Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
@henrikbechmann.bsky.social
Retired software dev. he/him.
I sometimes discuss City of Toronto budget design and support issues.
IMO government is a collective enterprise, and should be fully transparent and forcefully managed for all, and for the health of the planet.
I sometimes discuss City of Toronto budget design and support issues.
IMO government is a collective enterprise, and should be fully transparent and forcefully managed for all, and for the health of the planet.
Pinned
I think one of the key responsibilities of government is to promote, and if necessary enforce, equity.
The result imo is a more prosperous, happier, and yes more productive society.
I think equity, in essence, is what "woke" means, and we progressives should embrace that.
The result imo is a more prosperous, happier, and yes more productive society.
I think equity, in essence, is what "woke" means, and we progressives should embrace that.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have withdrawn from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines, with Finland and Poland set to follow.
December 27, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have withdrawn from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines, with Finland and Poland set to follow.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
🟡 The Internat'l Rescue Committee has published its 2026 Emergency Watchlist:
1. Sudan
2. Occupied Palestinian territory
3. South Sudan
4. Ethiopia
5. Haiti
6. Myanmar
7. Democratic Republic of the Congo
8. Mali
9. Burkina Faso
10. Lebanon
The IRC ranks countries using a data-driven risk model...
1. Sudan
2. Occupied Palestinian territory
3. South Sudan
4. Ethiopia
5. Haiti
6. Myanmar
7. Democratic Republic of the Congo
8. Mali
9. Burkina Faso
10. Lebanon
The IRC ranks countries using a data-driven risk model...
December 27, 2025 at 9:08 PM
🟡 The Internat'l Rescue Committee has published its 2026 Emergency Watchlist:
1. Sudan
2. Occupied Palestinian territory
3. South Sudan
4. Ethiopia
5. Haiti
6. Myanmar
7. Democratic Republic of the Congo
8. Mali
9. Burkina Faso
10. Lebanon
The IRC ranks countries using a data-driven risk model...
1. Sudan
2. Occupied Palestinian territory
3. South Sudan
4. Ethiopia
5. Haiti
6. Myanmar
7. Democratic Republic of the Congo
8. Mali
9. Burkina Faso
10. Lebanon
The IRC ranks countries using a data-driven risk model...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Altogether, 70 percent of Canadians live in clusters that could be efficiently served by a trio of fast, frequent rail spines.
December 27, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Altogether, 70 percent of Canadians live in clusters that could be efficiently served by a trio of fast, frequent rail spines.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Canada is vast, but its population is concentrated in 3 key areas. Half of Canadians (≈ 18 million) live within 50 km of the Quebec City-Windsor corridor, 1,000 km of which is to be served by new Alto high-speed project.
December 27, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Canada is vast, but its population is concentrated in 3 key areas. Half of Canadians (≈ 18 million) live within 50 km of the Quebec City-Windsor corridor, 1,000 km of which is to be served by new Alto high-speed project.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
What happens when govt defunds hospitals?
“Ontario recorded the highest number of wait-list deaths: 10,634 including more than 9,100 diagnostic-scan deaths where patients died before reaching the point of receiving or being scheduled for surgery”
Make it easier to sell us for-profit clinics #ONpoli
“Ontario recorded the highest number of wait-list deaths: 10,634 including more than 9,100 diagnostic-scan deaths where patients died before reaching the point of receiving or being scheduled for surgery”
Make it easier to sell us for-profit clinics #ONpoli
December 27, 2025 at 8:38 PM
What happens when govt defunds hospitals?
“Ontario recorded the highest number of wait-list deaths: 10,634 including more than 9,100 diagnostic-scan deaths where patients died before reaching the point of receiving or being scheduled for surgery”
Make it easier to sell us for-profit clinics #ONpoli
“Ontario recorded the highest number of wait-list deaths: 10,634 including more than 9,100 diagnostic-scan deaths where patients died before reaching the point of receiving or being scheduled for surgery”
Make it easier to sell us for-profit clinics #ONpoli
@planningtoronto.bsky.social you might be interested in this. 👇
Here's a new chart for the City of Toronto, comparing the City's audited budget variance surpluses with its internal "Operating Surplus Report" variances.
I'm calling it "provisional" though because the last few years of data are so crazy that I thought I'd better hold my breath on it for a while.
I'm calling it "provisional" though because the last few years of data are so crazy that I thought I'd better hold my breath on it for a while.
December 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
@planningtoronto.bsky.social you might be interested in this. 👇
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Denmark lost more troops per capita in the post 9/11 war on Afghanistan. Saying they “are not a good ally” because they won’t surrender their territories to the US is lunacy. We are betraying our allies to satisfy the whims of a would-be Emperor for whom the US is not enough.
They’re again advocating against Denmark when it comes to Greenland
December 27, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Denmark lost more troops per capita in the post 9/11 war on Afghanistan. Saying they “are not a good ally” because they won’t surrender their territories to the US is lunacy. We are betraying our allies to satisfy the whims of a would-be Emperor for whom the US is not enough.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
I thought looking at the 2023 documents that maybe just maybe they were actually going to use the pandemic funding as they said they would but then 2024 rolled around and nope.
