Milton Chan
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miltonchan.bsky.social
Milton Chan
@miltonchan.bsky.social
11 followers 9 following 27 posts
unapologetic social+fiscal liberal, election junkie, political system+history geek, bike lane+mass transit etiquette vigilante, authoritarian+police abuse denouncer, proud queer, hot tennis players appreciator, unequivocal democrat
... views are my own
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miltonchan.bsky.social
“Citizenship is a privilege. Citizenship is not a right,” said Ontario labour minister David Piccini.

Begs the question, what did a Port Hope boy like him have do to earn such a privilege?

Or is he just talking about #WhitePrivilege ? #onpoli
www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Ontario suspends skilled trades program over fraud concerns
The provincial government has suspended the skilled trades stream of Ontario's economic immigration program over concerns of "systemic misrepresentation and/or fraud."
www.thestar.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:42 AM
miltonchan.bsky.social
New UK cabinet - women hold all 3 Great Offices of State (top cabinet posts) other than PM, a black deputy PM, and 4 queer cabinet members (out of 27)

www.bbc.com/news/article...
Keir Starmer carries out major reshuffle after Angela Rayner resignation
Angela Rayner's exit has prompted a major shake-up with David Lammy becoming deputy prime minister.
www.bbc.com
September 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
miltonchan.bsky.social
A concise case study for Mississauga's decades of urban sprawl, lower taxes over growth planning, and small minded local reps claiming credit with reactive enforcement while taking no responsibility for their role in creating the problem in the first place.

www.thestar.com/news/gta/rid...
Ridgeway Plaza draws foodies from across North America. Its booming success has angered locals
Residents living near the retail strip mall say the city has done little to solve the problems that plague the plaza — the large crowds, impromptu rallies, littering and excessive noise are not going ...
www.thestar.com
August 14, 2025 at 12:05 PM
miltonchan.bsky.social
This is such BS. Grocery chains made it work in BC & Germany (just 2 examples from where I grew up and where I am now) collecting not just booze bottle but pop bottles.
Perhaps mandating deposits on more bottles & collections at more locations is the solution...

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
Recycling rules have Ontario grocery chains threatening to end wine and beer sales
Stores operated by Costco, Loblaw, Sobeys, Metro and Walmart may return their alcohol licences when new recycling rules take effect on Jan. 1.
www.thestar.com
August 11, 2025 at 9:05 AM
miltonchan.bsky.social
Police abuse, dishonesty and disregard of the law undermined PEEL Regional Police's ability to uphold the law.

No small irony given that the policy foundation for police legitimacy are called #PeelianPrinciples...

www.thestar.com/news/gta/six...
Six officers. Repeated Taserings caught on video. Why a judge is calling this man’s arrest by Peel police ‘degrading and painful’
Brampton judge excludes loaded firearm and powder alleged to be cocaine after finding Peel police officers used excessive force during the arrest.
www.thestar.com
July 18, 2025 at 5:10 PM
miltonchan.bsky.social
The poor design of the Reform Act renders it an illegitimate mechanism to hold party leaders accountable. It is usurpative and antidemocratic in principle, and ineffective and unenforceable in practice.

My geeky piece back in January explains why.
www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/0...
May 24, 2025 at 5:57 PM
miltonchan.bsky.social
These things always reminds me of the confession Als sie kamen (When they came for the Communist...)

Take freedom, rule of law, due process for granted at your own peril.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/o...
Opinion | Unmarked Vans. Secret Lists. Public Denunciations. Our Police State Has Arrived.
Those of us who’ve seen secret police in action can’t shake a feeling of dreadful familiarity.
www.nytimes.com
April 6, 2025 at 8:10 PM
miltonchan.bsky.social
"...if liberals don't make government work, zealots like Elon Musk are going to come in and BURN. IT. DOWN."

The @ezraklein.bsky.social Show has been part of my regular diet for a few years, but this episode is particularly sobering.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwjx...
There Is a Liberal Answer to Elon Musk | The Ezra Klein Show
YouTube video by The Ezra Klein Show
www.youtube.com
March 18, 2025 at 2:51 AM
miltonchan.bsky.social
As a highschooler I met Allan Rock and decided that I want to help make him Prime Minister. His unofficial "pre-campaign" thrust me into the world of Liberal and leadership politics, and for me set the standard I measure leadership candidates' worthiness.
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
We’ve worked with Liberal PMs going back to Pierre Trudeau. Here’s why Chrystia Freeland should be next
She has the experience. She has the determination. And she has what it takes to make Liberals proud.
www.thestar.com
March 2, 2025 at 4:10 PM
miltonchan.bsky.social
I'd be honest, I did not even think of this angle until now... (despite being a self-professed geek about these things...)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmhH...

