Stewart Prest
@stewartprest.ca
Recalcitrant Canadian. Political scientist at UBC in Vancouver. I research, teach and talk international relations, BCpoli, comparative democratic institutions, and contentious politics. stewartprest.ca | https://stewartprest.substack.com
Pinned
Stewart Prest
@stewartprest.ca
· Apr 12
All of this would be hilarious if it weren't so serious.
Vancouver has spent decades building up a now well-earned reputation for leadership on environmental sustainability.
Apparently, the mayor and ABC majority don't see the value in it.
Hard to imagine a better way to damage the city's brand.
Apparently, the mayor and ABC majority don't see the value in it.
Hard to imagine a better way to damage the city's brand.
NEW: Councillors and sources inside the City of Vancouver say the city's mayor, Ken Sim, will put forth a budget Wednesday that will eliminate the city's celebrated climate and sustainability department.
Vancouver mayor plans to eliminate city's climate and sustainability department
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is planning to eliminate the city's sustainability and climate department under the guise of a push to prevent increases to property taxes. Canada's National Observer learned a...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Vancouver has spent decades building up a now well-earned reputation for leadership on environmental sustainability.
Apparently, the mayor and ABC majority don't see the value in it.
Hard to imagine a better way to damage the city's brand.
Apparently, the mayor and ABC majority don't see the value in it.
Hard to imagine a better way to damage the city's brand.
Reposted by Stewart Prest
My ACA current plan is going from $385/mo to $821/mo.
November 11, 2025 at 12:21 AM
My ACA current plan is going from $385/mo to $821/mo.
Reposted by Stewart Prest
It says much about a society that is willing to profit from a group's labour, but unwilling provide them same dignity and support accorded to others.
November 9, 2025 at 10:29 PM
It says much about a society that is willing to profit from a group's labour, but unwilling provide them same dignity and support accorded to others.
Reposted by Stewart Prest
It remains wild to me that there aren't a) more pathways to permanent residency for *all* temporary foreign workers b) enforced minimum wages equal to those of the province they're in. What does it say about us that we are happy to have a permanent underclass whose labour isn't fully valued?
It says much about a society that is willing to profit from a group's labour, but unwilling provide them same dignity and support accorded to others.
November 10, 2025 at 1:11 AM
It remains wild to me that there aren't a) more pathways to permanent residency for *all* temporary foreign workers b) enforced minimum wages equal to those of the province they're in. What does it say about us that we are happy to have a permanent underclass whose labour isn't fully valued?
The legend lives on.
The witch of November came stealing.
I thought that had been pretty well established.
I thought that had been pretty well established.
Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. From the vaults, here's a piece I wrote for Cottage Life @cottagelifemag.bsky.social about the incident...
#ontariohistory #cdnhistory
web.archive.org/web/20230605...
#ontariohistory #cdnhistory
web.archive.org/web/20230605...
November 10, 2025 at 1:03 AM
The legend lives on.
Reposted by Stewart Prest
This skeet is in a discussion about Canadian policy, but the sentiment is something we need to wrestle with in the US as well.
It says much about a society that is willing to profit from a group's labour, but unwilling provide them same dignity and support accorded to others.
November 9, 2025 at 11:08 PM
This skeet is in a discussion about Canadian policy, but the sentiment is something we need to wrestle with in the US as well.
Reposted by Stewart Prest
👇👇👇
Indeed, if it were up to me, I would do away with the idea of temporary immigration altogether. If we welcome someone's labour, we ought to welcome the person attached to it. bsky.app/profile/mehl...
This is Canada's temporary foreign worker system in a nutshell. But making temporary residents pay more for health care really drives the sentiment home.
November 9, 2025 at 10:40 PM
👇👇👇
Reposted by Stewart Prest
This is Canada's temporary foreign worker system in a nutshell. But making temporary residents pay more for health care really drives the sentiment home.
It says much about a society that is willing to profit from a group's labour, but unwilling provide them same dignity and support accorded to others.
November 9, 2025 at 10:36 PM
This is Canada's temporary foreign worker system in a nutshell. But making temporary residents pay more for health care really drives the sentiment home.
Lots to unpack here, but one general point to make concerns the way in which creating categories of "temporary" residents leads to just this sort of thinking: people who live, work and study among us, contributing to the country, but are nonetheless excluded from the social contract.
