Phil Pothen 🇨🇦
@pothen.bsky.social
Counsel and Land Use and Land Development Program Manager for Environmental Defence. The "Hands off the Greenbelt" guy. Arch-Adversary of Mr. Sprawl. Tweets aren't advice or statements from Environmental Defence. he/him
With Hamilton 350 and Environment Hamilton, briefing Hamilton residents on how to defend their city's plan to build tens of thousands of family-sized homes inside existing neighbourhoods rather than squandering their construction and infrastructure on inefficient sprawl.
June 20, 2025 at 12:09 AM
With Hamilton 350 and Environment Hamilton, briefing Hamilton residents on how to defend their city's plan to build tens of thousands of family-sized homes inside existing neighbourhoods rather than squandering their construction and infrastructure on inefficient sprawl.
Tomorrow is election day in Ontario - so tonight's the night to evaluate the platforms.
If your top priority is ending our province's housing shortage, THIS should be your litmus test. 🧵👇
environmentaldefence.ca/2025/02/20/o...
If your top priority is ending our province's housing shortage, THIS should be your litmus test. 🧵👇
environmentaldefence.ca/2025/02/20/o...
February 26, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Tomorrow is election day in Ontario - so tonight's the night to evaluate the platforms.
If your top priority is ending our province's housing shortage, THIS should be your litmus test. 🧵👇
environmentaldefence.ca/2025/02/20/o...
If your top priority is ending our province's housing shortage, THIS should be your litmus test. 🧵👇
environmentaldefence.ca/2025/02/20/o...
But it doesn't need to be this way! We can legalizemidrise.ca, car-free, using wood-frame construction, & packed with family-sized homes, on existing streets currently restricted to $$$ single- and semi-detached mcmansions.
February 21, 2025 at 11:52 PM
But it doesn't need to be this way! We can legalizemidrise.ca, car-free, using wood-frame construction, & packed with family-sized homes, on existing streets currently restricted to $$$ single- and semi-detached mcmansions.
Banned from competing in the #FourNations tournament under its own flag, #Russia has found a clever workaround:
It's playing in tonight's final through its newest puppet-state: the USA. #CANvsUSA #NHL #Trump
It's playing in tonight's final through its newest puppet-state: the USA. #CANvsUSA #NHL #Trump
February 20, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Banned from competing in the #FourNations tournament under its own flag, #Russia has found a clever workaround:
It's playing in tonight's final through its newest puppet-state: the USA. #CANvsUSA #NHL #Trump
It's playing in tonight's final through its newest puppet-state: the USA. #CANvsUSA #NHL #Trump
Please understand that what has us enraged isn't some tarrif dispute. Trump is saying we want to be part of the U.S. as cover for trying to take over Canada. He's playing on the stupid idea that everyone would prefer to be American if they could.
We can't waste opportunities to show that's a lie.
We can't waste opportunities to show that's a lie.
February 16, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Please understand that what has us enraged isn't some tarrif dispute. Trump is saying we want to be part of the U.S. as cover for trying to take over Canada. He's playing on the stupid idea that everyone would prefer to be American if they could.
We can't waste opportunities to show that's a lie.
We can't waste opportunities to show that's a lie.
Happy Flag Day to Canadian progressives - who understand that context matters!
We use the flag - and Canadian nationalism - to punch up against those who want to subjugate us...
never to punch down by minimizing the valid grievances of indigenous nations that Canada wrongs.
We use the flag - and Canadian nationalism - to punch up against those who want to subjugate us...
never to punch down by minimizing the valid grievances of indigenous nations that Canada wrongs.
February 15, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Happy Flag Day to Canadian progressives - who understand that context matters!
We use the flag - and Canadian nationalism - to punch up against those who want to subjugate us...
never to punch down by minimizing the valid grievances of indigenous nations that Canada wrongs.
We use the flag - and Canadian nationalism - to punch up against those who want to subjugate us...
never to punch down by minimizing the valid grievances of indigenous nations that Canada wrongs.
February 12, 2025 at 6:53 PM
To each of the 8000 new families who'll soon be moving to my neighbourhood: Welcome home!
To our governments: it's long past time to get cracking on new and expanded community centres, public squares, and much expanded public schools on OUR "side of the tracks".
image @futuremodelTO
To our governments: it's long past time to get cracking on new and expanded community centres, public squares, and much expanded public schools on OUR "side of the tracks".
image @futuremodelTO
February 11, 2025 at 2:31 PM
To each of the 8000 new families who'll soon be moving to my neighbourhood: Welcome home!
To our governments: it's long past time to get cracking on new and expanded community centres, public squares, and much expanded public schools on OUR "side of the tracks".
image @futuremodelTO
To our governments: it's long past time to get cracking on new and expanded community centres, public squares, and much expanded public schools on OUR "side of the tracks".
image @futuremodelTO
All the "God Bless America" crap was off-putting enough when Americans genuinely *thought* they were the good guys.
Now that they're OPENLY trying to annex some of America's erstwhile "friends" & shaking the rest down for protection money, it LITERALLY makes me want to vomit.
#SuperBowlLIX
Now that they're OPENLY trying to annex some of America's erstwhile "friends" & shaking the rest down for protection money, it LITERALLY makes me want to vomit.
#SuperBowlLIX
February 10, 2025 at 1:27 AM
All the "God Bless America" crap was off-putting enough when Americans genuinely *thought* they were the good guys.
Now that they're OPENLY trying to annex some of America's erstwhile "friends" & shaking the rest down for protection money, it LITERALLY makes me want to vomit.
