Tess
@tessafranklin.bsky.social
Political staffer. Working at the intersection of art, culture, community and politics. Democratic socialist.
Reposted by Tess
Both @arieltroster.com and I believe we need a budget that puts people first, that delivers reliable transit, safe communities and a city where everyone can afford to live and thrive.
Add your name to tell City Council that we need a budget built for people: www.arieltroster.com/budget.
Add your name to tell City Council that we need a budget built for people: www.arieltroster.com/budget.
December 4, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Both @arieltroster.com and I believe we need a budget that puts people first, that delivers reliable transit, safe communities and a city where everyone can afford to live and thrive.
Add your name to tell City Council that we need a budget built for people: www.arieltroster.com/budget.
Add your name to tell City Council that we need a budget built for people: www.arieltroster.com/budget.
Reposted by Tess
Both @jleiper.bsky.social and I are fighting for a budget that puts people first, a budget that delivers reliable transit, safe communities and a city where everyone can afford to live and thrive.
Add your name to tell City Council that we need a budget built for people: www.arieltroster.com/budget
Add your name to tell City Council that we need a budget built for people: www.arieltroster.com/budget
December 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Both @jleiper.bsky.social and I are fighting for a budget that puts people first, a budget that delivers reliable transit, safe communities and a city where everyone can afford to live and thrive.
Add your name to tell City Council that we need a budget built for people: www.arieltroster.com/budget
Add your name to tell City Council that we need a budget built for people: www.arieltroster.com/budget
Reposted by Tess
Until Mark Carney and Danielle Smith are ready to drink a glass of the water, it’s not clean enough to be released.
Mark Carney’s Bill C-5 would open the door to even more environmental racism.
We have to stand against it.
Mark Carney’s Bill C-5 would open the door to even more environmental racism.
We have to stand against it.
October 18, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Until Mark Carney and Danielle Smith are ready to drink a glass of the water, it’s not clean enough to be released.
Mark Carney’s Bill C-5 would open the door to even more environmental racism.
We have to stand against it.
Mark Carney’s Bill C-5 would open the door to even more environmental racism.
We have to stand against it.
Reposted by Tess
Dropkick Murphys merch at CityFolk is on point
September 13, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Dropkick Murphys merch at CityFolk is on point
Reposted by Tess
Great to see some of my colleagues this weekend as they do the work of engaging, supporting and celebrating the residents of their wards. I'm proud to work with people like Tim Tierney, Clarke Kelly, Ariel Troster, David Brown and Marty Carr who are on the ground each day. I see and thank you.
September 14, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Great to see some of my colleagues this weekend as they do the work of engaging, supporting and celebrating the residents of their wards. I'm proud to work with people like Tim Tierney, Clarke Kelly, Ariel Troster, David Brown and Marty Carr who are on the ground each day. I see and thank you.
Reposted by Tess
I want to express my profound disappointment today that the City has ordered its workers back into the office five days a week. It is a short-sighted decision that serves no one well in either the short or long term. (1/6)
August 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I want to express my profound disappointment today that the City has ordered its workers back into the office five days a week. It is a short-sighted decision that serves no one well in either the short or long term. (1/6)
Reposted by Tess
Your trans loved ones are not okay today. Please understand that even for LGBTQ+ folks living in Canada, seeing this political backlash is terrifying. We cannot be legislated out of existence, but governments can make it very hard for us to live a good life. Resist.
🚨By a 6–3 vote, the Supreme Court UPHOLDS Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, concluding that it does NOT discriminate on the basis of sex, is not subject to heightened scrutiny, and survives rational basis review. All three liberals dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...
June 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Your trans loved ones are not okay today. Please understand that even for LGBTQ+ folks living in Canada, seeing this political backlash is terrifying. We cannot be legislated out of existence, but governments can make it very hard for us to live a good life. Resist.
Reposted by Tess
Join me and Councillor @jleiper.bsky.social for an in-person consultation and panel discussion on how we can make this year’s city budget work better for people in the urban core.
Thursday, June 26, 7-9pm, RSVP at arieltroster.com/budget2025
Thursday, June 26, 7-9pm, RSVP at arieltroster.com/budget2025
June 9, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Join me and Councillor @jleiper.bsky.social for an in-person consultation and panel discussion on how we can make this year’s city budget work better for people in the urban core.
Thursday, June 26, 7-9pm, RSVP at arieltroster.com/budget2025
Thursday, June 26, 7-9pm, RSVP at arieltroster.com/budget2025
Reposted by Tess
May this trade war (and the realization that the US is in the hands of fascists) remind the Canadian electorate that we don’t want or need this garbage here.
