Alex Bozikovic Profile
Alex Bozikovic

@alexbozikovic

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Following
6,366
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31,414
Statuses

Architecture critic @globeandmail | Instructor @uoftdaniels | Author | Husband to @livmendelsohn and father of two.

Joined January 2010
Joined January 2010
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
Hello! I've teamed up with Raymond Biesinger on a new book, 305 Lost Buildings of Canada, that tells brief stories about the death and life of our cities. Available now @goose_lane for preorder:
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
The Ontario Science Centre (Raymond Moriyama, 1969) is a masterpiece and a deeply important building. The Doug Ford government is going to abandon and demolish it. That’s shameful.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
7 months
Six houses -> 170 apartments. Sometimes change is good, actually.
@BikeLaneDiary
Martin Reis
7 months
Street art silhouettes of people who used to live in houses slated for demolition for yet another condo project at St. Clair and Bathurst.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
4 years
My plans ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ 2020
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
11 months
In Montreal, a real city.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
Memo to those running for Toronto mayor: this building went up on a side street in 1931. It should be legal to build again. Forget triplexes.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
No direct transit between the ninth and tenth biggest cities in Canada. Perhaps Ontario should fix this before building another expressway.
@not_taylorx
Justin 🚄🎵🔋🌈
1 year
I hate everything about this
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
Ontario has now passed its Bill 23 on housing and go. In time the most destructive element will be the removal of tenant protections. Allowing apartment buildings to become teardowns - with no compensation for existing tenants - is a disaster.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
It takes a special something to tell Indigenous nations that their real-estate development is out of character with the surrounding houses.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
This is rightly being dunked on. - 3700-square-foot house for two people - plus a full basement! - suburban, i.e. they drive everywhere -“environmentalists”
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 month
This was a store that a wealthy family kept open for sentimental reasons, then sold for $75-million. Now 1300 tenants will live there.
@NobleQAli
Q. Anthony Ali
1 month
Over the last 20 years this city has just become one giant mass of malignant, rectangular-shaped tumours Look what they tore down to build this featureless garbage, man.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
8 months
Raymond Moriyama 1929-2023. One of the most important architects in Canadian history passed away today.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
Every Southern Ontario child has sat on these benches.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
4 months
Two truths about Toronto property taxes: They have been much too low, and the homeowners facing big hikes can afford it.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 months
Tokyo urbanism: 4-metre streets, no setbacks, shops on every block, virtually no cars. Magnificent.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
8 months
New push on Ontario Place today from @ThermeCanada . PR headline is “more free park space.” But this space is privately managed, and some is on rooftops. That’s not a park. It’s still a private attraction that destroys the entire existing island and has no place on this site
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
Toronto: Proposal for a four-storey apartment building, 100m from a subway entrance on an arterial road, and the neighbours are furious. “Tower,” “neighbourhood character,” etc. 50 years of NIMBY local politics need to be undone.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
10 months
Walking around the 13th in Paris. High density, plants everywhere, boûlangeries on every corner. Narrow streets and few cars. It’s fantastic.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
5 months
Paul Rudolph’s extraordinary Niagara Falls Public Library, 1974: one of the most fantastical of Brutalist buildings, troubled but very much still alive.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
5 months
John Tory’s legacy is cemented today: the full rebuild of the Gardiner Expressway and senseless destruction at Ontario Place. Billions of public dollars spent to make Toronto worse
@JohnTory
John Tory
5 months
This deal represents an extremely important first step in recognizing Toronto's unique status among cities in Ontario and Canada and beginning to address some of the challenges that go with that. My congratulations to Premier @fordnation and Mayor @oliviachow .
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
It is deeply problematic when a Toronto politician uses an image like this to complain about density.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
3 years
This area in front of @TorontoPolice ’s 52 Division is supposed to be a plaza; instead officers park their personal cars there. 1/
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
3 years
Look how they massacred my boy
@oldTOseries
Old Toronto Series
3 years
Bay and Bloor in the 1980s and recent. credit: City of Toronto Archives
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
11 months
By the standards of a normal government, this would be a huge scandal. But here it’s just a dull process story that involves $500-million. Shrug!
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
11 months
The second Indigenous-led development project in Vancouver gets an update and a big bump in density: 13,000 homes, 30 per cent BMR, on 90 acres
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
The Toronto city staff report on @OntarioPlace is here. It is strongly and consistently negative about the @ThermeCanada proposal.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
3 years
How it started/how it’s going
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
3 years
Montreal: parking turned into lush gardens. Everywhere in the Plateau.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
7 months
If more people went to Ontario Place’s West Island and saw what is to be destroyed, this would be a major political issue.
@g_meslin
Four-Storey Tower
7 months
1 of 850
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 months
Tokyo is a trip. I want to live in a city where the side streets have nichey shops and rigorously stylish cafés
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
4 years
If people have to wear safety vests to walk the streets of your city, you have failed as a leader.