December 27, 2025 at 12:14 AM
I thought looking at the 2023 documents that maybe just maybe they were actually going to use the pandemic funding as they said they would but then 2024 rolled around and nope.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
As explained by @henrikbechmann.bsky.social, it's partly because Toronto's "revenues" and "expenses" are not just external revenues and expenses, but also include internal cash transfers between divisions, or to/from capital and reserves. This muddies things. More here: medium.com/@henrikbechm...
December 27, 2025 at 2:31 PM
As explained by @henrikbechmann.bsky.social, it's partly because Toronto's "revenues" and "expenses" are not just external revenues and expenses, but also include internal cash transfers between divisions, or to/from capital and reserves. This muddies things. More here: medium.com/@henrikbechm...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
An important chart to understand as Toronto heads into next year's budget process. We'll hear that the budget is barely balanced, the situation is precarious, the same as we have heard for the last 5 years, despite the City actually posting billions in surplus except in 2023. Why?
The thing is, during the pandemic, the City showed massive audited surpluses; a windfall really. Yet the internal reports portray those years as barely scraping by.
On the face of it, it looks like the City simply banked the billions$ of help from Ontario and Canada during the pandemic, but then...
On the face of it, it looks like the City simply banked the billions$ of help from Ontario and Canada during the pandemic, but then...
December 27, 2025 at 2:31 PM
An important chart to understand as Toronto heads into next year's budget process. We'll hear that the budget is barely balanced, the situation is precarious, the same as we have heard for the last 5 years, despite the City actually posting billions in surplus except in 2023. Why?
Here's a new chart for the City of Toronto, comparing the City's audited budget variance surpluses with its internal "Operating Surplus Report" variances.
I'm calling it "provisional" though because the last few years of data are so crazy that I thought I'd better hold my breath on it for a while.
I'm calling it "provisional" though because the last few years of data are so crazy that I thought I'd better hold my breath on it for a while.
December 26, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Here's a new chart for the City of Toronto, comparing the City's audited budget variance surpluses with its internal "Operating Surplus Report" variances.
I'm calling it "provisional" though because the last few years of data are so crazy that I thought I'd better hold my breath on it for a while.
I'm calling it "provisional" though because the last few years of data are so crazy that I thought I'd better hold my breath on it for a while.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Good morning! For @defector.com, I wrote about what @rachelreidwrites.bsky.social's "Game Changers" books, and the resulting TV show, have meant to me as a lifelong hockey fan with an increasingly... complicated... relationship to the men's pro game.
‘Heated Rivalry’ Is Bringing Me Back To Hockey | Defector
I wasn’t sure, at first, that I wanted to read Heated Rivalry, or the rest of the novels in Rachel Reid’s best-selling “Game Changers” series. I had thoroughly enjoyed the first of Reid’s two standalo...
defector.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Good morning! For @defector.com, I wrote about what @rachelreidwrites.bsky.social's "Game Changers" books, and the resulting TV show, have meant to me as a lifelong hockey fan with an increasingly... complicated... relationship to the men's pro game.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Niche request: In the spirit of Scott Hunter, I am asking for what I want, which is for someone to acknowledge the sheer excellence of my late grandfather's shade for Kerry Fraser.
‘Heated Rivalry’ Is Bringing Me Back To Hockey | Defector
I wasn’t sure, at first, that I wanted to read Heated Rivalry, or the rest of the novels in Rachel Reid’s best-selling “Game Changers” series. I had thoroughly enjoyed the first of Reid’s two standalo...
defector.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Niche request: In the spirit of Scott Hunter, I am asking for what I want, which is for someone to acknowledge the sheer excellence of my late grandfather's shade for Kerry Fraser.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
In case you need a positive reminder:
How effective is protesting? According to historians and political scientists: very www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
How effective is protesting? According to historians and political scientists: very www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
How effective is protesting? According to historians and political scientists: very
From emancipation to women’s suffrage, civil rights and BLM, mass movement has shaped the arc of US history
www.theguardian.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:51 AM
In case you need a positive reminder:
How effective is protesting? According to historians and political scientists: very www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
How effective is protesting? According to historians and political scientists: very www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Deceased crows in Chatham-Kent tested positive for avian flu https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/chatham-kent-dead-crows-avian-flu-9.7027637
More news → CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
More news → CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
December 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Deceased crows in Chatham-Kent tested positive for avian flu https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/chatham-kent-dead-crows-avian-flu-9.7027637
More news → CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
More news → CanadaHealthwatch.ca 🍁
Here are a couple of updated charts for the City of Toronto.
First, actual vs budget variances for revenues, expenses, and surpluses.
You can't convince me that these large "favourable" variances are not deliberate.
The surpluses are distributed by regulation to reserves and capital investments.
