Laurence Thompson
@thompsonlg.bsky.social
Grandfather, trying to leave the world a little better for my & all grandkids.
Approach to issues is on policy rather than partisanship.
🇨🇦 in Treaty 6 lands.
Focus on health, climate & Saskatchewan.
Approach to issues is on policy rather than partisanship.
🇨🇦 in Treaty 6 lands.
Focus on health, climate & Saskatchewan.
“local elections…in New Zealand offer an important cautionary tale for Canada, where treaty rights remain contested terrain”
The conservative national govt forced municipal plebiscites on the existence of indigenous Māori wards that had increased Indigenous local political participation. 1/2
The conservative national govt forced municipal plebiscites on the existence of indigenous Māori wards that had increased Indigenous local political participation. 1/2
The Māori ward vote in New Zealand contains important lessons for Canada
Recent Māori ward plebiscites indicate that while institutional reforms for Indigenous representation are vital, meaningful change isn’t possible without broad public understanding and trust.
theconversation.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
“local elections…in New Zealand offer an important cautionary tale for Canada, where treaty rights remain contested terrain”
The conservative national govt forced municipal plebiscites on the existence of indigenous Māori wards that had increased Indigenous local political participation. 1/2
The conservative national govt forced municipal plebiscites on the existence of indigenous Māori wards that had increased Indigenous local political participation. 1/2
Reposted by Laurence Thompson
Infantry, Near Nijmegen, Holland
Alex Colville
1946
Alex Colville
1946
November 9, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Infantry, Near Nijmegen, Holland
Alex Colville
1946
Alex Colville
1946
Reposted by Laurence Thompson
Before her (too early) death, the amazing Sharon Begley wrote this piece on double helix co-discoverer James Watson and the racist and sexist pronouncements he seemed to revel in making in later life. Fascinating read about a troubling individual.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Before her (too early) death, the amazing Sharon Begley wrote this piece on double helix co-discoverer James Watson and the racist and sexist pronouncements he seemed to revel in making in later life. Fascinating read about a troubling individual.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/07/j...
“Rosalind…Franklin…was a British…X-ray crystallographer. Her work was central to the understanding of the…structures of DNA….[but was] largely unrecognised during her life”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalin...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalin...
Rosalind Franklin - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 7, 2025 at 9:51 PM
“Rosalind…Franklin…was a British…X-ray crystallographer. Her work was central to the understanding of the…structures of DNA….[but was] largely unrecognised during her life”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalin...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalin...
Reposted by Laurence Thompson
Mandy Gull-Masty calls Senate’s push to end the second-generation cutoff ‘racism’ www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
ISC Minister asks Senators to drop amendment
Senators are considering broad amendments to Bill S-2 that would effectively end government's control over legal identity based on testimony
www.aptnnews.ca
November 7, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Mandy Gull-Masty calls Senate’s push to end the second-generation cutoff ‘racism’ www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
Reposted by Laurence Thompson
No room for debate
Postmedia quietly whittles away local viewpoints from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post. Photo by P.W. Elliott
j-source.ca/no-room-for-...
Postmedia quietly whittles away local viewpoints from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post. Photo by P.W. Elliott
j-source.ca/no-room-for-...
No room for debate - J-Source
Postmedia quietly whittles away local viewpoints from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post. Photo by P.W. Elliott
j-source.ca
November 6, 2025 at 9:07 PM
No room for debate
Postmedia quietly whittles away local viewpoints from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post. Photo by P.W. Elliott
j-source.ca/no-room-for-...
Postmedia quietly whittles away local viewpoints from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix and Regina Leader-Post. Photo by P.W. Elliott
j-source.ca/no-room-for-...
Again, social services, inc. shelters, are a PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY. Govt of Saskatchewan, though contributing $ to this shelter, offloaded the headaches of finding a location, someone to run it & any cost over run to the City. No wonder City Council is frustrated!
City council frustrated by last-minute warming centre renovation
"I have a gun to my head. If I vote against it I'm the heartless person who wants women to die," Coun. Robert Pearce said on Wednesday.
thestarphoenix.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Again, social services, inc. shelters, are a PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY. Govt of Saskatchewan, though contributing $ to this shelter, offloaded the headaches of finding a location, someone to run it & any cost over run to the City. No wonder City Council is frustrated!