@PasternakTO
James Pasternak
4 years
Wearing high visibility clothing or reflective gear is a key part of keeping everyone safe, including pedestrians, construction workers, cyclists, police officers and crossing guards. Let's make @VisionZeroTO work. #Toronto #TOpoli
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
7 months
Next: It’s time to cancel the Ontario Place waterpark.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
“Good urban design” in downtown Toronto. The continuous glazing and too-high ceiling are city policy all the way. The result is going to be unloved and commercially unsuccessful.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
An elementary school located in an apartment building, and the kids play in a public park. 1970s Toronto did some smart things!
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
11 months
The richest, whitest and least populated neighborhood in downtown Toronto is upset about a 10-storey building
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
3 years
The Shaw Street bikeway. You love to see it.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
Much of Central Toronto is losing people. This is one reason why. Six apartments -> one mansion. No planning permission needed, no penalty for evicting the tenants. #toronto
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
City streets must be all asphalt so Sun columnists can roar through them, leaving a plume of exhaust on their way back to the suburbs
@brianlilley
Brian Lilley
2 years
Because we don’t have enough whacky crap on the streets of Toronto… Someone thought it was a good idea to put mini forests on the road.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
Would be a shame if Aurora, Ontario was a “sea of sameness”
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@TMrakas
Mayor Tom Mrakas
2 years
This one size fits all Toronto centric approach won’t solve home ownership issues in other communities… What it will do is destroy communities across this province turning us all into a sea of sameness tower after tower, in town after town…
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
Some people in Toronto expect to be able to drive quickly across downtown in rush hour. I have bad news for them: this is never going to be possible again. Ever.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
The new @OntarioPlace . A massive waterpark building 45m high, and a five-level parking garage for 2,118 cars. Disastrous.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
17 days
Lesson from Tokyo urbanism: small-lot buildings make better streets
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
11 months
The street redesigns in the Plateau are beautiful. It is so green and so quiet there. Narrowing streets and lanes is magic.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 months
Vancouver opponents of density:
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@michaelgeller
Michael Geller
2 months
Even tho there's @Canucks hockey tonight there are a lot of people in Kits Neighbourhood House concerned about impacts of the Broadway Plan on Kits and surrounding neighbourhood. I'm here as a speaker b/c notwithstanding the hsg crisis, a tenfold increase in density is wrong! :(
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
Toronto has ended exclusionary zoning. Four units minimum on every residential lot.
@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
And it is done. Toronto has zoning for apartments of four units throughout all residential areas.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
5 months
The Ontario gov't has put out its business case for moving the Ontario Science Centre. It is blatantly dishonest. This will save $596-million over 50 years - if you wreck the existing heritage building, and don't count costs of the $500-million garage or renovations.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
Imagine l’m visiting Toronto. I want to cutch a train going east. Which way do I go? @TTChelps
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
Toronto is bigger and richer than it’s ever been, yet everything public is crumbling.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
In Toronto, a very fine 15-storey building by Canada’s most important 20c architecture firm (Parkin, 1972) is now a teardown. As a waste of emissions and destruction of quality architecture, this is obscene.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
8 months
Counterpoint: Many neighbourhoods should experience radical change
@StrongTowns
Strong Towns
8 months
We believe no neighborhood should be exempt from change, but no neighborhood should be subjected to radical change. Incremental development is a major key to building better places.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
So, we’ve confirmed: Our whole family has COVID. We’re all vaccinated and adults are boosted. Get your shots, and be careful out there.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
3 months
Opening day for the new Cherry Street. @WaterfrontTO
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
5 months
Rob Ford was not a good mayor. He was a very poor leader who - just through his policy choices and political rhetoric - did huge damage to Toronto. This should not be controversial.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
9 months
I love Toronto, but it neglects its public spaces and hates pedestrians. Newly repaired guardrail keeps cars from falling down the hill - but not from crushing passersby.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
7 months
Toronto is choosing not to build thousands of potential homes on public land for purely aesthetic reasons - because towers will “overwhelm” the views. Dangerous nonsense.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
Toronto right now, continuing to sprawl. This map is a disaster for the climate and for social mobility.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
7 months
John Tory staffer moves to @ThermeCanada , who are bigfooting Toronto city planning to build a waterpark on public land.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
4 years
Toronto in 20 years, with a million more people and very little new transit, is going to be a giant mess.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
5 months
The government’s logic is bogus and its numbers are faulty. My column: #ONpoli #topoli
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
How is Toronto better off after John Tory’s mayoralty? The city is cruel to its most vulnerable. Its services are crumbling.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
Most North Americans’ experience of a neighbourhood feeling “busy” or “full” has to do with cars. Cars are the problem.
