[wopchop]

CBC is reporting Carney will tap Gregor Robertson to head the housing file. He was Vancouver mayor for 10 years so he's got good experience, but not sure the mayor of one of the world's most expensive housing markets is a great fit here. Doesn't inspire much confidence.

Mayors are bit players in the housing situation.

Yes, they have a role but there is more responsibility at the Provincial level, and even Federal.

Much of the criticism in Vancouver against his policy was against rising development fees, but the Metro counter-argument was that they had no other choice if they wanted to raise money to pay for necessary infrastructure to accommodate the growth.

Financing of that could be better supported by the Province and even the Federal government. Cities, which run balanced budgets, are simply not able to finance huge capital projects in the same way as the Province or Federal government's, and they currently have no adequate way to meet the demand. It's the same situation here in Ontario.

If the Federal government is going to keep immigration at x level, then there needs to be an understanding that federal tax dollars need to flow concurrently to the right areas to support the growth. This has not happening properly at all for the last decade.

 

[zang]

Ehh, I think AI is only going to grow in importance.

Perhaps some forms of machine learning, but not Generative AI (all the hype we currently just call AI).

I beg you to read some of the writings of tech critic Ed Zitron on the subject. Generative AI is massively unsustainable (not just ecologically, but financially), and is on the precipice of a major crash. The major players in AI are just burning through insane amounts of VC cash at the moment, and show no signs of profitability in either the short or long term. Microsoft and other big funders of AI startups have dramatically cut back on support and funding for AI companies they were gung-ho about for years beforehand.

Creating a "Ministry of AI" in 2025 will be looked back on as akin to creating a ministry of NFTs would have been in 2022.

 

[wopchop]

Refreshing to hear PM talk about what is required.

 

[Northern Light]

Refreshing to hear PM talk about what is required.

Agreed.

I thought she (Kapelos) spent a bit too much time on the conventional energy file.

I would have liked to see a bit more on 'Productivity'; 'Venture Capital', the labour market, (why do we still have a program for low-wage, non-farm, TFWs with unemployment approaching 7%?) and other Canadian challenges.

Also, how do we not only raise the overall level of wealth, but insure a slightly greater proportion ends up with low and lower-middle income earners, particularly through wages, as opposed to government transfers, but inclusive of the latter.

 

[wopchop]

Agreed.

I thought she (Kapelos) spent a bit too much time on the conventional energy file.

I would have liked to see a bit more on 'Productivity'; 'Venture Capital', the labour market, (why do we still have a program for low-wage, non-farm, TFWs with unemployment approaching 7%?) and other Canadian challenges.

Also, how do we not only raise the overall level of wealth, but insure a slightly greater proportion ends up with low and lower-middle income earners, particularly through wages, as opposed to government transfers, but inclusive of the latter.

She seemed to be looking for a gotcha moment that could translate to later views.

I am not sure if you have read his book, but Carney certainly believes in balancing the overall level of wealth. He is against unchecked free market capitalism. So I think he would agree with your latter paragraph in principle.

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

I am glad to see that Freeland remains in the wilderness of interprovincial trade and transport.

I assume Freeland is in charge with lifting interprovincial trade barriers, which is far from the wilderness and actually probably one of the most important files Carney has targeted in his first months of office.

 

[Midtown Urbanist]

I still find it hilarious we not only have a Minister of Artificial Intelligence but that the minister responsible is...checks notes....Evan Solomon.

Toronto Centre rookie Evan Solomon named minister of AI and digital innovation

See the other Toronto winners and losers from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet announcement

www.torontotoday.ca

What has Solomon said about AI?​

During a candidates' debate in Toronto Centre, Solomon said regulating AI “is the singular most difficult technological challenge” facing governments today, and that the emerging technology presents “great opportunities and great risks.”

He stressed the need for Canada to invest in AI in order to “not get left behind,” but that AI development must be done “responsibly.”

With the advent of ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies, experts and advocates have raised concerns about job automation, the use of AI in warfare and how reliance on AI may be affecting social connections and critical thinking.

