https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:27:08 +0000 MyBB https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1986 Mon, 29 Dec 2025 14:01:52 +0000 Kodra24]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1986 (12-22-2025, 10:45 AM)bravado Wrote: I think that if we want nice, reliable public services, they have to be financially sustainable. You should have to pay ~something~ to use a nice and reliable service, or else it won't be that way for very long.

There might be some value in means-testing these sorts of programs, but we really need to get used to the idea of "nice things cost money". Without any means-testing, it's pretty clear: seniors are the wealthiest cohort in Canada (by quite a lot) and getting wealthier faster than all the others. This is a strange proposal to subsidize the wealthy under the guise of accessibility.

As for time of use... even an empty bus needs to be paid for by somebody.
By somebody you mean taxpayers? Who else really?

Too bad our government is too busy handing out $2.5B to Zelenskyy (who is under serious corruption allegations for some time now)]]> (12-22-2025, 10:45 AM)bravado Wrote: I think that if we want nice, reliable public services, they have to be financially sustainable. You should have to pay ~something~ to use a nice and reliable service, or else it won't be that way for very long.

There might be some value in means-testing these sorts of programs, but we really need to get used to the idea of "nice things cost money". Without any means-testing, it's pretty clear: seniors are the wealthiest cohort in Canada (by quite a lot) and getting wealthier faster than all the others. This is a strange proposal to subsidize the wealthy under the guise of accessibility.

As for time of use... even an empty bus needs to be paid for by somebody.
By somebody you mean taxpayers? Who else really?

Too bad our government is too busy handing out $2.5B to Zelenskyy (who is under serious corruption allegations for some time now)]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1945 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 01:42:47 +0000 bravado]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1945
To steal a phrase from Strong Towns: cities don't go bankrupt, they just do less and less over time for the same money. Only the loudest get heard in local politics and the loudest are usually the most privileged and anti-social among us.

]]>
To steal a phrase from Strong Towns: cities don't go bankrupt, they just do less and less over time for the same money. Only the loudest get heard in local politics and the loudest are usually the most privileged and anti-social among us.

]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1928 Wed, 12 Feb 2025 21:11:50 +0000 Momo26]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1928 https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article...s-tariffs/

Damn...

Let's discuss...]]> https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article...s-tariffs/

Damn...

Let's discuss...]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1925 Sun, 02 Feb 2025 19:19:35 +0000 tomh009]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1925
As most of our day-to-day purchases these days are food and household items, we did some surveying of the fridge and cupboard contents. Happily many things are Canadian, or we can easily find a Canadian supplier to replace them. But not all ...

• I had been under the impression that Silk plant-based milks were Canadian but at least the two varieties in our fridge are both "Product of USA". Will try the Enjoy! oat milk (available at Food Basics) next time.
  
• A lot of vegetables do come from the US, but stores generally do good labeling, and there are many options (not always exactly the same) from Latin America as well. More transport, but at least produced by a friendly country.
  
• I love Pretzel Crisps and we buy them regularly at Costco. No more, however, will switch to Canadian-made tortilla chips instead. Not a direct substitute, I know, but it's really a rather minor sacrifice.
  
• We eat a lot of nuts, and they come from ... California, of course. Need to check at some of the DTK ethnic grocery stores to look for alternatives. Finding a nut (or peanut) butter will be a problem too, I expect.
  
• Raisins and prunes are likely west coast products, too, but maybe sources can be found elsewhere.
  

If you are trying to do the same thing, what are the biggest challenges for you? Or have you found creative solutions for substituting for US products?]]>
As most of our day-to-day purchases these days are food and household items, we did some surveying of the fridge and cupboard contents. Happily many things are Canadian, or we can easily find a Canadian supplier to replace them. But not all ...

• I had been under the impression that Silk plant-based milks were Canadian but at least the two varieties in our fridge are both "Product of USA". Will try the Enjoy! oat milk (available at Food Basics) next time.
  
• A lot of vegetables do come from the US, but stores generally do good labeling, and there are many options (not always exactly the same) from Latin America as well. More transport, but at least produced by a friendly country.
  
• I love Pretzel Crisps and we buy them regularly at Costco. No more, however, will switch to Canadian-made tortilla chips instead. Not a direct substitute, I know, but it's really a rather minor sacrifice.
  
• We eat a lot of nuts, and they come from ... California, of course. Need to check at some of the DTK ethnic grocery stores to look for alternatives. Finding a nut (or peanut) butter will be a problem too, I expect.
  
