John Bowker
@johnbowker.bsky.social
Policy researcher, retired record & book peddler. Transit, housing, land use, energy, infrastructure & misc #onpoli wonkery. #ONDP. Tweets my own (he/him)
Reposted by John Bowker
If fighting for Ontario auto workers wasn't important enough for Doug Ford to go to Beijing, what was?
Scott Moe flew to China for Saskatchewan canola. Doug Ford stayed home while Mark Carney negotiated our auto sector's future – with no one at the table negotiating for Ontario workers.
Scott Moe flew to China for Saskatchewan canola. Doug Ford stayed home while Mark Carney negotiated our auto sector's future – with no one at the table negotiating for Ontario workers.
January 16, 2026 at 2:07 PM
If fighting for Ontario auto workers wasn't important enough for Doug Ford to go to Beijing, what was?
Scott Moe flew to China for Saskatchewan canola. Doug Ford stayed home while Mark Carney negotiated our auto sector's future – with no one at the table negotiating for Ontario workers.
Scott Moe flew to China for Saskatchewan canola. Doug Ford stayed home while Mark Carney negotiated our auto sector's future – with no one at the table negotiating for Ontario workers.
Reposted by John Bowker
Labour minister has given PC donors’ companies 80% of for-profit businesses’ Skills Development Funds
Labour minister has given PC donors’ companies 80% of for-profit businesses’ Skills Development Funds
Most became donors or increased their donations after the SDF was created
dlvr.it
January 15, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Labour minister has given PC donors’ companies 80% of for-profit businesses’ Skills Development Funds
Reposted by John Bowker
NEW: Toronto’s struggling Finch West LRT appears to be using a similar switch technology to the one that crippled Ottawa’s light rail system when it first launched, something a public inquiry warned other transit systems not to adopt. #TOPoli #ONpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1160998...
globalnews.ca/news/1160998...
Finch West LRT using electric switch heaters Ottawa LRT inquiry warned against | Globalnews.ca
Since launching at the beginning of winter, the Finch West LRT has been beset by delays and service disruptions tied to the switch technology embedded in the new transit line.
globalnews.ca
January 13, 2026 at 4:01 PM
NEW: Toronto’s struggling Finch West LRT appears to be using a similar switch technology to the one that crippled Ottawa’s light rail system when it first launched, something a public inquiry warned other transit systems not to adopt. #TOPoli #ONpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1160998...
globalnews.ca/news/1160998...
“We’re talking increases of 165% for the market rate over the next 3 years alone. That’s untenable. That’s an absolute threat to the competitiveness of our industrial sector and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports,” warns the Association of Major Power Consumers #onpoli
“In a rate application submitted to the OEB in December, OPG requested payments of nearly $207 dollars per megawatt hour produced by its nuclear power stations beginning Jan. 1, 2027, roughly double what it received as recently as last year” www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art... #onpoli
Ontario Power Generation seeks rate increase for electricity from nuclear plants
Proposed increase would go toward building new reactors, refurbishing old ones, OPG says
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:33 PM
“We’re talking increases of 165% for the market rate over the next 3 years alone. That’s untenable. That’s an absolute threat to the competitiveness of our industrial sector and the hundreds of thousands of jobs it supports,” warns the Association of Major Power Consumers #onpoli
“In a rate application submitted to the OEB in December, OPG requested payments of nearly $207 dollars per megawatt hour produced by its nuclear power stations beginning Jan. 1, 2027, roughly double what it received as recently as last year” www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art... #onpoli
Ontario Power Generation seeks rate increase for electricity from nuclear plants
Proposed increase would go toward building new reactors, refurbishing old ones, OPG says
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:26 PM
“In a rate application submitted to the OEB in December, OPG requested payments of nearly $207 dollars per megawatt hour produced by its nuclear power stations beginning Jan. 1, 2027, roughly double what it received as recently as last year” www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art... #onpoli
“His aggressive, destructive, expensive remaking of this public park is no longer just weird. It may be unconstitutional” www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... #onpoli
Ford asked for trouble with Ontario Place. The Supreme Court may give it to him
The Ontario government accommodated a foreign company by throwing out the rulebook
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 11, 2026 at 2:55 PM
“His aggressive, destructive, expensive remaking of this public park is no longer just weird. It may be unconstitutional” www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... #onpoli
Not just the court ruling, but Ontario’s Freedom of Information laws also explicitly guarantee personal privacy. People who contact the government need not fear their personal information could be exposed, and shame on Ford for falsely claiming otherwise #onpoli
NEW: Premier Doug Ford says he will fight against an order to hand over government-related calls made on his personal cellphone, arguing it would make private citizen information public — something the court ruling explicitly protects against. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159987...
