Ben Ziegler

Fact check: No, U.S. oil tankers do not pass through the Hecate Strait. Elizabeth May shows exactly why the tanker ban exists, and why protecting it matters.

"There were 13,880 applicants for Seniors Subsidized Housing, of these 884 (6%) applicants were housed while 12,996 applicants remained on the waiting at year end. The number of applicants waiting has increased by 61% over the past five years and 13% compared to the previous year. "

Now, Hawaii Transportation Plan Targets Cruise Sector With Phased Reductions to Tourism Ship Arrivals By 2045 to Meet Net-Zero Goals - Travel And Tour World Hawaiʻi plans to cut cruise ship visits by 75% and phase out large vessels by 2035 to meet state transportation emissions goals.

Example for Canada: Hawaii Dept. of Transportation's draft GHG plan reacts to the reality of climate breakdown, cutting cruise ships by 75% by 2035 & no ships >3,000 passengers. (Cruise is unnecessary, discretionary travel.) Road & flying measures too.

www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article...

Can a nation in crisis rely on the baby boomer generation to step up? I think the UK is about to find out | Phillip Inman A raid on property wealth and pensions is being signalled by the Treasury, and it has sound reasons for doing just that, says Phillip Inman, the Guardian’s senior economics writer

Wealth tax. The equitable pathway to build affordable housing supply. share.google/ues7Z6AA2HTl...

Magazine cover for August issue of parody Cruise Exec - we do greenwashing right. Image of large cruise ship spewing pollution over Victoria.

It's a 3-cruise-ship day in Victoria, for a change. JK, it happens all the time. Today we get Anthem, Riviera, Edge. The Hat Trick of Horror, a Trio of Fines Avoidance. Yep, they're here as required by an 1886 American law to dodge $$millions in fines. Victoria, Pit Stop of the Pacific.

Modular apartments in downtown Calgary aim to address housing A six-storey modular apartment building is set to be completed in downtown Calgary this December, just eight months after construction began.

Here's an affordable alternative wayhttps://share.google/qeHmYtrkwWe0ZM8t0

Modular apartments in downtown Calgary aim to address housing A six-storey modular apartment building is set to be completed in downtown Calgary this December, just eight months after construction began.

Here's an affordable alternative way. share.google/qeHmYtrkwWe0...

Editorial: Low-income housing needs to be a priority University Heights’ prices are far higher than ­average rental rates in the region.

Crazy to allow/encourage these rates - it's as if our civic leaders #1 concern is supporting the well-off. What a narrow way to live life. www.timescolonist.com/opinion/edit...

‘Buy Canadian’ movement pushes Purdys to sell outside own stores for first time in 118-year-old history Purdys Chocolatier says the buy Canadian movement has generated so much demand for its products that it decided to sell them outside its own stores for the first time in its 118-year-old history.

Conflict is definitely changing the way we (Canada) do business; eg our favourite chocolatier... share.google/XxdkBEj72JP0...

Another European city issues cruise ship ban as overtourism anger grows Nice also announced limits on cruise ships earlier this year

Cannes is banning cruise ships carrying more than 1,000 people. That would be a progressive move for our @victoria.ca council to take, too, in support of sustainable tourism. www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...

Today Victoria endures NCL Joy and RCL Anthem. Here for a combined 26 hours, you can taste and smell the pollution throughout the portside residential neighbourhood and into downtown. It's a close-the-windows day because Victoria's cruise industry privatizes profits & socializes costs/harms.

Is James Bay the only neighbourhood in Greater Victoria where residents close their windows to escape hours of pollution each day? I'm curious. I've lived in big cities where 7 x 24 smog and general pollution was a definite issue. That doesn't seem to be the case here, with cruise exception.

How Canadian media provide cover for racist acts YouTube video by The Breach

Identifying subjects of stories is basic journalism—but when it comes to people committing racist acts, Canadian media regularly blur out and protect their identities.

@desmondcole.bsky.social breaks down why anonymizing racism isn’t just bad journalism—it’s a gift to white supremacy.

Victoria to look into increasing compensation for displaced tenants Coun. Stephen Hammond had wanted staff to look at specific levels of compensation for tenants displaced by property redevelopment, but that idea was rejected

Alas, "displaced" is an appropriate word. Many long-term tenants (especially seniors) forced to relocate reluctantly leave their neighbourhood, to get anew. To them, its a tragic loss of their community, place-based.

Universal basic income as a new social contract for the age of AI blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessrevi...

I'm glad the piece touched on the lack of housing variety (even if at bottom end, shelters), suitable for low-income seniors.

Victoria is Canada's busiest cruise ship port-of-call, with 320 ships scheduled in 2025. When 3 cruise ships are in port at the same time, these ships contribute 47% of Victoria's GHGs-per-hour. This will occur almost 50 times this season. So yeah, 'transportation.'

Manitoba is Canada's heartland. I know it as a creative, unique mix of east, west, north, indigenous... when it comes to thought and innovation in the political sphere.

Thanks Ben. People who have a car spend over 20% income on mobility; those who walk bike, public transit, 4%.
Imagine if people downsize from 2 to 1 or 1 to 0 cars. Winning a lottery, 16% add. income every year. Forever!
Where does it go? Local economy, restaurants, hardware, recreation… #ShopLocal

The car industry makes its profit on the financialization of car buying; eg interest on your car payments. More public sharing of that fact and of the financial benefits of life without car ownership would increase good feelings for public transit.

Given the CDC layoffs, I wonder if there will be any local (Victoria) health controls re: disembarking passengers? Perhaps @mattdellvictoria.bsky.social (James Bay liaison) would know?

Ships will arrive, often three at a time, into the high-density, majority seniors residential neighbourhood where the cruise port is located. What could go wrong?

Not so tolerant Allies: The story of Canada and the United States - ABC listen President Trump not only want to make America great, he also wants to make it bigger and incorporating Canada as the 51st state would certainly do that – except for the fact that Canada is a sovereign...

The tension between Canada and U.S. goes way, way back. A good overview from Australia public radio. Fun fact: this isn't the first rodeo re: "51st state" provocation! www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Election Fact Check: Winners and Losers from the Tax-Cut Promises | The Tyee The Liberals and Conservatives are both promising income tax cuts. But 9.6 million low-income Canadians won’t benefit.

Election Fact Check: Winners and Losers from the Tax-Cut Promises via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...

Canada Reads 2025: Day Three YouTube video by CBC

What a great conversation, today! @CBC's Canada Reads is such a treasure. www.youtube.com/live/hqDgYfD...

Maybe we need a fee/tariff on the ship garbage we accept, here in Victoria. Has any level of Canadian government considered this?

My favourite Canadian products I’ve been very touched to see American friends expressing their desire to buy Canadian as a way of showing solidarity in the face of Trump’s destructive tariffs. While Tim Horton&#8217…

Looking for a way to show some love to your neighbours? In response to the outpouring of anger and solidarity in the face of Trump's destructive tariffs, I created this list of my favourite Canadian products and stores.

#Canada

www.alexandrasamuel.com/world/my-fav...