• Raisins and prunes are likely west coast products, too, but maybe sources can be found elsewhere.
  

If you are trying to do the same thing, what are the biggest challenges for you? Or have you found creative solutions for substituting for US products?]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1855 Fri, 15 Mar 2024 14:18:34 +0000 SF22]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1855 Region wants to buy farms off Nafziger Road in Wilmot

"The Region of Waterloo wants to buy about 700 acres of land northeast of the intersection of Nafziger and Bleams roads in Wilmot Township. [...] “The biggest concern we have is they are buying it as agriculture land, and they are telling us point blank that before the ink is even dry the Government of Ontario will be rezoning that into industrial land."

[...] “Region of Waterloo and Wilmot Township are partnering on land readiness to create shovel-ready sites to attract economic investments and create jobs,“ said the statement. “Land assembly is underway to create 'shovel-ready' sites for large-scale economic investment to further support Waterloo Region’s economic vitality as it grows to one million residents by 2050."

https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-...b6803.html]]> Region wants to buy farms off Nafziger Road in Wilmot

"The Region of Waterloo wants to buy about 700 acres of land northeast of the intersection of Nafziger and Bleams roads in Wilmot Township. [...] “The biggest concern we have is they are buying it as agriculture land, and they are telling us point blank that before the ink is even dry the Government of Ontario will be rezoning that into industrial land."

[...] “Region of Waterloo and Wilmot Township are partnering on land readiness to create shovel-ready sites to attract economic investments and create jobs,“ said the statement. “Land assembly is underway to create 'shovel-ready' sites for large-scale economic investment to further support Waterloo Region’s economic vitality as it grows to one million residents by 2050."

https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-...b6803.html]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1816 Tue, 12 Sep 2023 12:48:39 +0000 danbrotherston]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1816
Honestly, I don't agree with this. This is why progressives fail. We are not driven to win.

Yes, I disagree with the existence of the strong mayor powers, I think they are harmful to democracy.

However! Conservative mayors--friends of DoFo--will not hesitate to use those powers to limit and restrict and ultimately harm our cities through regressive policies. We must be driven to win, we must use the powers they granted us to fight just a strongly as conservatives to push a progressive agenda.

Now, if that agenda involves eliminating strong mayor powers, all the better. But simply refusing to use them does not limit conservatives ability to use them to harm us.

https://www.youtube.com/live/7b7WUVG2TF0...ETN&t=7605]]>
Honestly, I don't agree with this. This is why progressives fail. We are not driven to win.

Yes, I disagree with the existence of the strong mayor powers, I think they are harmful to democracy.

However! Conservative mayors--friends of DoFo--will not hesitate to use those powers to limit and restrict and ultimately harm our cities through regressive policies. We must be driven to win, we must use the powers they granted us to fight just a strongly as conservatives to push a progressive agenda.

Now, if that agenda involves eliminating strong mayor powers, all the better. But simply refusing to use them does not limit conservatives ability to use them to harm us.

https://www.youtube.com/live/7b7WUVG2TF0...ETN&t=7605]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1744 Thu, 08 Dec 2022 11:51:28 +0000 danbrotherston]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1744
One of the strongest NIMBY voices on council being made vice-chair is concerning, but I have no doubt it was strategic with Singh as chair.

https://twitter.com/debbiechapman1/statu...6609311744]]>
One of the strongest NIMBY voices on council being made vice-chair is concerning, but I have no doubt it was strategic with Singh as chair.

https://twitter.com/debbiechapman1/statu...6609311744]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1721 Fri, 09 Sep 2022 18:13:29 +0000 fakepnijjar]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1721
We revived https://waterlooregionvotes.org for this election. I doubt we are going to do any dramatic redesigns but we could use help in gathering information to populate the site. People who are willing to follow Facebook and Twitter would be especially welcome. If nothing else then I hope the site might be useful to you and your friends.

It looks as if there will be a paucity of all-candidates meetings. Is anybody interested in helping to put some together? In the past I helped organize some under the banner of The Working Centre, but I don't work there any more, and I am too much of a scaredy-cat to do physical gatherings. If we could get together a group to organize some virtual all-candidates meetings then I would be willing to help out. My main interest is the Kitchener candidates for Regional Council and maybe Ward 10 in Kitchener, but there are many other races of interest too.]]>
We revived https://waterlooregionvotes.org for this election. I doubt we are going to do any dramatic redesigns but we could use help in gathering information to populate the site. People who are willing to follow Facebook and Twitter would be especially welcome. If nothing else then I hope the site might be useful to you and your friends.

