their Cash bail grift is bad law and worse policy.
www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion...
Their Cash bail grift is bad law and worse policy.
www.canadianlawyermag.com/news/opinion...
Reposted by Mike Doherty 🇨🇦 🏳️🌈
December 12, 2025 at 9:08 PM