New from me: UCP members will vote on a raft of policy proposals at the party's AGM, including resolutions
• requiring temporary residents to pay more for healthcare
• banning the display of flags on gov property representing “special interest groups"
• buying the Alberta operations of the RCMP.
• requiring temporary residents to pay more for healthcare
• banning the display of flags on gov property representing “special interest groups"
• buying the Alberta operations of the RCMP.
Flags, vaccines and buying the RCMP: 35 resolutions proposed for upcoming UCP AGM
Members of Alberta's governing United Conservative Party will vote on a raft of policy proposals this month.
edmontonjournal.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Lots to unpack here, but one general point to make concerns the way in which creating categories of "temporary" residents leads to just this sort of thinking: people who live, work and study among us, contributing to the country, but are nonetheless excluded from the social contract.
Reposted by Stewart Prest
“People should care about this thing more” and “the media never reported on this thing” are two different ideas that people often use interchangeably, but framing matters!
One incentivizes curiousity and passion about a subject, the other incentivizes getting angry at “the media” on a false premise
One incentivizes curiousity and passion about a subject, the other incentivizes getting angry at “the media” on a false premise
November 8, 2025 at 9:18 PM
“People should care about this thing more” and “the media never reported on this thing” are two different ideas that people often use interchangeably, but framing matters!
One incentivizes curiousity and passion about a subject, the other incentivizes getting angry at “the media” on a false premise
One incentivizes curiousity and passion about a subject, the other incentivizes getting angry at “the media” on a false premise
Reposted by Stewart Prest
Went back to the history of the Sicilian Mafia to illustrate something obvious but worth stating explicitly: The Trump administration behaves like an organized crime syndicate running a protection racket, not a representative government www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
November 8, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Went back to the history of the Sicilian Mafia to illustrate something obvious but worth stating explicitly: The Trump administration behaves like an organized crime syndicate running a protection racket, not a representative government www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Stewart Prest
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:05 AM
The US is the world's largest oil and gas producer. Yet, "China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels."
Y'all forgot about May.
Dimitri Soudas, former Harper comms guy, told RadCan this morning that he's hearing Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux will cross the floor to the Liberals today.
If this happens, the Liberals are one seat short of a majority. You know what that means.
That's right.
Elizabeth May is Kingmaker.
If this happens, the Liberals are one seat short of a majority. You know what that means.
That's right.
Elizabeth May is Kingmaker.
November 5, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Y'all forgot about May.
"Racial integration is the new communism" is very much saying the quiet part out loud.
Trump: "For generations Miami has been a haven for those fleeing communist tyranny in South Africa. I mean, if you take a look at what's going on in parts of South Africa. Look at South Africa, what's going on. Look at South America, what's going on. You know, we have a G20 meeting in South Africa."
November 5, 2025 at 8:31 PM
"Racial integration is the new communism" is very much saying the quiet part out loud.
This is America.
Federal agents pulling a woman out of Rayito Del Sol, a daycare by Lane Tech high school
November 5, 2025 at 8:27 PM
This is America.
Savvy by the Carney snd Liberals to be openly poaching. Going to make life more difficult for Poilievre.
"Mr. Carney welcomed the former Conservative to the government caucus and made a pitch for more opposition MPs to cross the floor."
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
"Mr. Carney welcomed the former Conservative to the government caucus and made a pitch for more opposition MPs to cross the floor."
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
Liberals pursue Conservative MPs after Chris d’Entremont joins Carney’s caucus
Federal government sources say party has been in talks with a number of Tories
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Savvy by the Carney snd Liberals to be openly poaching. Going to make life more difficult for Poilievre.
"Mr. Carney welcomed the former Conservative to the government caucus and made a pitch for more opposition MPs to cross the floor."
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
"Mr. Carney welcomed the former Conservative to the government caucus and made a pitch for more opposition MPs to cross the floor."
www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art...
Reposted by Stewart Prest
On a small personal level, I spent a significant chunk of my years as a columnist learning about Canada's intl spending priorities and writing about it in major newspapers, won an award for it. 10 years after leaving that job, hard not to feel I wasted my time and others' (see also climate policy).