Vote accordingly.
Vote accordingly.
February 2, 2025 at 1:29 AM
May this trade war (and the realization that the US is in the hands of fascists) remind the Canadian electorate that we don’t want or need this garbage here.
Vote accordingly.
Vote accordingly.
Reposted by Tess
My farewell to Queen’s Park: I am grateful to the good people of Ottawa Centre, and to family, friends, colleagues and supporters. If we organize, we can make politics better. #onpoli
youtu.be/h7Qv7WWGuFo?...
youtu.be/h7Qv7WWGuFo?...
Joel's farewell speech
YouTube video by Joel Harden
youtu.be
December 10, 2024 at 7:55 PM
My farewell to Queen’s Park: I am grateful to the good people of Ottawa Centre, and to family, friends, colleagues and supporters. If we organize, we can make politics better. #onpoli
youtu.be/h7Qv7WWGuFo?...
youtu.be/h7Qv7WWGuFo?...
Reposted by Tess
Canadians are fed up with corruption.
A new Angus Reid poll shows we see it everywhere: gov’t, the mega corporations, and even our courts. The rage is real—and justified. But anger alone won’t fix a rigged system.
Pierre's Cons are feeding this rage while protecting the powerful who benefit. 🧵
A new Angus Reid poll shows we see it everywhere: gov’t, the mega corporations, and even our courts. The rage is real—and justified. But anger alone won’t fix a rigged system.
Pierre's Cons are feeding this rage while protecting the powerful who benefit. 🧵
December 11, 2024 at 2:03 AM
Canadians are fed up with corruption.
A new Angus Reid poll shows we see it everywhere: gov’t, the mega corporations, and even our courts. The rage is real—and justified. But anger alone won’t fix a rigged system.
Pierre's Cons are feeding this rage while protecting the powerful who benefit. 🧵
A new Angus Reid poll shows we see it everywhere: gov’t, the mega corporations, and even our courts. The rage is real—and justified. But anger alone won’t fix a rigged system.
Pierre's Cons are feeding this rage while protecting the powerful who benefit. 🧵
Reposted by Tess
The December 6 massacre at the Polytechnique was a mass femicide committed before social media. Platforms make it seem like we’re closer than ever to a repeat, but don’t forget today that it’s our societal misogyny that will be the cause.
December 6, 2024 at 12:13 PM
The December 6 massacre at the Polytechnique was a mass femicide committed before social media. Platforms make it seem like we’re closer than ever to a repeat, but don’t forget today that it’s our societal misogyny that will be the cause.
I’m proud to be supporting @joelharden.bsky.social because I know that his community approach to politics will help our neighbours 🧡
Today is the last day to get your membership and vote for Joel on Jan 11. Get yours online here: www.joel4mp.ca/membership
Today is the last day to get your membership and vote for Joel on Jan 11. Get yours online here: www.joel4mp.ca/membership
November 27, 2024 at 11:25 PM
I’m proud to be supporting @joelharden.bsky.social because I know that his community approach to politics will help our neighbours 🧡
Today is the last day to get your membership and vote for Joel on Jan 11. Get yours online here: www.joel4mp.ca/membership
Today is the last day to get your membership and vote for Joel on Jan 11. Get yours online here: www.joel4mp.ca/membership
Reposted by Tess
Surround yourself with the kind of people who support their local library, bakery, bookstore, and café.
November 27, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Surround yourself with the kind of people who support their local library, bakery, bookstore, and café.
Resellers are pricing no view tickets (meaning a fan is behind the stage watching a screen) for hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
Ticket scalping is a practice that is easily managed through legislation. Why is Canada so behind and why do we love monopolies so much.
Ticket scalping is a practice that is easily managed through legislation. Why is Canada so behind and why do we love monopolies so much.
November 27, 2024 at 6:11 PM
Resellers are pricing no view tickets (meaning a fan is behind the stage watching a screen) for hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
Ticket scalping is a practice that is easily managed through legislation. Why is Canada so behind and why do we love monopolies so much.
Ticket scalping is a practice that is easily managed through legislation. Why is Canada so behind and why do we love monopolies so much.
Reposted by Tess
I have been receiving a lot of emails about recent arrests at Gaza demonstrations and the seemingly sudden change in practice of not allowing people to march on the road. I have written to the Police Chief and have so far not received a response.
November 27, 2024 at 2:00 PM
I have been receiving a lot of emails about recent arrests at Gaza demonstrations and the seemingly sudden change in practice of not allowing people to march on the road. I have written to the Police Chief and have so far not received a response.
