Mark Robbins

Department of National Defence. Emerging technology, political economy, innovation, digital transformation. Renaissance man.

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

For all those with opinions about the housing crisis in Canada and how to fix it, our affordability crisis roughly coincides with one in most Western countries.

[Reuters @Reuters]

Thousands marched through the center of Barcelona holding signs that read ‘Housing is a right, not a business,’ as a crippling housing crisis has been forcing the city’s residents to spend almost 50% of their wages on housing https://t.co/tNx0CUX48Y

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

Its gone!

Hurray for the good guys! @OttawaPolice They might occasionally be slower then we'd like, but still getting things done. 👍

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

For two weeks now theres an apparent open air drug/stolen goods exchange in Central Park.

-20m from a toddler park
-100m from a daycare
-200m from a school

Literally 100 police, @_MarkSutcliffe and @ShawnMenard1 all marched past in the toy parade on Saturday

Still there now

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

For two weeks now theres an apparent open air drug/stolen goods exchange in Central Park.

-20m from a toddler park
-100m from a daycare
-200m from a school

Literally 100 police, @_MarkSutcliffe and @ShawnMenard1 all marched past in the toy parade on Saturday

Still there now

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

A Harvard economist notes that the economics discipline is oligarchical, incestuous and essentially an intellectual market failure.

Argues unironically that the solution is to give the Harvard economics department more public money 🙄

https://t.co/tHlmyVIImx

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

This needs attention from public sector workers.

There is often an assumption that money will incentivize activity, but in the era of the "everything bubble" many firms face the problem of too much money and not enough things to buy.

[Reuters @Reuters]

Nvidia’s growing cash hoard points to M&A https://t.co/9EINQsC0Zc

[Yulia Kovaliv @kovaliv_y]

As we gathered today on the Parliament Hill to commemorate 1000 days of Russian full-scale invasion, I thanked people of Canada, the Government of Canada, members of @OurCommons @SenateCA for their steadfast support.
Ukraine’s fight for freedom is more than just our fight. Ukraine’s fight is fundamental for everyone who values freedom, sovereignty and rule-based international order.
Let’s stay united and decisive in our actions to ensure that 🇺🇦’s victory in this war will secure peaceful, stable and just future for all of us.

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

An important read

The tldr; of the author is basically that the US will increasingly behave like a normal great power that pursues its own interests, rather then pursuing an idealistic foriegn policy that strives for some form of universal goodness.

https://t.co/7ZElGj2Pfg

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

Im increasingly captivated by the concept of "public sector productivity".

We all seem to agree that that productivity needs a big jolt for us to avoid economic doom.

Seems strange to discount from this comversation the 40% or so of economic activity that is public sector.

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

Has the Western World become the Soviet Union if the 2020s?

Niall Ferguson says "No." or more precisely, "Not yet".

https://t.co/U9phQoUaPQ

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

A clear and compelling overview of Canada's productivity crisis.

One thing striking me is how many of these issues can be tackled by motivated and entrepreneurial public servants. We can do this 👍👍

https://t.co/cHwjbrjGE6

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

Some of the best tech I see these days has significant cross-over with the commercial video game stack.

And my teachers said playing Counter-Strike was not a good use of time 😂

[OSINTtechnical @Osinttechnical]

Donetsk Oblast, a Ukrainian soldier uses a Steam Deck controlled remote weapons system to engage a Russian target with 7.62mm fire.

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

An honour and a pleasure to work with the brave men and women of @CanadianForces

#RemembranceDay2024

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

"Canada urgently needs a foriegn policy reset"

I find it remarkable that so few of these recommendations for a foriegn policy reset involve the traditional mandate of the department for foreign affairs.

https://t.co/7vD6Ow0UGk

[Alex Bowers @BowersWrites]

🧵 Seven hours in the @CanWarMuseum today, and we only managed to complete one floor.

It. Was. That. Fantastic.

Buckle in as I give you a tour of just some of my favourite parts. (You'll have to visit yourself for more!).

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

Wrapping up my morning at the @uOttawa Cyber Range with a bit of scenario exercise for responing to a cyber security attack.

Good way to get folks exposure to these important issues!

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

Fun debate here at @fwd50 on the nature of digital government with a few of my favourite people

Is digital government the same thing as regular government?

[Dave Perry @DavePerryCGAI]

Everyone is encouraged to bring those ideas to our conference Nov 25th - figuring out what reforms we need to actually spend 2% of GDP on defence is going to need to be a bigger priority than it was yesterday.
https://t.co/qxHv7TYKHU

[Mid-Career Army Officer @MidOfficer]

Doomscrolling while waiting to learn the future of the world's largest democracy?

Take a Carl Gustav break. You deserve it.

[RCMP @rcmpgrcpolice]

Today marks the beginning of Veterans’ Week. It’s a time to honour those who fought and gave their lives for our country, including members of the #RCMP. All week, we’ll highlight some exceptional #RCMP #WWII veterans who made Canada 🍁 proud. #CanadaRemembers

[Mark Robbins @RoboRobbins]

This chart coming up a lot at @fwd50

Canada has dropped from 3rd place in E-Gov rankings in 2010 to our current rank of 47th worldwide.