globalnews.ca/news/1159987...
Ford will file appeal against court ruling to release personal phone records | Globalnews.ca
The latest twist in a three-year-old transparency battle means the government has now twice lost its argument Ford should not have to make parts of his phone records public.
globalnews.ca
January 6, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Not just the court ruling, but Ontario’s Freedom of Information laws also explicitly guarantee personal privacy. People who contact the government need not fear their personal information could be exposed, and shame on Ford for falsely claiming otherwise #onpoli
Reposted by John Bowker
NEW: An Ontario court has thrown out the province's attempt to overrule an order from the privacy watchdog over Doug Ford's personal cellphone.
A panel of three judges agreed he uses it for government work and must release those calls. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159745...
A panel of three judges agreed he uses it for government work and must release those calls. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159745...
Ontario court rules Doug Ford must turn over personal phone records | Globalnews.ca
An Ontario court says it is reasonable to conclude Premier Doug Ford uses his personal cellphone to communicate and that he should make those records public.
globalnews.ca
January 5, 2026 at 12:24 PM
NEW: An Ontario court has thrown out the province's attempt to overrule an order from the privacy watchdog over Doug Ford's personal cellphone.
A panel of three judges agreed he uses it for government work and must release those calls. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159745...
A panel of three judges agreed he uses it for government work and must release those calls. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1159745...
Reposted by John Bowker
NEW investigation from me!
The #ontpoli gov't swears an "adult entertainment club" didn't get taxpayer money... but documents we obtained suggest further connections.
‘Adult entertainment club’ faces new questions after business licence filing and millions in provincial cash
The #ontpoli gov't swears an "adult entertainment club" didn't get taxpayer money... but documents we obtained suggest further connections.
‘Adult entertainment club’ faces new questions after business licence filing and millions in provincial cash
December 28, 2025 at 1:09 PM
NEW investigation from me!
The #ontpoli gov't swears an "adult entertainment club" didn't get taxpayer money... but documents we obtained suggest further connections.
‘Adult entertainment club’ faces new questions after business licence filing and millions in provincial cash
The #ontpoli gov't swears an "adult entertainment club" didn't get taxpayer money... but documents we obtained suggest further connections.
‘Adult entertainment club’ faces new questions after business licence filing and millions in provincial cash
Reposted by John Bowker
At the same time, documents obtained by the Ontario NDP showed just how hard it might be to tunnel under the Highway. Metrolinx had found tunnelling a cross-section of the artery complicated, requiring lane closures for safety reasons. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152183...
globalnews.ca/news/1152183...
Metrolinx struggled to tunnel under Hwy. 401, forcing lane closure and repairs | Globalnews.ca
Since early 2023, a tunnel boring machine has been slowly making its way south from Sheppard Avenue and McCowan Road, digging out a route for the Scarborough Subway Extension.
globalnews.ca
December 31, 2025 at 8:52 PM
At the same time, documents obtained by the Ontario NDP showed just how hard it might be to tunnel under the Highway. Metrolinx had found tunnelling a cross-section of the artery complicated, requiring lane closures for safety reasons. #OnPoli
globalnews.ca/news/1152183...
globalnews.ca/news/1152183...
