Ontario

Hey y'all! I've lived in southern Ontario for my entire life, but I'm planning to move up north with my wife in a year or so. We want to have a log house built on a forested 5+ acre lot, probably somewhere in the rough vicinity of Gravenhurst.

I've vacationed up north lots, but of course, vacationing is different from daily life. As for work up there, I'm a computational and structural biologist, and will be doing contract work for coding plus small in vitro experiments. Got a client lined up already.

So I'm curious – as a suburban girl with no experience living rurally in a small town like Gravenhurst, what do I need to know?

~~Also... do country diner regulars get discounts?~~ XD

The Narwhal on Bluesky

For a half-century, a pulp mill in northern Ontario has used a tributary of Lake Superior to dispose of its wastewater. With the mill shuttered, the creek is bouncing back, but it’s been through boom and bust before: https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-pulp-mill-blackbird-creek/

Ontario is suspending its promise to add a 25 per cent surcharge on exports of electricity to some U.S. states, Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday afternoon.

"As you know, there's a very strong man in Canada who said he was going to charge a surcharge or tariff on electricity coming into our country. He has called and said he's not going to do that. And it would have been a very bad thing if he did. And he's not going to do that. So I respect that," Trump said.

Thinking of what else someone like me (an older person) could do in order to prepare myself to support Ontario in emergencies. I came across Ontario Corps. Posting it here just in case it is something that interests you.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-corps

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/40374512

Electoral Renewal Canada on Bluesky

Did strategic voting matter in the Ontario Election?

My verdict is that a large number of people DID vote strategically in this election. However, I don't believe it was a determining factor.

It did deliver a massive advantage to sitting MPPs. Let's look at the numbers. (1/6)

🟧 NDP incumbents performed remarkably well.

Avg. NDP candidate: -5.5% (compared to '22) Ridings NDP won in '22: -0.7% Ridings w/ NDP inc. running for re-election: +3.0% (‼️)

This difference is unusual, but it's quite clear that the NDP benefitted >when they had a strong name to rally around. (2/6)

🟥 Liberal incumbents also overperformed.

Avg. OLP candidate: +6.1 Ridings w/ Liberal incumbent running for re-election: +13.4

In all elections, incumbents do have a name recognition advantage, but beating the median by more than 7% is notable. (3/6)

Here's why I think strategic voting was at play. Here is he swing for:

🟧 NDP candidates in OLP ridings: -10.0% (4.5% below avg.)

🟥 OLP candidates in NDP ridings: +0.8% (5.3% below avg.)

I think this shows, when there was a clear name to rally around, a noticeable % of NDP and OLP voters did (4/6)

Here is where I dispel some enthusiasm.

In 2018, if you bundled Liberal and NDP votes into one party, they would have won 82 seats.

In 2022, that number was down to 71.

In 2025, it was 61. Which means that even with "perfect" strategic voting, there would be no majority for the coalition. (5/6)

The fact is that, even as it seems that many Ontarians did attempt to vote strategically, it did not impact the outcome of the election.

If voters are frustrated that a third consecutive Ford government is being upheld by a 40% majority, perhaps we should consider proportional representation. (6/6)

FFRF on Bluesky

Bragging about low vaccination rates during a measles outbreak isn’t a flex—it’s reckless endangerment. Protecting children should come before politics or ideology. Public health isn’t a debate.

Measles 🦠

• highly contagious! One person catching could spread it up to R~0~: ~17 other people, while COVID-19 has R~0~: ~3. That means measles is ~5.67× more contagious than COVID-19.
• is unique in that measles wipes out existing immunity for other diseases. Measles can cause you to become infected to pathogens you were once immune to.
• is caused by a virus, therefore antibiotics are wholly ineffective
• can be vaccinated against 💉

Recognizing and Responding to Measles Symptoms

If you are travelling this spring, remain vigilant for measles symptoms. Measles typically starts with fever; red, watery eyes; runny nose; and, cough; followed by a red rash that spreads from the face to the rest of the body.

If you suspect you have measles while travelling in or returning to Canada:

• Wear a well-fitting medical mask and minimize contact with others.
• Inform a flight attendant, cruise staff, or border services officer upon arrival.

Stay Protected: Get Vaccinated

With measles cases rising worldwide and in Canada, keeping up with routine vaccinations is more critical than ever. Measles vaccination is highly effective in limiting transmission and preventing severe outcomes. If you are unsure of your vaccination status, check with your healthcare provider or local public health unit.

By staying vigilant and working together to increase measles vaccine coverage, we can prevent outbreaks and keep our communities safe against this preventable disease. The measles vaccine is the best way to protect you and your family.

If you think you or a family member has the measles, or you think you’ve been exposed to measles, call your health care provider immediately – do not go to a health care facility or office without calling ahead first

Please go get vaccinated, folks. Vaccines are demonstrated to be safe and effective time and time again.

Unimmunized 159 (89.8%) (from Public Health Ontario)

External links 🖇️

• Digital and Virtual Care Services | Ontario Health

Related article: Measles cases nearly double in Ontario over last 2 weeks, far surpassing last decade's total | CBC News.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/40252119

Fair Vote Canada on Bluesky

How is this democratic?

It's time for proportional representation.

#cdnpoli #onpoli

A political infographic titled 'Ontario votes 2025' compares the popular vote and seat distribution in the Ontario election. On the left, a pie chart labeled 'How we voted (popular vote)' shows: PC (43%), Liberal (29.9%), NDP (18.6%), Green (4.8%), and Other (3.8%). On the right, a pie chart labeled 'What we got (seats)' shows: PC (64.5%), NDP (21.8%), Liberal (11.3%), Green (1.6%), and Other (0.8%). The infographic highlights the discrepancy between votes cast and seats won under the first-past-the-post system.

The Supreme Court of Canada has struck down a Ford government law that restricted political advertising by third parties, such as unions, in the year ahead of a scheduled election campaign.

The top court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the law allowed for political parties’ ads to “drown out” those of third-party groups, infringing on citizens' right to meaningfully participate in the democratic process.

“The information available to voters in Ontario in the year before an election must include the interests, voices and views of different citizens and parties,” reads the majority decision written by Justice Andromache Karakatsanis.

Ombudsman Ontario sur Bluesky

Une jeune de 16 ans prise en charge s’est sentie ignorée après un changement de travailleurs sociaux. Avec son accord, nous avons fait part de ses inquiétudes et elle bénéficie maintenant de l'aide pour se loger, se vêtir et se nourrir. En savoir plus : ow.ly/aaw150V2fUi

Ombudsman Ontario on Bluesky

A 16-year-old in care of a children’s aid society felt that her needs were not being met since she had a change in caseworkers. With her consent, we raised her concerns, and she now has support for shelter, clothing and food. Learn more: ow.ly/sZiV50V2fLy