First, actual vs budget variances for revenues, expenses, and surpluses.
You can't convince me that these large "favourable" variances are not deliberate.
The surpluses are distributed by regulation to reserves and capital investments.
December 25, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Here are a couple of updated charts for the City of Toronto.
First, actual vs budget variances for revenues, expenses, and surpluses.
You can't convince me that these large "favourable" variances are not deliberate.
The surpluses are distributed by regulation to reserves and capital investments.
First, actual vs budget variances for revenues, expenses, and surpluses.
You can't convince me that these large "favourable" variances are not deliberate.
The surpluses are distributed by regulation to reserves and capital investments.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Maybe this potentially life-saving info ought not to be hidden behind the Toronto Star's paywall, so here is the key takeaway: there's a panel at each end of each subway station with a large red button to cut power (you have to break the glass) and an emergency phone to contact transit control.
December 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Maybe this potentially life-saving info ought not to be hidden behind the Toronto Star's paywall, so here is the key takeaway: there's a panel at each end of each subway station with a large red button to cut power (you have to break the glass) and an emergency phone to contact transit control.
I've seen this before and it's absolutely true.
The only true way is the Canadian way
(As much as I wish it was a joke, it is in fact not one and this is exactly how it works here)
(As much as I wish it was a joke, it is in fact not one and this is exactly how it works here)
December 25, 2025 at 3:44 AM
I've seen this before and it's absolutely true.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Who’s behind the deep-pocketed private equity firm that’s bought into Therme? A new player has joined the Ontario Place melodrama — a mega-investor with billions to spend, writes @johnlorinc.bsky.social. #TOpoli #ONpoli
spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
Who's behind the deep-pocketed private equity firm that's bought into Therme? - Spacing Toronto
Back in the summer, Therme went public with a somewhat perplexing development in its corporate life — a €1 billion merger of its two, somewhat related, operating divisions: Therme Erding, which owns t...
spacing.ca
December 24, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Who’s behind the deep-pocketed private equity firm that’s bought into Therme? A new player has joined the Ontario Place melodrama — a mega-investor with billions to spend, writes @johnlorinc.bsky.social. #TOpoli #ONpoli
spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
Merry Christmas everyone! And happy holidays.
I appreciate you all.
(image from laurajaenart.com/top-15-chris...)
I appreciate you all.
(image from laurajaenart.com/top-15-chris...)
December 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Merry Christmas everyone! And happy holidays.
I appreciate you all.
(image from laurajaenart.com/top-15-chris...)
I appreciate you all.
(image from laurajaenart.com/top-15-chris...)
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Greta Thunberg arrested for holding a sign opposing genocide.
When peaceful protest is a crime, democracy is in deep trouble.
Happening under a Labour Government.
When peaceful protest is a crime, democracy is in deep trouble.
Happening under a Labour Government.
🚨BREAKING: GRETA THUNBERG ARRESTED UNDER TERRORISM ACT FOR SUPPORTING 'PALESTINE ACTION PRISONERS'
December 23, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Greta Thunberg arrested for holding a sign opposing genocide.
When peaceful protest is a crime, democracy is in deep trouble.
Happening under a Labour Government.
When peaceful protest is a crime, democracy is in deep trouble.
Happening under a Labour Government.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
The private credit explosion continues:
According to the Financial Times, “private credit firms snapped up nearly 14 times as much consumer debt this year as in 2024, piling into riskier areas such as credit cards and buy now, pay later debt.”
This shift raises interesting questions, ...
1 of 4
According to the Financial Times, “private credit firms snapped up nearly 14 times as much consumer debt this year as in 2024, piling into riskier areas such as credit cards and buy now, pay later debt.”
This shift raises interesting questions, ...
1 of 4
December 23, 2025 at 6:58 PM
The private credit explosion continues:
According to the Financial Times, “private credit firms snapped up nearly 14 times as much consumer debt this year as in 2024, piling into riskier areas such as credit cards and buy now, pay later debt.”
This shift raises interesting questions, ...
1 of 4
According to the Financial Times, “private credit firms snapped up nearly 14 times as much consumer debt this year as in 2024, piling into riskier areas such as credit cards and buy now, pay later debt.”
This shift raises interesting questions, ...
1 of 4
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦
Btw, why the western analytical community and the Pentagon, etc, are all trying to say Ukraine’s big problem is that they have not drafted all their people and sent them to the front, is because they are trying to shift responsibility away from their own terrible failures.
December 23, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Btw, why the western analytical community and the Pentagon, etc, are all trying to say Ukraine’s big problem is that they have not drafted all their people and sent them to the front, is because they are trying to shift responsibility away from their own terrible failures.
This Christmas, Don’t Talk about Politics
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
This Christmas, Don’t Talk about Politics
Why arguing with your family about politics won’t change their minds — and what actually will
open.substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:54 PM
This Christmas, Don’t Talk about Politics
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...
open.substack.com/pub/gracebla...