@TheAgenda
TVO Today | The Agenda
1 year
While millions of people have moved to the Greater Toronto Area, many parts of the 416 are actually losing population — even if they feel more crowded, writes @mattgurney #topoli #onpoli
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
5 months
The Ontario Place bill. Enviro, planning, heritage, even noise regulations explicitly do not apply. Ford is blowing up every normal process and procedure for a waterpark
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
6 months
Bad news. One of the best 19c buildings in Toronto - 149 College, by Old City Hall architect E.J. Lennox, 1894 - is now a potential development site.  This means this structure could be reduced to a facade.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
So many things in our society and city that need to change, and we’re led by people who want to destroy the best architectural expressions of social democracy.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
11 months
Frank Gehry at the groundbreaking of Forma, his Toronto tower. “I’m only 94, so I expect to be here when it’s done.”
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
4 years
I kid about heritage, but there’s a real problem here. Toronto claims to value its retail main streets, but is pushing development onto them. Houses are untouchable. Landmark dive bars are expendable.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
On the Toronto strong mayor controversy: John Tory has not used all of his existing powers as mayor to deliver more housing. Not even close.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
Toronto got rid of parking minimums today. This is a lot bigger and more radical than it sounds. Great news
@GreggLintern
Gregg Lintern
2 years
Toronto Council voted to join the club today eliminating parking minimums, one of the largest cities in North America to do so - Parking Mandates Map via @Parking_Reform
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
3 years
A reminder that ~75% of Toronto police don’t live in the city
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
10 months
Former cabinet minister speaks on Ontario Place. “A competitive process” entirely in secret, then the winners get a $500-million handout when it’s done.
@MacLeodLisa
Lisa MacLeod
10 months
@BonnieforLeader @OntarioPlace First, it was a competitive process. Second, the process was lead by bureaucrats at Heritage and Infrastructure Ontario. Third, thanks for letting us know you would continue to let Ontario Place and Ontario Science Centre rot.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
7 months
Destroying hundreds of trees in a public park is too toxic for a tree-care company. But it's fine for design professionals @BDPQuadrangle @DiamondSchmitt @UrbStrat @Studiotla
@DaveyTree
Davey Tree Expert Co
7 months
See statement below on Ontario Place.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
8 months
Hello from the alleged worst building in the history of the world
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
The busiest transit station in Canada, central point for tourism and 500,000 jobs. This shows apathy and serious dysfunction.
@g_meslin
Four-Storey Tower
2 years
Gateway to Toronto.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
This is a vibe
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
Super disappointing to see Bradford take this position.
@BradMBradford
Brad Bradford✌️
1 year
Toronto's traffic congestion is already ridiculous. What we need is to finish the Gardiner rebuild - not have another dozen rounds of consultation, debate, and delay. 1/2
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
6 months
“More folks in all our neighbourhoods.” Just astonishing to hear this from a sitting mayor.
@MayorOliviaChow
Mayor Olivia Chow
6 months
Toronto is growing. We need new ways to house more folks in all our neighbourhoods with services like schools, parks and transit. Part of that's allowing more "missing middle" housing on residential major streets. Consultations are open until Dec. 14:
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
3 years
A single-family lot turns into seven apartments. Off Marlee Road, Toronto.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
3 months
Toronto police using public resources to lobby for more money. And fearmongering at the same time. This is disturbing.
@TorontoPolice
Toronto Police
3 months
“22 minutes when people are scared in their homes from somebody who has broken into their home is not what Torontonians expect or deserve” says @TPSMyronDemkiw as he discusses police response times and hiring needs with @CBCToronto #SupportYourTPS
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
3 months
Toronto has built a beautiful streetscape, so it’s time to tear it up and patch it with asphalt
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
7 months
These people are shameless. Just profoundly dishonest. We've seen this attitude on bigger files and here it is again.
@KingaSurmaMPP
Kinga Surma
7 months
Therme was a top contender to help redevelop Ontario Place even before our government was elected in 2018. The NDP need to stop playing politics: it’s time to rebuild Ontario Place for future generations.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
4 years
This has been a hard time in many ways. But: our 7YO learned to bike this weekend.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
5 months
Early take on the Toronto “New Deal”: Under the circumstances it’s a remarkable deal for the city. But these concessions on Ontario Place and the Gardiner will haunt the city for generations to come.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
2 years
Good morning, Vancouver
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
8 months
The West Island of Ontario Place is slated to be destroyed. Minister @KingaSurmaMPP email promises “the removal of a significant amount of trees and vegetation.” Decisive moment for a beautiful, beloved and historic place. Mayor @oliviachow ’s last chance to intervene is now.
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@alexbozikovic
Alex Bozikovic
1 year
Peterson lives in a maze of one-way streets that keeps traffic off his block.
@jordanbpeterson
Dr Jordan B Peterson
1 year
The idea that neighborhoods should be walkable is lovely. The idea that idiot tyrannical bureaucrats can decide by fiat where you're "allowed" to drive is perhaps the worst imaginable perversion of that idea--and, make no mistake, it's part of a well-documented plan.
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