Reposted by Laurence Thompson
For me, this is at the crux of the UCP's use of the notwithstanding clause.
By using the notwithstanding clause pre-emptively - which, again, they *can* but *need not* do - the UCP is not simply admitting that their laws are breaching Charter rights and bypassing the courts.
They are further admitting that their laws cannot be justified in a free and democratic society.
They are further admitting that their laws cannot be justified in a free and democratic society.
November 6, 2025 at 7:45 PM
For me, this is at the crux of the UCP's use of the notwithstanding clause.
Reposted by Laurence Thompson
It actually happened, in real life, power “too cheap to meter”. This is actually big deal - my parents live in the only Canadian province with hour by hour marginal pricing, and they schedule the washing machine, dishwasher, etc for the cheapest time of day. 😉🤩🤣
How's this for energy abundance? Millions of Aussies will start receiving three hours of free power each day in 2026. This is what happens when you make rooftop solar less than a buck a watt!!
"Rooftop solar installations cost about $840 (U.S.) per kilowatt of capacity before rebates." 🤯
🔌💡
"Rooftop solar installations cost about $840 (U.S.) per kilowatt of capacity before rebates." 🤯
🔌💡
November 6, 2025 at 1:34 AM
It actually happened, in real life, power “too cheap to meter”. This is actually big deal - my parents live in the only Canadian province with hour by hour marginal pricing, and they schedule the washing machine, dishwasher, etc for the cheapest time of day. 😉🤩🤣
Reposted by Laurence Thompson
“when one fundamental freedom is denied, it is possible to imagine other fundamental freedoms being denied, including our own “freedom of conscience and religion.”
The church is condemning the use of tge notwithstanding clause.
edmonton.anglican.ca/news/stateme...
The church is condemning the use of tge notwithstanding clause.
edmonton.anglican.ca/news/stateme...
Statement by Bishop Stephen
Dear Friends in Christ,
Greetings. I have not issued many public letters in my ministry as Bishop. However, with the Provincial Government’s use of the Notwithstanding Clause to send teachers back to ...
edmonton.anglican.ca
November 4, 2025 at 6:54 PM
“when one fundamental freedom is denied, it is possible to imagine other fundamental freedoms being denied, including our own “freedom of conscience and religion.”
The church is condemning the use of tge notwithstanding clause.
edmonton.anglican.ca/news/stateme...
The church is condemning the use of tge notwithstanding clause.
edmonton.anglican.ca/news/stateme...
Reposted by Laurence Thompson
Wouldn’t it be more just and compassionate if the Sask. Party’s Moe said about the Compassionate Care Act.
“To ensure that those that unfortunately are living in our streets .. We are going to provide them the opportunity to enter permanent housing.” #skpoli
www.ctvnews.ca/saskatoon/ar...
“To ensure that those that unfortunately are living in our streets .. We are going to provide them the opportunity to enter permanent housing.” #skpoli
www.ctvnews.ca/saskatoon/ar...
Sask. premier says forced drug treatment legislation coming this fall
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe signaled his government’s intention of creating spaces for forced addictions treatment when the legislative session resumes on Wednesday.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Wouldn’t it be more just and compassionate if the Sask. Party’s Moe said about the Compassionate Care Act.
“To ensure that those that unfortunately are living in our streets .. We are going to provide them the opportunity to enter permanent housing.” #skpoli
www.ctvnews.ca/saskatoon/ar...
“To ensure that those that unfortunately are living in our streets .. We are going to provide them the opportunity to enter permanent housing.” #skpoli
www.ctvnews.ca/saskatoon/ar...
New CSA draft standards for respirators for health care workers:
- default use of respirators by workers throughout a health-care facility unless a risk assessment determines a space exempt
- minimum requirement for N95 respirator
- respirators provided for free
- default use of respirators by workers throughout a health-care facility unless a risk assessment determines a space exempt
- minimum requirement for N95 respirator
- respirators provided for free
November 4, 2025 at 12:29 AM
New CSA draft standards for respirators for health care workers:
- default use of respirators by workers throughout a health-care facility unless a risk assessment determines a space exempt
- minimum requirement for N95 respirator
- respirators provided for free
- default use of respirators by workers throughout a health-care facility unless a risk assessment determines a space exempt
- minimum requirement for N95 respirator
- respirators provided for free
great idea!