#SuperBowlLIX
Now that they're OPENLY trying to annex some of America's erstwhile "friends" & shaking the rest down for protection money, it LITERALLY makes me want to vomit.
#SuperBowlLIX
Thanks to dangerous, counterproductive, and ethically murky boundary expansions - Ontario now marked 590 km2 of farms and habitat for destruction in the GTA and Hamilton. That's 4x the amount that could plausibly be needed for homes and workplaces.
environmentaldefence.ca/the-big-spra...
environmentaldefence.ca/the-big-spra...
February 7, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Thanks to dangerous, counterproductive, and ethically murky boundary expansions - Ontario now marked 590 km2 of farms and habitat for destruction in the GTA and Hamilton. That's 4x the amount that could plausibly be needed for homes and workplaces.
environmentaldefence.ca/the-big-spra...
environmentaldefence.ca/the-big-spra...
Going to tell Trump this is Canada's Fentanyl Czar.
February 4, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Going to tell Trump this is Canada's Fentanyl Czar.
Apropos of nothing... Last year I planted some seedlings from the only citrus variety that will overwinter (so far) in Toronto. It's called Citrus trifoliata.
It's disgusting for any purpose other than marmalade, but marmalade is something.
It's disgusting for any purpose other than marmalade, but marmalade is something.
February 3, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Apropos of nothing... Last year I planted some seedlings from the only citrus variety that will overwinter (so far) in Toronto. It's called Citrus trifoliata.
It's disgusting for any purpose other than marmalade, but marmalade is something.
It's disgusting for any purpose other than marmalade, but marmalade is something.
Weaker, now that Canadians are starting to realize what's up.
February 3, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Weaker, now that Canadians are starting to realize what's up.
The good thing about having ACTUAL Queens and Kings (a line of history's most murderous & terrifying warlords, who we commoners subjugated and turned into our scrupulously obedient showdogs & mascots) is that Canadians are not impressed by wannabes.
February 2, 2025 at 11:53 PM
The good thing about having ACTUAL Queens and Kings (a line of history's most murderous & terrifying warlords, who we commoners subjugated and turned into our scrupulously obedient showdogs & mascots) is that Canadians are not impressed by wannabes.
To hell with your bourbon and pink zinfandel.
Bring on the pinot noir and tequila.
Bring on the pinot noir and tequila.
February 2, 2025 at 6:42 PM
To hell with your bourbon and pink zinfandel.
Bring on the pinot noir and tequila.
Bring on the pinot noir and tequila.
Amid all the awfulness today, some genuinely good news for the environment, housing, and food security!
Canada is extending permanent, National Park protection to 3,500 additional hectares in the eastern GTA. They'll be added to the Rouge National Park.
environmentaldefence.ca/2025/01/27/e...
Canada is extending permanent, National Park protection to 3,500 additional hectares in the eastern GTA. They'll be added to the Rouge National Park.
environmentaldefence.ca/2025/01/27/e...
January 27, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Amid all the awfulness today, some genuinely good news for the environment, housing, and food security!
Canada is extending permanent, National Park protection to 3,500 additional hectares in the eastern GTA. They'll be added to the Rouge National Park.
environmentaldefence.ca/2025/01/27/e...
Canada is extending permanent, National Park protection to 3,500 additional hectares in the eastern GTA. They'll be added to the Rouge National Park.
environmentaldefence.ca/2025/01/27/e...
If "Canada is broken", then the United States is trampled and splintered into a thousand and nine flaccid, soggy pieces, rolled in filth, scraped up & tossed in a rusty, dented bucket, then rotted through the summer into a stinking, putrescent sludge.
#cdnpoli #topoli #onpoli
#cdnpoli #topoli #onpoli
January 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
He's dumped his old #MapleMAGA rhetoric, but Ford's still governing like he wants us to be the 51st state.
From bulldozing Canada's own farmland, to shredding the safety net for those harmed by tariffs, Ontario's current policies make us MORE vulnerable to Trump's "economic force".
From bulldozing Canada's own farmland, to shredding the safety net for those harmed by tariffs, Ontario's current policies make us MORE vulnerable to Trump's "economic force".
January 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
He's dumped his old #MapleMAGA rhetoric, but Ford's still governing like he wants us to be the 51st state.
From bulldozing Canada's own farmland, to shredding the safety net for those harmed by tariffs, Ontario's current policies make us MORE vulnerable to Trump's "economic force".
From bulldozing Canada's own farmland, to shredding the safety net for those harmed by tariffs, Ontario's current policies make us MORE vulnerable to Trump's "economic force".
Why isn't #onpoli's housing supply keeping up with housing need?
The new expert report commissioned by my team @EnviroDefence shows Ontario government restrictions on mid-rise apartment buildings have been making it impossible to end the housing shortage.🧵👇
environmentaldefence.ca/2024/11/13/n...
The new expert report commissioned by my team @EnviroDefence shows Ontario government restrictions on mid-rise apartment buildings have been making it impossible to end the housing shortage.🧵👇
environmentaldefence.ca/2024/11/13/n...
November 15, 2024 at 5:14 PM
Why isn't #onpoli's housing supply keeping up with housing need?
The new expert report commissioned by my team @EnviroDefence shows Ontario government restrictions on mid-rise apartment buildings have been making it impossible to end the housing shortage.🧵👇
environmentaldefence.ca/2024/11/13/n...
The new expert report commissioned by my team @EnviroDefence shows Ontario government restrictions on mid-rise apartment buildings have been making it impossible to end the housing shortage.🧵👇
environmentaldefence.ca/2024/11/13/n...