November 5, 2025 at 4:06 PM
On a small personal level, I spent a significant chunk of my years as a columnist learning about Canada's intl spending priorities and writing about it in major newspapers, won an award for it. 10 years after leaving that job, hard not to feel I wasted my time and others' (see also climate policy).
Reposted by Stewart Prest
Roberts now going at the solicitor general like a cat with a wounded mouse. Keeps telling him that tariffs are taxes on the American people. "Who pays the tariffs??" Says Trump's argument would neutralize separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches. Incredible stuff.
November 5, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Roberts now going at the solicitor general like a cat with a wounded mouse. Keeps telling him that tariffs are taxes on the American people. "Who pays the tariffs??" Says Trump's argument would neutralize separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches. Incredible stuff.
Reposted by Stewart Prest
Chief Justice Roberts is out. Says the major questions doctrine pretty clearly applies here; the tariffs simply can't survive that. Looks like five pretty clear votes against Trump.
And we STILL haven't gotten to Gorsuch...
And we STILL haven't gotten to Gorsuch...
November 5, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Chief Justice Roberts is out. Says the major questions doctrine pretty clearly applies here; the tariffs simply can't survive that. Looks like five pretty clear votes against Trump.
And we STILL haven't gotten to Gorsuch...
And we STILL haven't gotten to Gorsuch...
Reposted by Stewart Prest
Universal swing in action: "What we saw last night was a directional shift toward Democrats in 99.8% of counties that held partisan elections." www.gelliottmorris.com/p/seven-data...
November 5, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Universal swing in action: "What we saw last night was a directional shift toward Democrats in 99.8% of counties that held partisan elections." www.gelliottmorris.com/p/seven-data...
Reposted by Stewart Prest
It is obviously not sustainable for a city to have no tax increase, a significant increase in police budget (again), and cuts to services everywhere else.
It doesn't work to add police funding and cut support for mental health and everything else. ABC circa 2022 would be the first to tell you that.
It doesn't work to add police funding and cut support for mental health and everything else. ABC circa 2022 would be the first to tell you that.
November 4, 2025 at 6:13 AM
It is obviously not sustainable for a city to have no tax increase, a significant increase in police budget (again), and cuts to services everywhere else.
It doesn't work to add police funding and cut support for mental health and everything else. ABC circa 2022 would be the first to tell you that.
It doesn't work to add police funding and cut support for mental health and everything else. ABC circa 2022 would be the first to tell you that.
Reposted by Stewart Prest
In hindsight (was also clear at the time) might have been a good idea for the NDP to let a city council take the lead on reigning in police spending when Vancouver had a mayor keen to try.
November 4, 2025 at 6:10 AM
In hindsight (was also clear at the time) might have been a good idea for the NDP to let a city council take the lead on reigning in police spending when Vancouver had a mayor keen to try.
Reposted by Stewart Prest
Police Board manage to put both ABC and NDP in a bind here—ABC wants to look pro police, but also will have a hard time supporting police and their budget without wildly unpopular cuts. NDP will either be seen as allowing austerity in Van, or meddling in local politics and not supporting police.
Some breaking news: in a special Vancouver Police Board meeting only announced over the weekend, the police board has requested a $50 million increase to their budget for 2026.
This comes as other departments across the city are trying to cut staff to ensure a property tax freeze for next year.
This comes as other departments across the city are trying to cut staff to ensure a property tax freeze for next year.
November 4, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Police Board manage to put both ABC and NDP in a bind here—ABC wants to look pro police, but also will have a hard time supporting police and their budget without wildly unpopular cuts. NDP will either be seen as allowing austerity in Van, or meddling in local politics and not supporting police.
Reposted by Stewart Prest
Why would you expect them to be able to? They're pattern matching algorithms... and quite frankly, that's how a lot of beliefs work. Spurious pattern matching...
www.independent.co.uk/tech/chatgpt...
www.independent.co.uk/tech/chatgpt...
ChatGPT can’t tell the difference between beliefs and facts
New study exposes critical flaw that could have profound implications in high-stakes areas like law, medicine, or journalism
www.independent.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Why would you expect them to be able to? They're pattern matching algorithms... and quite frankly, that's how a lot of beliefs work. Spurious pattern matching...
www.independent.co.uk/tech/chatgpt...
www.independent.co.uk/tech/chatgpt...