Starting this month, parking lots in South Korea with more than 80 spaces will be required to install #solar canopies and carports.
Another great idea that we should be doing here in Toronto to replace the dirty Portlands gas plant.
#onpoli #climate #topoli
electrek.co/2025/11/02/n...
Another great idea that we should be doing here in Toronto to replace the dirty Portlands gas plant.
#onpoli #climate #topoli
electrek.co/2025/11/02/n...
New national law will turn large parking lots into solar power farms
Starting this month, parking lots in South Korea with more than 80 spaces will be required to install solar canopies and carports.
electrek.co
November 2, 2025 at 4:51 PM
great idea!
A band of brothers having the time of their lives played their hearts out against the best team money could buy.
“it was one of the greatest games of baseball ever played. Maybe the greatest. That probably doesn’t help you much right now.”
🎁
“it was one of the greatest games of baseball ever played. Maybe the greatest. That probably doesn’t help you much right now.”
🎁
Congrats on the loss, Toronto. It was a masterpiece
It’s easy to focus on the little things after a loss as heartbreaking as this one, but the Blue Jays played one of the greatest games of baseball ever
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:59 PM
A band of brothers having the time of their lives played their hearts out against the best team money could buy.
“it was one of the greatest games of baseball ever played. Maybe the greatest. That probably doesn’t help you much right now.”
🎁
“it was one of the greatest games of baseball ever played. Maybe the greatest. That probably doesn’t help you much right now.”
🎁
Reposted by Laurence Thompson
Oil demand has been soft owing to modest global economic growth and the rapid spread of Chinese electric vehicles. Faced with a gloomy future, oil companies are slimming down
Why big oil is missing out on the AI energy bonanza
A looming supply glut is weighing on giants from Exxon to Shell
econ.st
November 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Oil demand has been soft owing to modest global economic growth and the rapid spread of Chinese electric vehicles. Faced with a gloomy future, oil companies are slimming down
“Electricity rates for Ontarians will increase by…29%….The cost of supplying electricity…has surged because of higher-than-expected nuclear generation costs”
Ontario power rates to rise on higher nuclear generation costs, conservation spending
Rate jump of 29% partly offset by higher provincial electricity rebate
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:18 AM
“Electricity rates for Ontarians will increase by…29%….The cost of supplying electricity…has surged because of higher-than-expected nuclear generation costs”
“The entire AIMS project has cost $272 million as of the end of August, said 3sHealth CEO Mark Anderson.”
“The SHA hired [consulting firm] Deloitte Canada to implement AIMS”.
“The SHA originally planned to rollout AIMS in 2021”.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
“The SHA hired [consulting firm] Deloitte Canada to implement AIMS”.
“The SHA originally planned to rollout AIMS in 2021”.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
October 31, 2025 at 8:17 PM
“The entire AIMS project has cost $272 million as of the end of August, said 3sHealth CEO Mark Anderson.”
“The SHA hired [consulting firm] Deloitte Canada to implement AIMS”.
“The SHA originally planned to rollout AIMS in 2021”.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
“The SHA hired [consulting firm] Deloitte Canada to implement AIMS”.
“The SHA originally planned to rollout AIMS in 2021”.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Yet capital gains are taxed at only half the rate of other income….
New figures on Canada’s top income earners were released today by StatsCan. In 2023, the top 1% took home $606,000 in total income, and $778,500 after dividends and capital gains were thrown in – down from the 40 year high reported in 2021 but still above pre-pandemic levels. 🧵 1/5
October 31, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Yet capital gains are taxed at only half the rate of other income….
Reposted by Laurence Thompson
My 11-year-old officially works harder to accommodate people at his birthday parties than the Quebec state.
Bill 94 has passed in Quebec.
Students and staff will have to attend school with their faces uncovered. Menus adapted to religious restrictions will be prohibited. Absences or leave granted to staff for religious celebrations also gone. montreal.citynews.ca/2025/10/30/q...
Students and staff will have to attend school with their faces uncovered. Menus adapted to religious restrictions will be prohibited. Absences or leave granted to staff for religious celebrations also gone. montreal.citynews.ca/2025/10/30/q...
