Thorben Wieditz

I get that and it’s terrible. Just tripped over the “regain” part, as I don’t think that it was ever any different in Canada.

Regain?

Uber in talks with French social security agency after driver status dispute Uber said on Monday it was in talks with French social security agency Urssaf, which a media report said had concluded the U.S.-based company should treat its drivers as employees.

“71,194 drivers who worked for Uber between 2019 and 2022 on independent-contractor agreements should have been defined as employees. The agency was seeking 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in social security contributions, a further 512 million euros in penalties.”

www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Hootsuite CEO says ICE contract will stand as long as agency honours terms and conditions ‘We did nothing wrong here,’ head of Vancouver social media company said in internal call with employees

There is not a lot Canadians can do about ICE, but we can ask Parliament to investigate Canadian companies doing business with them, like Hootsuite. Call or email your MP - or contact the INDU House committee MPs. Will post link below. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...

Ontario: PCs Lead, But 65% Disapprove of Ford January 23, 2026 (Toronto, ON) – New Liaison Strategies tracking data shows the Progressive Conservatives continue to lead province-wide, but the political environment is increasingly defined by broad...

"Premier Doug Ford’s job approval remains sharply negative. The PCs have lost 5 points since a high of 47% in October."

press.liaisonstrategies.ca/ontario-pcs-...

Former SNC-Lavalin CEO to be stripped of professional licence Jacques Lamarre also ordered to pay $75,000 in fines after being found guilty of several transgressions

AtkinsRéalis

www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...

B.C. Appeal Court dismisses appeal by short-term rental owners over restrictions Victoria short-term rental owners had sought to be exempt from a new law that limits home rentals — or be compensated for their losses.

Good!

vancouversun.com/news/bc-appe...

NEW investigation from me!

The #ontpoli gov't swears an "adult entertainment club" didn't get taxpayer money... but documents we obtained suggest further connections.

‘Adult entertainment club’ faces new questions after business licence filing and millions in provincial cash

How Olivia Chow and John Tory might do with voters if an election were held today A poll by Liaison Strategies on Tuesday asked respondents how they might vote if the election were held today.

Every time Brad Bradford cosplays mayor, remember:

“In the 2023 mayoral byelection […] Bradford received just over 1% of the vote.”

lhttps://www.thestar.com/news/gta/how-olivia-chow-and-john-tory-might-do-with-voters-if-an-election-were-held/article_ee93da13-3934-4386-9dff-02edf140e477.html

What is it going to be replaced with?

The Dismantling of the New School The New School was founded as an institution dedicated to critical inquiry and the free exchange of ideas. The current austerity measures at the university are dismantling the radical democratic aspirations it once represented.

The New School was founded as an institution dedicated to critical inquiry and the free exchange of ideas.

The current austerity measures at the university are dismantling the radical democratic aspirations it once represented.

Inside Ontario’s plan to merge 36 conservation authorities to 7 | The Narwhal Doug Ford’s government is seeking public feedback on its plan to overhaul Ontario’s conservation authorities, reducing local agencies from 36 to 7

Today is the last day for Ontarians to weigh in on the Doug Ford government's plan to consolidate 36 conservations authorities into seven regional ones. Here's everything you need to know about it: thenarwhal.ca/ontario-cons...

Spotted this little tableau in a tree box on Queen, near Bellwoods. Just in case anyone wondered if Canadians were getting any less pissed off with the US

Ethics watchdog to investigate David Piccini over Skills Development Fund Integrity commissioner's office confirmed the probe after the New Democrats and Liberals complained the minister violated the Members' Integrity Act.

Love the sound of this.

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...

Thanks for sharing, this is great news.

Constitutional Court upholds Tuscany’s tourism law on short-term rentals | Florence Daily News Judges reject government appeal, confirming regional powers to regulate short lets.

Italian regions will now have more freedom to crack down on Airbnb.

"Italy’s Constitutional Court has rejected the national government’s appeal against Tuscany’s new tourism law, confirming the region’s right to regulate short-term rentals..."
www.florencedailynews.com/2025/12/17/c...

Pickup truck parked in the bike lane.

I did this interview at Yonge & St Clair, the reporter hoping he'd catch a gig worker bombing down the sidewalk. Instead a pickup truck was parked in the bike lane behind us, and for the entire conversation rider after rider was forced into traffic.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Two companies listed under portfolio of Ontario Securities Commission-sanctioned CEO's firm got Skills Development Fund grants Another of Sayan Navaratnam’s companies was hit with hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties for allegedly ‘misleading’ investors

Ontario pumps money into a fraud to develop chat bots with funds meant to help actual workers develop skills.

www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/two-companies-under-firm-of-ontario-securities-commission-sanctioned-ceo-got-skills-development-fund-grants-11603743

Spain fines Airbnb $75 million for unlicensed tourist rentals MADRID (AP) — Spain’s government has fined Airbnb 64 million euros ($75 million) for advertising unlicensed tourist rentals, officials said Monday. The move is the latest government action in Sp...

Way to go.

www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/202...

Here we go.

Fishing expedition or improper shield? Doug Ford personal cellphone fight heads to court | Globalnews.ca A panel of three Ontario judges heard arguments on a request by the provincial government for a judicial review of a decision handed down by the IPC last year.

Fishing expedition or improper shield? Doug Ford personal cellphone fight heads to court globalnews.ca/news/1157267... #onpoli

ouch …

In surprise move, ABC Vancouver scraps local procurement requirement for mega-developments Community benefits deal "looks great on paper and it sounds great, but it doesn't ... accomplish anything additional," said Coun. Montague

Vancouver and community benefit agreements …

vancouversun.com/news/local-n...

American-owned consortium assumes control of Canada’s premier nuclear research facility Nuclear Laboratory Partners of Canada Inc. will also be responsible for cleaning up the federal government’s inventory of radioactive waste

What could go wrong?

www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...

What’s the common denominator here, I wonder.

Love the reference to NYC’s mayor-elect.

Mamdani is also critical of Uber’s business model and backs tighter limits and stronger regulation of the company in NYC.

We can’t have better transit while Uber et al replace transit with vehicle trips, costing the TTC $200K/day while adding to traffic.

“New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani won in part because he had an obsessive focus on improving life for transit users. His promises included free bus trips – an idea that is controversial in transit circles – but also making these vehicles faster and their arrival more predictable.”

Globe editorial: The slow death of public transit service Allowing expensive infrastructure to underperform makes it harder to convince higher levels of government to invest in the next round of transit expansion

Oh!

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...

*were to apply to his caucus

Ontario legislature to take 14-week winter break, following 19-week summer break TORONTO - Ontario's legislature is set to take a 14-week winter break, less than two months after resuming from a 19-week summer break.

If Ford’s gig work reform that lets Uber get away with paying workers for “engaged” time only apply to his caucus, they would see a signific pay cut.

#ONpoli
www.thestar.com/politics/ont...