Joel

Urban Planner/Urbanist. Cycling, politics, hockey, maps & good music are my other interests.

[Colin D'Mello | Global News @ColinDMello]

Global News has been engaged in a years-long transparency battle with Premier Doug Ford's office over his cell phone records.

The government has lost a battle in court.

The government is now changing the rules to neutralize the FOI.

#onpoli

[Joel @joelplans]

it's our money you're shoveling into this BS tunnel

[Colin D'Mello | Global News @ColinDMello]

NEW: 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 agreement for a Canadian company to re-study the plan.

https://t.co/E0OzzCrebW

#onpoli

[Joel @joelplans]

I don't understand why people are so taken with this logo. It's boring, dated, and now tainted from scandals. It should have never pre-empted the simple maple leaf.

[Rob Wong @RobWong34]

Just slap this logo on a red or white jersey and you’re good to go. No need to mess around with a classic.

[Colin D'Mello | Global News @ColinDMello]

NEW: Several vehicles assigned to Ontario cabinet ministers have racked up more than $3,300 in speeding-related fines — many of them caught on automated speed cameras.

@isaaccallan’s excellent FOI work.

https://t.co/P3Aoxyl0D4

#onpoli

[Joel @joelplans]

More sign pollution that won't do anything to slow drivers.

[Colin D'Mello | Global News @ColinDMello]

BIGGER signs.

Here’s what Premier Ford is set to unveil in Vaughan to replace speed cameras.

#onpoli

[Joel @joelplans]

Absolutely brutal that this isn't front-page news. Doug Ford is more scandal-laden than the Liberals ever were

[Colin D'Mello | Global News @ColinDMello]

NEW: Premier Doug Ford confirmed his efforts to shift a significant portion of Highway 413 to accommodate a request from a Canadian developer looking to save a planned housing project in the area.

This was exclusively reported by Global News.

https://t.co/RGUwbJfBKL

#onpoli

[Joel @joelplans]

The absolute minimum amount of transparency, and this government won't even provide it.

Have to assume then that the cost/km is inflated (b/c corruption) and could never be justified by "travel time savings"

[Colin D'Mello | Global News @ColinDMello]

How much will the Highway 413 cost? The Ford government still refuses to say.

The contract will be broken up into several pieces, the Transportation Minister says, but won't say what the overall cost envelope.

The government is also not offering a timeline for construction.

#onpoli

[Joel @joelplans]

Awful awful awful.
99 parking spots requirement is arbitrary. So instead of a $40M investment the community gets nothing.

Brant County library project died 'because it didn't have enough parking spots’ https://t.co/lnlC0M6El1 via @thespec

[Joel @joelplans]

@OntarioNDP Don't do this.

[Joel @joelplans]

Another Doug Ford failure

[Jennifer Keesmaat @jen_keesmaat]

The Ontario NDP proposes spending $30 billion to ‘buy back’ a highway—just to make it cheaper to drive by eliminating tolls?

Now imagine instead investing that $30 billion into affordable housing, community facilities, and neighborhood schools.

These are the kinds of investments that would help people in the GTA drive less, not more.

Honestly, where is the vision for the future?

[Joel @joelplans]

this might make sense if this was a federal election. But I doubt Trump even knows who Ford is (or where Ontario is, for that matter) so this framing of the election makes no sense

[Colin D'Mello | Global News @ColinDMello]

NEW: In an op-ed in the National Post, Doug Ford makes an election pitch.

Ford asks for “a strong, stable, four-year mandate that will outlive and outlast the Trump administration. President Trump needs to know that for as long as he is president, I will be on the other side of the table ready to protect Ontario.”

Ford adds the next Ontario government would need to spend “tens of billions of dollars in unplanned spending and make tough choices,” hence an election.

#onpoli

[Joel @joelplans]

This is an insane amount of money to just... burn. No one was asking for this.

[Colin D'Mello | Global News @ColinDMello]

Ontario’s budget watchdog estimates the Ford government’s decision to speed up the rollout of alcohol in corner stores will cost the province more than $600 million.

That’s nearly three times the amount the
government said it would.

https://t.co/i8X9Yc339C

#onpoli

[Joel @joelplans]

@brknrun I mean, I'm pretty sure the protocol is right (Cdn flag in middle) but the American flag shouldn't be there. Full stop. It's sickening pandering.

[Joel @joelplans]

is it just me or is this "Fortress Am-Can" stuff super cringey and awkward?

Also why the American flag in the back? It's more visible than the Canadian flag to boot. The whole thing makes me very uncomfortable.

[Doug Ford @fordnation]

Whether it’s reshoring supply chains from China to bring jobs back home for workers or sharing Ontario’s critical minerals for new technologies, Canada and the U.S. will always be so much stronger together. I was thrilled to join @BBCNews to talk about building Fortress Am-Can to create more jobs on both sides of the border.

[Alex Bozikovic @alexbozikovic]

Excellent news. Toronto has announced its new chief planner: @JasonThorne_RPP.

[Anthony Farnell @AnthonyFarnell]

Hey guys, I’m starting to think that maybe all this crazy traffic might be caused by having too many cars in the roads.

[Anthony Farnell @AnthonyFarnell]

The cement and paint has barely dried on the new University Avenue dedicated bike lane. Why on earth would you tear all this up?

[Joel @joelplans]

@gregbradyTO they haven't increased tuition... because they can't?

https://t.co/3ujhztsRwP

[Joel @joelplans]

@scott_d_j @TheBikingLawyer @HamiltonPolice @fordnation @PrabSarkaria good for you man