Canada came close to passing a regulatory framework for AI under the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act but the bill died when Trudeau resigned and prorougued Parliament. The United Kingdom government has had a parliamentary under-secretary position for AI and digital government since 2023.

At least it seems it is a topic he has been thinking about a lot, even on the campaign trail?

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

Perhaps some forms of machine learning, but not Generative AI (all the hype we currently just call AI).

I beg you to read some of the writings of tech critic Ed Zitron on the subject. Generative AI is massively unsustainable (not just ecologically, but financially), and is on the precipice of a major crash. The major players in AI are just burning through insane amounts of VC cash at the moment, and show no signs of profitability in either the short or long term. Microsoft and other big funders of AI startups have dramatically cut back on support and funding for AI companies they were gung-ho about for years beforehand.

Creating a "Ministry of AI" in 2025 will be looked back on as akin to creating a ministry of NFTs would have been in 2022.

...or the Ministry of Metaverse somewhere in between. >.<

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

Refreshing to hear PM talk about what is required.

I read the last bit as, "No, I don't trust him. But he can't hear me say that!" An informed reporter would of understood that...

 

[Towered]

Refreshing to hear PM talk about what is required.

I'm so relieved that this guy won the election. He reeks intelligence, and it leaves me feeling positive about what he'll do for Canada. He's like the anti-Trudeau.

The journalist annoyed me. She seemed needlessly provocative and kept trying to get him to say things that could be controversial. He didn't take the bait.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

^She seem to be asking things that are important to conservatives. And eff everyone else... /sigh

 

[guavadelic]

Gregor Robertson appeared on CBC's Power & Politics yesterday.

Not the best start to his tenure IMO. He spent most of the interview being defensive about Vancouver's housing crisis and was blaming other levels of government for Vancouver's housing situation. Sort of the inverse of Trudeau saying housing was a municipal responsibility, but nonetheless a departure from Carney's position of needing a Team Canada approach to housing and stopping the blame game. This is one of the cabinet posts that requires being able to clearly communicate the government's goals regarding this file and he doesn't seem the best at it. A clear downgrade from Sean Fraser and NES in that aspect.

Today's comments to media outside the cabinet meeting didn't help either, which are attracting a ton of negative comments online.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1922667874126106746

It could just be that communication isn't his strongest suit, and he's better at getting things done behind the scenes but only time will tell.

Despite the criticisms I thought Trudeau's government was making important progress on the housing file the last couple years under Fraser, using the Housing Accelerator Fund to get cities across the country to make important housing reforms in exchange for funds. Fraser was aggressive in pressuring various city councils to enact these reforms if they wanted those funds. Carney will require his housing minister to reach agreements with cities to reduce development charges by 50%. Will Robertson be as firm as Fraser in dealing with cities? We'll see.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

Pointing fingers and playing apologist isn't going to provide adequate housing for everyone if that's the goal of this government...

 

[Admiral Beez]

Gregor Robertson appeared on CBC's Power & Politics yesterday. "When asked if house prices need to go down, new Housing Minister Gregor Robertson said,
"No, I think that we need to deliver more supply, make sure the market is stable, it's a huge part of our economy. We need to be delivering more affordable housing."

How does Robertson think supply and demand work? Delivering more supply will bring prices down. Do they vet these cabinet candidates for basic economics?

 

[afransen]

I'm so relieved that this guy won the election. He reeks intelligence, and it leaves me feeling positive about what he'll do for Canada. He's like the anti-Trudeau.

The journalist annoyed me. She seemed needlessly provocative and kept trying to get him to say things that could be controversial. He didn't take the bait.

I think it's good for Carney to be challenged. And it's not just you who is taking away the impression that Carney is competent and smart. Canada is very lucky that the stars aligned that Carney could spare us from 4 years of Poillievre. It may well be that PP is the next PM, but the next 3-4 years will hopefully season him further and require him to elevate his rhetoric from child-like slogans.