Reposted by John Bowker
🚘🕳️ Through 2025, Colin D'Mello and I invested a lot of time looking into Ontario Premier Doug Ford's dream of tunnelling under Hwy. 401. Through sourcing, freedom of information and lots of questions, here's what we found (in chronological order) #OnPoli
December 31, 2025 at 8:52 PM
🚘🕳️ Through 2025, Colin D'Mello and I invested a lot of time looking into Ontario Premier Doug Ford's dream of tunnelling under Hwy. 401. Through sourcing, freedom of information and lots of questions, here's what we found (in chronological order) #OnPoli
Vapourware: @johnlorinc.bsky.social observes that previously proposed projects in New York and Glasgow, both announced in 2021, have quietly disappeared from the Therme Group's current portfolio, adding to the mystery of Therme’s business model spacing.ca/toronto/2025... #onpoli
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 29, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Vapourware: @johnlorinc.bsky.social observes that previously proposed projects in New York and Glasgow, both announced in 2021, have quietly disappeared from the Therme Group's current portfolio, adding to the mystery of Therme’s business model spacing.ca/toronto/2025... #onpoli
Reposted by John Bowker
Once again, I have to say we are far too soft on individuals and companies eager to enrich themselves by ripping off the public. Especially if we're going to get back to building big things in Canada, we need get serious about procurement practices. www.thestar.com/news/gta/two...
Two men guilty in $300M St. Michael’s Hospital fraud case try unusual move to have convictions tossed
Lawyers for Vas Georgiou and John Aquino are taking the “uncommon” step of asking the trial judge to “re-open the convictions” and enter acquittals, or order a mistrial.
www.thestar.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Once again, I have to say we are far too soft on individuals and companies eager to enrich themselves by ripping off the public. Especially if we're going to get back to building big things in Canada, we need get serious about procurement practices. www.thestar.com/news/gta/two...
Toronto’s new paid plasma donation clinics pay a ‘bonus’ of $100 if an individual gives blood plasma 100 times in a calendar year. Advocates say ‘gamified’ incentives put donors at risk www.torontotoday.ca/local/health... #onpoli
How this for profit company is ‘gamifying’ plasma donations in Toronto
Toronto’s new paid plasma donation clinics pay a ‘bonus’ of $100 if an individual gives blood plasma 100 times in a calendar year. Advocates say ‘gamified’ incentives put donors at risk
www.torontotoday.ca
December 19, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Toronto’s new paid plasma donation clinics pay a ‘bonus’ of $100 if an individual gives blood plasma 100 times in a calendar year. Advocates say ‘gamified’ incentives put donors at risk www.torontotoday.ca/local/health... #onpoli
Reposted by John Bowker
BREAKING: Integrity commissioner to investigate labour minister over Skills Development Fund
BREAKING: Integrity commissioner to investigate labour minister over Skills Development Fund
Ontario’s NDP, Liberals filed complaints about David Piccini
dlvr.it
December 18, 2025 at 9:53 PM
BREAKING: Integrity commissioner to investigate labour minister over Skills Development Fund
Reposted by John Bowker
The ED of the @onthealthcoalition.bsky.social said paid plasma clinics exploit poor people: “It exploits the poor and the desperate in a way that is hair-raising ... It crosses a moral boundary that should not be crossed.” #health #onpoli Full story: www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
People are making money selling blood plasma. Isn’t that illegal?
Paying for blood is illegal in Ontario, but a for-profit company recently opened two new paid locations in Toronto thanks to a Canadian Blood Services exemption
www.torontotoday.ca
December 17, 2025 at 10:07 PM
The ED of the @onthealthcoalition.bsky.social said paid plasma clinics exploit poor people: “It exploits the poor and the desperate in a way that is hair-raising ... It crosses a moral boundary that should not be crossed.” #health #onpoli Full story: www.torontotoday.ca/local/health...