Religious symbols ban: Quebec passes law to prevent students, staff from covering their faces
The Legault government passed Bill 94 on Thursday, aimed at strengthening secularism in the Quebec school system. From now on, students will have to attend school with their faces uncovered, as will v...
montreal.citynews.ca
October 31, 2025 at 7:02 PM
My 11-year-old officially works harder to accommodate people at his birthday parties than the Quebec state.
Some hard data on doc numbers in Saskatchewan!
New data on physician supply in 🇨🇦 for 2024 shows:
- While Saskatchewan gained docs overall from 2023, it lost net 2 family docs, one of only 3 provinces to do so
- From 2020 SK gained 22 family docs docs, lowest of all provinces but NL 1/
New data on physician supply in 🇨🇦 for 2024 shows:
- While Saskatchewan gained docs overall from 2023, it lost net 2 family docs, one of only 3 provinces to do so
- From 2020 SK gained 22 family docs docs, lowest of all provinces but NL 1/
October 31, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Some hard data on doc numbers in Saskatchewan!
New data on physician supply in 🇨🇦 for 2024 shows:
- While Saskatchewan gained docs overall from 2023, it lost net 2 family docs, one of only 3 provinces to do so
- From 2020 SK gained 22 family docs docs, lowest of all provinces but NL 1/
New data on physician supply in 🇨🇦 for 2024 shows:
- While Saskatchewan gained docs overall from 2023, it lost net 2 family docs, one of only 3 provinces to do so
- From 2020 SK gained 22 family docs docs, lowest of all provinces but NL 1/
“a batter has roughly a quarter of a second to judge the trajectory of a pitch and decide whether to swing. Considering that it takes approximately 100 milliseconds for a blink of the human eye, it’s remarkable that batters can hit any major league pitch at all”
How the physics of baseball could help Kevin Gausman and the Blue Jays win the World Series
With the Toronto Blue Jays on the cusp of a World Series title, pitcher Kevin Gausman’s mastery of the splitter is not just athletic skill, it’s a brilliant application of physics.
theconversation.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:20 PM
“a batter has roughly a quarter of a second to judge the trajectory of a pitch and decide whether to swing. Considering that it takes approximately 100 milliseconds for a blink of the human eye, it’s remarkable that batters can hit any major league pitch at all”
A positive, community approach to homelessness in Manitoba:
- govt/private partnership to build affordable housing sets out with $17M start-up fund - private donors kick in $7M, govt $10M - as new head takes over
- Govt sets goal of 2500 new affordable housing units
- govt/private partnership to build affordable housing sets out with $17M start-up fund - private donors kick in $7M, govt $10M - as new head takes over
- Govt sets goal of 2500 new affordable housing units
Kinew’s hand-picked senior adviser on strategy to end homelessness resigns
Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud, who was appointed to lead the province’s high-profile strategy to end chronic homelessness, has resigned only 10 months into the job. Blaikie Whitecloud confirmed Thursday th...
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:26 AM
A positive, community approach to homelessness in Manitoba:
- govt/private partnership to build affordable housing sets out with $17M start-up fund - private donors kick in $7M, govt $10M - as new head takes over
- Govt sets goal of 2500 new affordable housing units
- govt/private partnership to build affordable housing sets out with $17M start-up fund - private donors kick in $7M, govt $10M - as new head takes over
- Govt sets goal of 2500 new affordable housing units
Health Minister Cockrill confirms abandoning part of AIMS HR system for healthcare. “‘This government is not willing to spend any more money on a time validation & scheduling part of the AIMS project’. AIMS has cost $250M+ to develop over 7 years & has been plagued with problems.
October 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Health Minister Cockrill confirms abandoning part of AIMS HR system for healthcare. “‘This government is not willing to spend any more money on a time validation & scheduling part of the AIMS project’. AIMS has cost $250M+ to develop over 7 years & has been plagued with problems.
Service cuts in OT at Saskatoon’s troubled, overloaded RUH hospital.
Lack of OT services will delay discharges and further back up admissions to this linchpin of the provincial hospital system.
Lack of OT services will delay discharges and further back up admissions to this linchpin of the provincial hospital system.
October 30, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Service cuts in OT at Saskatoon’s troubled, overloaded RUH hospital.
Lack of OT services will delay discharges and further back up admissions to this linchpin of the provincial hospital system.
Lack of OT services will delay discharges and further back up admissions to this linchpin of the provincial hospital system.