Whenever I hear Carney being compared to ex-leader Ignatieff, I felt some pride in having kept Michael on his 9hrs/day canvass schedule.
Mark Carney would be first Canadian PM who’s never won an election
YouTube video by National Post
www.youtube.com
January 17, 2025 at 12:35 PM
miltonchan.bsky.social
Disagree 4 many reasons:
1.We legitimized Cons attacks by accepting their debate premise, putting them in driver seat in this debate

2.Capitulation will not kill the issue, but invite more aggressive hits. Cons smell blood after strike in week 1 of our contest make the next 9 weeks open season.
cathmckenna.bsky.social Catherine McKenna @cathmckenna.bsky.social · Jan 9
It would be bonkers for the Liberal Party to refuse to tighten rules for who can vote in Liberal leadership. Given concerns around foreign interference it should absolutely be limited to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/...
Liberal MPs urge party to buttress upcoming leadership race against foreign interference | RCI
Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he won't seek leadership
ici.radio-canada.ca
January 10, 2025 at 12:25 PM
miltonchan.bsky.social
Not quite full set of rules 4 #2025LPCLdr.

Missing: Spending limit? Vetting? E-Vote only? Points on 343 or 338 EDs? Fee payment schedule? Is "I do" enough 4 "declare" or w/ 300 signatures in 3 provs?

High fee will not deter no-hopers seeking profile. High bar showing organization muscle would!
journodale.bsky.social Dale Smith @journodale.bsky.social · Jan 10
The Liberal leadership rules are out.
High entry fee to discourage no-hope candidates, and they have tightened who can be a "supporter" to just be citizens or permanent residents. #cdnpoli
Liberal Party of Canada announces date of leadership vote Ottawa, ON – The Liberal Party of Canada, today, announced that the nation-wide race to choose the next Leader of the party will conclude on March 9, 2025. “After a robust and secure nation-wide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9, and be ready to fight and win the 2025 election,” said Sachit Mehra, President of the Liberal Party of Canada. “This is a time for Liberals across the country to exchange ideas and engage in thoughtful debate to shape the future of our party and our country – and I encourage all Liberals to get involved in this exciting moment for our party.” The National Board of Directors formally met this evening to discuss and outline the initial rules of the up-coming leadership race. In accordance with the Liberal Party of Canada’s Constitution, the National Board made the following decisions: The Leadership vote will conclude on March 9, 2025, at which point the new leader will be announced on the same day. Per the party’s constitution, the cut-off date to become a Registered Liberal and be eligible to vote in the leadership race will be January 27, 2025. The Party must publicly post the registration procedures for a Leadership vote 27 days before the date of the vote. The entrance fee for a candidate to join the leadership race will be $350,000. A leadership contestant must declare their participation in the race by January 23, 2025. Suzanne Cowan, Past President of the Party, and Marc-Etienne Vien, LPC(Q) Director, will co-chair the Leadership Vote Committee. This committee will be responsible to plan and organize the Leadership vote, and will start to meet in the coming days to finalize the remaining procedures of the vote. MP Patricia Lattanzio and John Herhalt, Chair of the Federal Liberal Agency of Canada, will co-chair the Leadership Expense Committee. This committee will adopt Leadership Expense Rules for the leadership race, as well as set a maximum expense limit. They will begin meeting in the coming days to finalize these procedures. Protecting the integrity of our democratic process, while still engaging as many people as possible, is one of the Liberal Party of Canada’s top priorities. The National Board also made the decision to update the requirements for becoming and maintaining status as a Registered Liberal. To be a Registered Liberal, a person must: be at least fourteen (14) years of age; support the purposes of the party; be a Canadian citizen, have status under the Indian Act, or be a permanent resident of Canada. not be a member of any other federal political party in Canada; and while Registered as a Liberal, not have publicly declared an intention to be a candidate for election to the House of Commons other than as a candidate of the Party. The Liberal Party of Canada looks forward to running a secure, fair, and national race that will elect the next Leader of the party. For more details on the Leadership race, please visit our website: lpc.ca/2025leadership
January 10, 2025 at 8:46 AM
miltonchan.bsky.social
Given my on-the-record opposition to caucus voting on leadership matters, I will refrain from joking party leadership via conclave...

Still, both these appointments are pretty inspiring...

www.cbc.ca/news/world/v...
Pope Francis appoints woman to help lead key Vatican office for 1st time | CBC News
Pope Francis on Monday named the first woman to head a major Vatican office, appointing an Italian nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, to become prefect of the department responsible for all of the Catholic...
www.cbc.ca
January 8, 2025 at 10:06 AM
miltonchan.bsky.social
If read only through lens of mechanics of leaders ousting, my piece in today's @hilltimes.com went stale by lunch hours.

But my points on someone must be able to, who and how to make decision w/ legitimacy will actually be in ever sharper focus in coming days.

www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/0...
Legitimacy in wielding a non-existing sword
A review of the rules on how to oust a party leader, the history that influenced its evolution, why caucus ousting its leader is illegitimate and pointless, with some extreme examples from other count...
www.hilltimes.com
January 7, 2025 at 4:43 AM
miltonchan.bsky.social
Worth reading - the whole piece! The unremarkable title masks a fantastic piece highlighting many subtly corrosive aspects of Canadian politics, masterfully pulled them together to show their interconnectedness and their collective role in undermining faith in democratic governance.
December 21, 2024 at 4:59 PM
miltonchan.bsky.social
Principled, thoughtful, gracious.

Speak difficult truth that cuts through noise.

Proud to call @roboliphant.bsky.social my friend. Humbled to lead his election campaign again, 17 years after managing his first one.
roboliphant.bsky.social Rob Oliphant @roboliphant.bsky.social · Dec 20
Please see my statement about Liberal Party leadership.
December 21, 2024 at 12:17 AM