Reposted by Tess
Reposted by Tess
These signs across Toronto this morning are making a point: the Ontario government closing down supervised consumption sites doesn't make people who use drugs, let alone the toxic drug crisis, disappear — but it does ensure that using drugs will be openly forced into public space.
November 25, 2024 at 3:58 PM
These signs across Toronto this morning are making a point: the Ontario government closing down supervised consumption sites doesn't make people who use drugs, let alone the toxic drug crisis, disappear — but it does ensure that using drugs will be openly forced into public space.
Reposted by Tess
Friendly reminder: Trans women are not abstract theoretical concepts, we are your sisters, we are human beings. We are not symbols to be put on a pedestal before you knock us down.
November 25, 2024 at 5:09 AM
Friendly reminder: Trans women are not abstract theoretical concepts, we are your sisters, we are human beings. We are not symbols to be put on a pedestal before you knock us down.
We’ve had some great events these past few weeks as part of @joelharden.bsky.social’s campaign for Ottawa Centre - now it’s time to get members signed up before November 27!
If you’re not a member yet or want to volunteer, sign up here: www.joel4mp.ca
If you’re not a member yet or want to volunteer, sign up here: www.joel4mp.ca
November 22, 2024 at 5:21 PM
We’ve had some great events these past few weeks as part of @joelharden.bsky.social’s campaign for Ottawa Centre - now it’s time to get members signed up before November 27!
If you’re not a member yet or want to volunteer, sign up here: www.joel4mp.ca
If you’re not a member yet or want to volunteer, sign up here: www.joel4mp.ca
Reposted by Tess
Wonderful op-ed today from Councillor Alejandra Bravo in TO. There is no quick fix to homelessness, but we need a compassionate, "all-in" approach that respects people's human rights and provides the evidence-based solutions that are proven to work. This is the way. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
My family needed the shelter system when we arrived in Toronto. Today the need is greater than ever. Doug Ford needs to quit sweeping it under the rug
Thousands of Torontonians need shelter. Simply moving them won't help.
www.thestar.com
November 19, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Wonderful op-ed today from Councillor Alejandra Bravo in TO. There is no quick fix to homelessness, but we need a compassionate, "all-in" approach that respects people's human rights and provides the evidence-based solutions that are proven to work. This is the way. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Tess
Please enjoy my cartoon for Tuesday's Toronto Star
November 18, 2024 at 9:05 PM
Please enjoy my cartoon for Tuesday's Toronto Star
Reposted by Tess
Don't despair; organize.
(Especially love the hopeful suggestion that, if the Supreme Court throws out the NLRA, there could be a silver lining of increased organizing in labor-friendly states.)
jacobin.com/2024/11/labo...
(Especially love the hopeful suggestion that, if the Supreme Court throws out the NLRA, there could be a silver lining of increased organizing in labor-friendly states.)
jacobin.com/2024/11/labo...
Labor’s Resurgence Can Continue Despite Trump
Donald Trump will do his best to undermine unions. But the labor movement still has momentum on its side and numerous opportunities to seize. Trump’s presidency has to be a time for labor action, not ...
jacobin.com
November 19, 2024 at 1:07 AM
Don't despair; organize.
(Especially love the hopeful suggestion that, if the Supreme Court throws out the NLRA, there could be a silver lining of increased organizing in labor-friendly states.)
jacobin.com/2024/11/labo...
(Especially love the hopeful suggestion that, if the Supreme Court throws out the NLRA, there could be a silver lining of increased organizing in labor-friendly states.)
jacobin.com/2024/11/labo...
Reposted by Tess
BREAKING: A coalition of 41 Councillors from across Ontario stand united against the use of the notwithstanding clause to clear encampments. Urban, suburban, and rural, these Councillors stand for evidence-based solutions to homelessness and the protection of the Charter. Read their letter👇
November 18, 2024 at 3:53 PM
BREAKING: A coalition of 41 Councillors from across Ontario stand united against the use of the notwithstanding clause to clear encampments. Urban, suburban, and rural, these Councillors stand for evidence-based solutions to homelessness and the protection of the Charter. Read their letter👇
Reposted by Tess
Today’s rally in Ottawa for refugees, hosted by Refugee613 ❤️ Amazing turnout of around 500 or more. There were dancers and great speakers. The best vibe. Kudos Louisa Taylor and everyone else (and there were many) who brought this together.
November 17, 2024 at 10:55 PM
Today’s rally in Ottawa for refugees, hosted by Refugee613 ❤️ Amazing turnout of around 500 or more. There were dancers and great speakers. The best vibe. Kudos Louisa Taylor and everyone else (and there were many) who brought this together.