Iain Campbell
@iainmc.ca
web person, photographer, urbanist
https://iainmc.ca
https://iainmc.ca
Reposted by Iain Campbell
I think many people following along the housing discourse know about Ontario Building Code rules preventing single stair and small elevators, but I think more Toronto YIMBYs and urbanists need to be aware of the absurd City of Toronto rules for garbage pickup that swallow the entire ground floor.
February 6, 2026 at 2:22 PM
I think many people following along the housing discourse know about Ontario Building Code rules preventing single stair and small elevators, but I think more Toronto YIMBYs and urbanists need to be aware of the absurd City of Toronto rules for garbage pickup that swallow the entire ground floor.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Zoom ahead less than a decade and bathouses became a major location for HIV/AIDS prevention education. Anti-sex and anti-safe-space puritanism has a terrible cost whatever the decade. Lives ruined needlessly.
Happy 45 anniversary of the Toronto bathhouse raids to all who celebrate.
Our current police chief was one of the officers behind the 2000 "Pussy Palace" lesbian bathhouse raid. History is not so old.
Our current police chief was one of the officers behind the 2000 "Pussy Palace" lesbian bathhouse raid. History is not so old.
What were the Toronto bathhouse raids? City marks 45th anniversary of dark spot in its history
The raids on Feb. 5, 1981 were, at the time, the largest mass arrest in Toronto history. Police finally apologized in 2016.
www.thestar.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:53 AM
Zoom ahead less than a decade and bathouses became a major location for HIV/AIDS prevention education. Anti-sex and anti-safe-space puritanism has a terrible cost whatever the decade. Lives ruined needlessly.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
"Or, better yet, make the political choice to tackle snow removal more aggressively on sidewalks and bicycle lanes than roads. Cars can be mounted with snow tires but people can’t, leaving them more vulnerable to winter conditions.
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Globe editorial: The slippery politics of snow removal
Toronto’s plodding approach to clearing sidewalks fails the city’s most vulnerable residents
www.theglobeandmail.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:14 PM
"Or, better yet, make the political choice to tackle snow removal more aggressively on sidewalks and bicycle lanes than roads. Cars can be mounted with snow tires but people can’t, leaving them more vulnerable to winter conditions.
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Reposted by Iain Campbell
"Maybe the city's full" says the man living in a 2.7 million dollar house on Palmerston, while sipping $170 scotch after defeating a multiplex proposal across the street.
www.pressreader.com/canada/toron...
www.pressreader.com/canada/toron...
February 2, 2026 at 5:59 PM
"Maybe the city's full" says the man living in a 2.7 million dollar house on Palmerston, while sipping $170 scotch after defeating a multiplex proposal across the street.
www.pressreader.com/canada/toron...
www.pressreader.com/canada/toron...
Reposted by Iain Campbell
It’s cool that Toronto puts up ads bragging about its snow clearing instead of, you know, clearing the snow
February 1, 2026 at 4:13 PM
It’s cool that Toronto puts up ads bragging about its snow clearing instead of, you know, clearing the snow
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Yes, we had a major snow event.
Yes, the city is triaging, and many sidewalks in particular still need work.
But it's been a week and arterial bikeways are remain unrideable and worse appear to be dumping grounds for snow-clearing.
What's the plan, Toronto?
www.torontotoday.ca/local/transp...
Yes, the city is triaging, and many sidewalks in particular still need work.
But it's been a week and arterial bikeways are remain unrideable and worse appear to be dumping grounds for snow-clearing.
What's the plan, Toronto?
www.torontotoday.ca/local/transp...
Toronto cyclists frustrated by snow-blocked bike lanes week after record storm
Biking advocate Michael Longfield of Cycle Toronto is calling on the city to communicate a clear plan for removing snow from bike lanes
www.torontotoday.ca
February 1, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Yes, we had a major snow event.
Yes, the city is triaging, and many sidewalks in particular still need work.
But it's been a week and arterial bikeways are remain unrideable and worse appear to be dumping grounds for snow-clearing.
What's the plan, Toronto?
www.torontotoday.ca/local/transp...
Yes, the city is triaging, and many sidewalks in particular still need work.
But it's been a week and arterial bikeways are remain unrideable and worse appear to be dumping grounds for snow-clearing.
What's the plan, Toronto?
www.torontotoday.ca/local/transp...