It looks as if there will be a paucity of all-candidates meetings. Is anybody interested in helping to put some together? In the past I helped organize some under the banner of The Working Centre, but I don't work there any more, and I am too much of a scaredy-cat to do physical gatherings. If we could get together a group to organize some virtual all-candidates meetings then I would be willing to help out. My main interest is the Kitchener candidates for Regional Council and maybe Ward 10 in Kitchener, but there are many other races of interest too.]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1720 Sun, 21 Aug 2022 15:26:43 +0000 KevinL]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1720
At a glance, the existing borders in black, the proposed in purple:



I'll break down the changes by riding.

Waterloo - will be simplified to just the city limits. This gives Bridgeport to Kit-Cen.

Kitchener Centre - Gains Bridgeport from Waterloo, loses a small strip of north Chicopee to Kit South.

Cambridge - loses North Dumfries (and that chunk of Brant), Blair, and Preston Heights; gains Hespeler south of the Speed River. This makes the riding significantly more urban.

Kitchener South (subname changing from Hespeler to North Dumfries) - loses all of Hespeler; gains North Dumfries, plus Blair and Preston Heights and a chunk of southwest Kitchener. It becomes more rural.

Kitchener-Conestoga - gains Hespeler north of the Speed, loses a bit of suburban Kitchener.

This gives five ridings completely within the Region (a chunk of north Brant had been on the old Cambridge riding).

Guelph will also be shrinking, losing some southern suburbs to Wellington-Halton.

Feel free to zoom in and check specifics at the interactive map here: https://redecoupage-redistribution-2022....ca&prov=on]]>
At a glance, the existing borders in black, the proposed in purple:



I'll break down the changes by riding.

Waterloo - will be simplified to just the city limits. This gives Bridgeport to Kit-Cen.

Kitchener Centre - Gains Bridgeport from Waterloo, loses a small strip of north Chicopee to Kit South.

Cambridge - loses North Dumfries (and that chunk of Brant), Blair, and Preston Heights; gains Hespeler south of the Speed River. This makes the riding significantly more urban.

Kitchener South (subname changing from Hespeler to North Dumfries) - loses all of Hespeler; gains North Dumfries, plus Blair and Preston Heights and a chunk of southwest Kitchener. It becomes more rural.

Kitchener-Conestoga - gains Hespeler north of the Speed, loses a bit of suburban Kitchener.

This gives five ridings completely within the Region (a chunk of north Brant had been on the old Cambridge riding).

Guelph will also be shrinking, losing some southern suburbs to Wellington-Halton.

Feel free to zoom in and check specifics at the interactive map here: https://redecoupage-redistribution-2022....ca&prov=on]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1603 Tue, 17 Aug 2021 00:16:22 +0000 tomh009]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1603 https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1538 Tue, 02 Feb 2021 14:43:03 +0000 danbrotherston]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1538
Regional Libraries (which serve the townships directly and not the cities which are serviced by city libraries), saw a significant budget cut this year:

https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-...t-cut.html

This didn't even make news in the wake of the, in my opinion, insane decisions around childcare and the police budget.

What is regional council thinking!?]]>
Regional Libraries (which serve the townships directly and not the cities which are serviced by city libraries), saw a significant budget cut this year:

https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-...t-cut.html

This didn't even make news in the wake of the, in my opinion, insane decisions around childcare and the police budget.

What is regional council thinking!?]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1508 Wed, 07 Oct 2020 12:18:44 +0000 Spokes]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1508 https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1482 Thu, 25 Jun 2020 16:17:52 +0000 Bytor]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1482
Also, this link https://www.factcheck.org/2020/06/donati...go-to-dnc/ debunks the video that Armstrong posted.]]>
Also, this link https://www.factcheck.org/2020/06/donati...go-to-dnc/ debunks the video that Armstrong posted.]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1459 Thu, 13 Feb 2020 14:45:35 +0000 robdrimmie]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1459
https://oldgreymayors.carrd.co]]>
https://oldgreymayors.carrd.co]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1453 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 14:12:12 +0000 Momo26]]> https://www.waterlooregionconnected.com/showthread.php?tid=1453