Ric Lim

Advocate for Open Gov / Data and for practical but transformative socio-economic policy. Composer, Filmmaker. Currently working on basic income project.

[Josh Matlow @JoshMatlow]

I have a suggestion for the province and Metrolinx. We all want transit expansion to move forward. But the cost overruns, delays, secrecy and impacts on businesses and communities due to the Eglinton LRT construction can never be repeated. I propose a public dashboard for all major infrastructure projects. Using visual and interactive tools, a public dashboard can provide residents with the ability to track progress, issues, costs and timing. It can provide more granular details about publicly-shared contracts and reports. It places trust in the public while holding those in power, and entrusted to deliver these projects, to account. We all want transit expansion to move forward. And we want it done well- while using every tax dollar thoughtfully and with plans to support small businesses through the construction. Let’s offer true transparency and accountability to earn the public’s trust and get results.

[Ric Lim @riclim_mb]

I asked to speak with a supervisor and was put on hold. After he came back claim he is going to book for me then hang up the phone again! What a nightmare of a customer service. Are they even based in Canada or offshored to somewhere who cannot even book flight for me. 4/4

[Ric Lim @riclim_mb]

@flairairlines WTH I've just been hanged up on twice with each hold time being around 30 minutes. Website giving error on payment screen. Discrepancy on what is sent to Credit card company error code -6998. First customer service want to charge me for calling on the phone. 1/..

[Ric Lim @riclim_mb]

after repeatedly putting me on hold to check ith Supervisor probably, insist he cannot book my flight on the phone and told him instruction from first person I spoke to to send screenshot. He seems worse than first and have no idea how to pull up the ticket ID. 3/....

[J Hunter🍁 @MrJoKeR604]

If you're immediate reaction to the tragedy from the Filipino Lapu Lapu festival is to make it political. Just stop, you're exactly what's wrong with our country and humanity in general.

[Ric Lim @riclim_mb]

@EricDLombardi @KeldenFormosa @MarkJCarney @PierrePoilievre Social issues is the main driver of those breakdown in society IMHO. Basic income helps minimizes that as per Manitoba’s Mincone experiment. But it does not fix all. Need Marshall Plan level long view strategy funds for mental health/rehab to fix damages that were already done.

[Ric Lim @riclim_mb]

Just like a venture funds, it unlocks potentials & drives productivity. It does help prevent people from falling down financial cracks, usually no fault of their own. But Roosevelt Institute think it will boost productivity & raise GDP in trillion dollar permanently. Data agrees.

[Ric Lim @riclim_mb]

Definitely, we’ve seen too many promises made as yardstick than outcome. hope this time it is different. as a fintech guy, what is your thought on basic income. I know some people get the impression it is a pie in the sky or too expensive and wasteful idea. But it is not. 1/2

[Eric Lombardi (EricForOLP.ca) 🇨🇦🚀 @EricDLombardi]

After a lot of consideration, I have decided I will vote Liberal and for @MarkJCarney on Monday.

I think the Conservatives ran a great campaign and @PierrePoilievre would lead Canada well.

That said, I want to explain the deciding factors for my vote — since I know many Conservatives follow me too.

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Despite the partisanship you often see online, I believe both major parties put forward decent if imperfect platforms this election.

For all the hand-wringing, there is consensus in Canada for moving in the right direction — on project permitting, natural resource development, tying immigration to infrastructure, interprovincial trade barriers, housing supply reforms, and maintaining strong public finances.

Neither platform puts our AAA credit rating at risk. Our pension system remains one of the strongest globally. We aren’t facing the kind of unfunded obligations weighing down many peer countries.

We’re still a fortunate country — and our politics are healthier (federally) than we often give them credit for.

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That said, here is why I ultimately decided to vote Liberal.

1) CANDIDATES

There are several Liberal candidates I would like to see become MPs: @kbardeesy @vgasparro and Chi Nguyen just to name a few.

2) HOUSING

While I don’t know who will be in Cabinet, my hope is that @beynate stays on as Housing Minister. We don’t always agree, but from my candid conversations with him, I know how well he understands this issue.

I believe there is a genuine will inside the Liberal Party to push hard for real supply reform.

Programs like the Housing Accelerator Fund are imperfect, but still good overall. MURB, GST/DC promises, Build Canada etc all good!

3) STATE CAPACITY

Conservatives are rightly skeptical of government bloat — but I don’t see the same urgency from them about making government work better. I think the Liberals have more interest to do this.

I want to see new agencies like Build Homes Canada not just announced but executed well.

4) CLIMATE

The Conservatives offer no real climate plan beyond exporting LNG — and too often slip into mocking anyone who cares about environmental issues.

I want to see pipelines built and energy exported — but I also want serious investment in electrification, adaptation, and decarbonization.

Canada is one of the countries best positioned to thrive if we take climate adaptation seriously. I don’t want us to waste that advantage.

5) CITIES

The Conservatives are not an urban party.

Many of their MPs are outright hostile to Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal — and to the people who live in them in rhetoric.

In day-to-day governing, I believe cities would be a lower priority under a Conservative government. I live in downtown Toronto.

6) OTHER ITEMS

I want to see the CBC reformed, not abolished.

I want HSR to Windsor.

I think Mark Carney will be able to respond better to a serious economic shock.

I think the Liberal plan to get to 2% Military spending is more credible.

- - - 🇨🇦 - - -

That said, I still have concerns about the Liberal approach:

They don’t fear complexity enough.

They often add too many secondary goals onto every initiative, muddying execution.

They measure themselves too much by promises made or money spent, rather than outcomes delivered.

On climate, there’s still too much Malthusian instinct when we should be focusing on abundance, technology, and resilience.

But ultimately:

They have a climate plan.

They value urban Canada.

They are more serious about rebuilding state capacity.

And they are shifting focus to growth.

And that is why, after careful thought, I’ll be voting for the Liberal Party and Mark Carney.

Here’s a clip from Monday’s debate where I talked more about how I see the strengths — and blind spots — of both campaigns.

[Ric Lim @riclim_mb]

@liberal_party @MarkJCarney @DavidCalnitsky @NDP @CPC_HQ @CanadianGreens A case for Basic income as Canada’s bedrock for resilience, homegrown innovation, and entrepreneurship during crisis. #BasicIncome ⬆️thread explains. @ubi_works @MarkJCarney @theJagmeetSingh @LeahGazan @PierrePoilievre @j_pedneault @ElizabethMay #mincome

https://t.co/3Mo6DyT1CV

[Ric Lim @riclim_mb]

@liberal_party @MarkJCarney I interviewed @DavidCalnitsky, PhD - Associate Professor of Dept of sociology at Western U. He did found among Mincome record from Manitoba, an indication of easier bank loan approval for participants. Liklely improved credit due to financial security. Hence, easier to start biz.

[Ric Lim @riclim_mb]

@liberal_party @MarkJCarney I interviewed @DavidCalnitsky, PhD - Associate Professor of Dept of sociology at Western U. He did found among Mincome record from Manitoba, an indication of easier bank loan approval for participants. Liklely improved credit due to financial security. Hence, easier to start biz.

[Ric Lim @riclim_mb]

@spaikin A visionary often has ideas that are ridiculed. Reminds me of a Martin Luther King Jr scholar who praised him for everything that is now mainstream but claim he is misguided on basic income just because that has yet to become mainstream. Someday basic income will become the norm.