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Reposted by Iain Campbell
It seems increasingly obvious that Toronto has made a deliberate policy decision not to clear the bike lanes. It hasn’t snowed since Sunday
January 29, 2026 at 7:56 PM
It seems increasingly obvious that Toronto has made a deliberate policy decision not to clear the bike lanes. It hasn’t snowed since Sunday
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Just started doing new data analysis and I know I keep saying this, but: I really, really don't think people appreciate how much this moral panic was a deliberate and extremely expensive invention.
January 28, 2026 at 3:12 AM
Just started doing new data analysis and I know I keep saying this, but: I really, really don't think people appreciate how much this moral panic was a deliberate and extremely expensive invention.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
January 28, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Doug Ford said it had to close because the roof was unstable.
Massive snow dump, roof just fine.
Doug Ford lies.
Massive snow dump, roof just fine.
Doug Ford lies.
Sunday, January 25, 2026, 9:05 pm.
Built for winter. ❄️
Built for Canada. 🇨🇦
Built for winter. ❄️
Built for Canada. 🇨🇦
January 26, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Doug Ford said it had to close because the roof was unstable.
Massive snow dump, roof just fine.
Doug Ford lies.
Massive snow dump, roof just fine.
Doug Ford lies.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
The $113-million mess of a community centre I wrote about this week is 100% funded from “development charges.” It is going in a neighbourhood with zero population growth.
In part, these charges are a tax on newcomers to subsidize existing wealthy homeowners.
globalnews.ca/news/1163476...
In part, these charges are a tax on newcomers to subsidize existing wealthy homeowners.
globalnews.ca/news/1163476...
Toronto may cancel new community centres, libraries if development funding dries up - Toronto | Globalnews.ca
The city's chief financial officer reiterated that roughly $300 million had been deferred as revenue from development charges dries up, adding that some projects may be cancelled.
globalnews.ca
January 25, 2026 at 12:16 AM
The $113-million mess of a community centre I wrote about this week is 100% funded from “development charges.” It is going in a neighbourhood with zero population growth.
In part, these charges are a tax on newcomers to subsidize existing wealthy homeowners.
globalnews.ca/news/1163476...
In part, these charges are a tax on newcomers to subsidize existing wealthy homeowners.
globalnews.ca/news/1163476...
Reposted by Iain Campbell
TL;DR: no
(Although bike lane snow-clearing has improved in recent years it's still wildly inconsistent and nowhere near the treatment of major roads.)
(Although bike lane snow-clearing has improved in recent years it's still wildly inconsistent and nowhere near the treatment of major roads.)
Does Toronto really plow bike lanes before roadways? Here’s what we found out
Does Toronto really plow bike lanes before roadways? Here’s what we found out
A Toronto councillor asserted that there were no bikes to be found using bike lanes he said the city made “spotless” before it cleared snowy roads.
www.thestar.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:38 PM
TL;DR: no
(Although bike lane snow-clearing has improved in recent years it's still wildly inconsistent and nowhere near the treatment of major roads.)
(Although bike lane snow-clearing has improved in recent years it's still wildly inconsistent and nowhere near the treatment of major roads.)
Reposted by Iain Campbell
I love my profession deeply, but some of them are not covering themselves in glory these days. If a mob boss draws a sharp blade languidly across your palm and says it would be a real shame for you to lose your pinky, your headline isn't "Godfather rules out hacking off finger to settle debt."
Right on cue, here are the push alerts from the 3 major newspapers lmao
January 21, 2026 at 2:54 PM
I love my profession deeply, but some of them are not covering themselves in glory these days. If a mob boss draws a sharp blade languidly across your palm and says it would be a real shame for you to lose your pinky, your headline isn't "Godfather rules out hacking off finger to settle debt."
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Very good -->
“The strong do what they can" is what Athens said right before destroying itself. New piece on the Carney Doctrine, Vaclav’s grocer, and American hubris.
hegemon.substack.com/p/the-strong...
hegemon.substack.com/p/the-strong...
The Strong Will Suffer What They Must
Vaclav's Grocer and American Hubris
hegemon.substack.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Very good -->
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Where are new transit lines opening this year? Mostly in China & India... though there are major new metro & light rail lines planned for Egypt, Türkiye, Italy, Canada, Malaysia, Brazil—& a few in the US.
Check out the Transport Politic's annual roundup: www.thetransportpolitic.com/2026/01/20/t...
Check out the Transport Politic's annual roundup: www.thetransportpolitic.com/2026/01/20/t...
January 21, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Where are new transit lines opening this year? Mostly in China & India... though there are major new metro & light rail lines planned for Egypt, Türkiye, Italy, Canada, Malaysia, Brazil—& a few in the US.
