Richie Assaly

Danielle Smith blames immigrants for Alberta's economic woes, and polling suggests that most residents agree with her. Now, the province wants to enact policies that will treat newcomers as second-class citizens. Here's me, somehow, in the Globe & Mail:

“Israeli liberals and Western allies still want to pin everything on Netanyahu. But whoever wins, the apartheid consensus will endure” (Spare yourself from Canadian punditry and read this from @equatormag.bsky.social)

There’s disappointment — anger, even — at the results of the other nine questions posed by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on referendum day. But Albertans should not wallow in defeat, Richie Assaly writes. thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026...

Incredible photo from Bradford HQ last night by Laura Proctor in @thelocal.to thelocal.to/olivia-chow-...

Turnover at a glance: Nunziata –> Padovani Perks –> Chan McNally Saxe –> Layton Moise –> Stikuts Fletcher –> Ehrhardt Bradford –> Erskine-Smith Myers –> Chen Other than the loss of Myers, this is going to be a pretty strong Council for Chow.

Dad rock studies continues

RIP Eric Bauza, one of the greatest of all time. Did almost every single one of those voices in Coyote vs Acme. Someone who clearly loved these characters so much that he wasn't just doing Mel Blanc, he made them his own.

Toronto mayoral candidate Brad Bradford has a slew of bad supporters, like the CEO of Shopify and the founder of Rebel News. @desmondcole.bsky.social explains that we should judge politicians by the company they keep—and Bradford’s has questionable friends. youtube.com/shorts/En3PJ...

Need to shout out the torta ahogada at Santa Madre’s on Gerrard. One of the best sandwiches I’ve had in Toronto this year. Was pleased to discover that @karonliu.bsky.social already had the scoop

UPDATE: The list of public figures endorsing Brad Bradford now includes disgraced media mogul and (formerly) convicted fraudster Conrad Black and a former leader of the Conservative Party of Canada!

The editorial board of the city’s ostensibly progressive newspaper the moment the conservative mayoral candidate starts gaining momentum www.thestar.com/opinion/edit...

Come on man

The detail from "You Can See Everything" that's really sticking with me is how Billy listens to podcasts on 2x speed

Lots of ballots still coming in, and the margins have narrowed a bit on the immigration questions. But looks like 4 of the 5 constitutional questions might swing NO in the end: suffrageapp.ca/abref26/

I think a lot of people outside of Alberta currently celebrating the failure of the separation question don't even know about the other nine questions. This is far from over.

All five immigration questions will pass by a comfortable margin. Danielle Smith will try to spin this as a mandate to implement policies that will scapegoat and harm immigrants and non-permanent residents. Not a good result.

Tobi Lütke! Paul Godfrey! Ezra Levant! All the stars are here! Here's a non-comprehensive list of public figures lining up behind Brad Bradford for @thegrindto.bsky.social

Pretty much

Lovely cycling commute today. Toronto is bursting with colours

Excellent deep dive on Olivia Chow's tenure as mayor by @goldsbie.bsky.social. Worth your time

Excellent essay on artificial intelligence and late capitalism by Arundhati Roy.

First time Carney has declared his opposition to the anti-immigration questions on the Alberta referendum. Better late than never, I suppose (or does he feel safer now given recent shifts in polling?)

NEW: We got consent from 7 unhoused people sheltering along Pandora Ave to hide Apple AirTags in their possessions. This is after years of City of Victoria denying allegations from unhoused ppl & witnesses who said bylaw don't follow their own policies. Now we have proof. Part 1 of 2 stories ⬇️

Renters are vocal, organized and more influential than ever. Politicians are taking note. My piece today on how the tenant movement is influencing Toronto’s election: @thestar.com www.thestar.com/real-estate/...

Former staff say he drove them to tears. Some colleagues call him a bully. But Brad Bradford is betting that this election day, enough Torontonians will be as angry as he seems to be. New from @royinori.bsky.social, a portrait of the man who really wants to be mayor. thelocal.to/brad-bradfor...

A moment of appreciation for the Bloorcourt street signs

Some thoughts on last night’s Kelala show at the Danforth, which was exceptional. Don’t think I’ve heard a louder, more exuberant audience at a venue of that size. For @exclaimdotca.bsky.social

Very big news for Canadian literature. My buddy Zak wrote a beautiful piece on Anne Carson a few years back (she even answered a few of his questions!): www.thestar.com/entertainmen...

Check out the guy who was set to co-host Brad Bradford’s campaign event on Thursday www.thestar.com/news/gta/bra...

Kawhi Leonard is a Raptor and Deerhunter is reuniting… welcome back 2019!

Two episodes into East of Eden. Good stuff so far!

I wonder if she went in

We’ve got a great food and drink guide to Toronto’s Little Manila in the new issue of @thegrindto.bsky.social Comes with a handy map, too! www.thegrindmag.ca/5-essential-...

Stunning artwork here my latest piece in @forwardcanada.bsky.social, which seeks to unravel the separatist belief that Alberta would be more independent as a petro-state that relies almost exclusively on trade with the U.S.

I’ll be chatting with Nyla Matuk about her new novel at TPFF tomorrow afternoon. Details: www.tpff.ca/program-2026...

Which high quality local print magazine with a slime-green-and-yellow front page colour scheme are you reading this weekend? @thegrindto.bsky.social @exclaimdotca.bsky.social

“Where are the Zionist organizations who screech about rising antisemitism in the Palestine solidarity movement, when one of their own basically appears to call for the death of the only Jewish leader of a political party in Canada?”