“The overwhelming cause of delay is with systems provided and maintained by Metrolinx’ P3 partner, Mosaic” #onpoli #TOpoli
Line 6 Finch West has not been a sterling success in the first week of operations. Here is a look at the service logs for December 7-12. stevemunro.ca/2025/12/14/6...
December 14, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by John Bowker
We've seen a steady erosion of democracy in ON. Ford is shutting down the legislature until March 23 while we see record unemployment, a housing & healthcare crisis. The Leg is the only place where we can create laws to help tackle these issues. To the Ford govt: do better. Respect our democracy.
December 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
We've seen a steady erosion of democracy in ON. Ford is shutting down the legislature until March 23 while we see record unemployment, a housing & healthcare crisis. The Leg is the only place where we can create laws to help tackle these issues. To the Ford govt: do better. Respect our democracy.
Toronto has cancelled an automated traffic enforcement pilot intended to help fight congestion in the wake of the provincial government’s ban on speed cameras in Ontario, CBC Toronto has learned www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #onpoli
Toronto axes traffic camera pilot to fight gridlock after Ford government's speed camera ban | CBC News
Toronto has cancelled an automated traffic enforcement pilot intended to help fight congestion in the wake of the provincial government’s ban on speed cameras in Ontario, CBC Toronto has learned.
www.cbc.ca
December 12, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Toronto has cancelled an automated traffic enforcement pilot intended to help fight congestion in the wake of the provincial government’s ban on speed cameras in Ontario, CBC Toronto has learned www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #onpoli
Reposted by John Bowker
Reposted by John Bowker
Doug Fords Conservatives used AI to create a report on intimate partner violence, one which used non-existent sources. This is after they refused to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. The Ford Conservatives do not take women's safety seriously #onpoli #ontario #dougford #frankdomenic🍁
December 11, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Doug Fords Conservatives used AI to create a report on intimate partner violence, one which used non-existent sources. This is after they refused to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. The Ford Conservatives do not take women's safety seriously #onpoli #ontario #dougford #frankdomenic🍁
“The site of the collision was approximately 280 metres from a previously-stationed mobile Automated Speed Enforcement camera, which was removed following provincial legislation that came into effect in November 2025” www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti... #onpoli
Woman in her 70s dies after being struck by vehicle in Scarborough
A woman in her 70s has died after she was struck by a vehicle in Scarborough on Thursday morning, Toronto police say.
www.ctvnews.ca
December 12, 2025 at 1:45 PM
“The site of the collision was approximately 280 metres from a previously-stationed mobile Automated Speed Enforcement camera, which was removed following provincial legislation that came into effect in November 2025” www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti... #onpoli
Reposted by John Bowker
Ontario's legislature is set to take a 14-week winter break, less than two months after resuming from a 19-week summer break, a move opposition politicians call undemocratic and "crazy."
Ontario legislature to take 14-week winter break, following 19-week summer break
Ontario's legislature is set to take a 14-week winter break, less than two months after resuming from a 19-week summer break, a move opposition politicians call undemocratic and "crazy."
www.chch.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Ontario's legislature is set to take a 14-week winter break, less than two months after resuming from a 19-week summer break, a move opposition politicians call undemocratic and "crazy."
Ontario government report on intimate partner violence partly AI-generated, NDP says www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... #onpoli
December 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Ontario government report on intimate partner violence partly AI-generated, NDP says www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... #onpoli
Reposted by John Bowker
When a company won’t even heat its own pulp mill in a Northern Ontario winter, that’s not ‘evaluating options’—that’s abandoning a community.
Time is running out on protecting the Terrace Bay mill this winter.
The Forestry Minister's response doesn’t cut it.
#onpoli #TBSN
Time is running out on protecting the Terrace Bay mill this winter.
The Forestry Minister's response doesn’t cut it.
#onpoli #TBSN
December 10, 2025 at 7:46 PM