Check out the Transport Politic's annual roundup: www.thetransportpolitic.com/2026/01/20/t...
Check out the Transport Politic's annual roundup: www.thetransportpolitic.com/2026/01/20/t...
Reposted by Iain Campbell
This new Toronto Subway order works out to be over 300,000 INT$/ linear meter of train. Shenzhen Metro Line 5's additional 39 sets of 6 car trains cost less than 90,000 INT$/linear meter of train.
January 20, 2026 at 4:55 PM
This new Toronto Subway order works out to be over 300,000 INT$/ linear meter of train. Shenzhen Metro Line 5's additional 39 sets of 6 car trains cost less than 90,000 INT$/linear meter of train.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
thank godddd we need regulation on this across the country.
Are there other countries which have effectively regulated excessively bright headlights?
Are there other countries which have effectively regulated excessively bright headlights?
Have you noticed headlights getting brighter? It's not just in your head. We're excited to see @seanorr.bsky.social's motion at Council this week to take action on this issue.
LED and HID headlights are increasingly popular, not to mention oversized vehicles with high nose heights...
LED and HID headlights are increasingly popular, not to mention oversized vehicles with high nose heights...
January 19, 2026 at 11:18 PM
thank godddd we need regulation on this across the country.
Are there other countries which have effectively regulated excessively bright headlights?
Are there other countries which have effectively regulated excessively bright headlights?
Reposted by Iain Campbell
If there's one empirical insight I'd want everyone to understand about American politics, it's this:
America's problems are solved problems. Just not here.
What would change if the US simply matched the average of 31 peer democracies? Not Denmark or Norway. Just the middle of the pack. 🧵
America's problems are solved problems. Just not here.
What would change if the US simply matched the average of 31 peer democracies? Not Denmark or Norway. Just the middle of the pack. 🧵
January 12, 2026 at 9:36 PM
If there's one empirical insight I'd want everyone to understand about American politics, it's this:
America's problems are solved problems. Just not here.
What would change if the US simply matched the average of 31 peer democracies? Not Denmark or Norway. Just the middle of the pack. 🧵
America's problems are solved problems. Just not here.
What would change if the US simply matched the average of 31 peer democracies? Not Denmark or Norway. Just the middle of the pack. 🧵
Reposted by Iain Campbell
If it takes mayoral intervention to get a single-stair building with three stories and six units approved in Toronto despite all these safety features (few of which are required even in the US) even after years of warming them up in various forums, current Toronto building and fire staff needs to go
January 17, 2026 at 2:01 PM
If it takes mayoral intervention to get a single-stair building with three stories and six units approved in Toronto despite all these safety features (few of which are required even in the US) even after years of warming them up in various forums, current Toronto building and fire staff needs to go
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Want to know what's broken with transit in Canada? Often the same things broken in other areas, government willing to charge taxpayers huge amounts to keep votes in select communities
January 17, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Want to know what's broken with transit in Canada? Often the same things broken in other areas, government willing to charge taxpayers huge amounts to keep votes in select communities
Reposted by Iain Campbell
You can design elevated stations that are so much better and less imposing when they are above a public space
January 16, 2026 at 8:53 PM
You can design elevated stations that are so much better and less imposing when they are above a public space
Reposted by Iain Campbell
One of my least popular opinions in the transit-sphere: I generally think advocates are a little too sanguine about getting people to accept elevated rail, regardless of the merits.
But then I see stuff like this and I'm like, damn, you know, maybe I'm wrong.
But then I see stuff like this and I'm like, damn, you know, maybe I'm wrong.
January 16, 2026 at 6:32 PM
One of my least popular opinions in the transit-sphere: I generally think advocates are a little too sanguine about getting people to accept elevated rail, regardless of the merits.
But then I see stuff like this and I'm like, damn, you know, maybe I'm wrong.
But then I see stuff like this and I'm like, damn, you know, maybe I'm wrong.
Reposted by Iain Campbell
Zoning in theory:
You can’t build housing next to the pollution source 😊
Zoning in reality:
You can only build housing next to the pollution source, also daycares are illegal
You can’t build housing next to the pollution source 😊
Zoning in reality:
You can only build housing next to the pollution source, also daycares are illegal
January 14, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Zoning in theory:
You can’t build housing next to the pollution source 😊
Zoning in reality:
You can only build housing next to the pollution source, also daycares are illegal
You can’t build housing next to the pollution source 😊
Zoning in reality:
You can only build housing next to the pollution source, also daycares are illegal
Reposted by Iain Campbell
January 15, 2026 at 3:24 PM