In 2026, this personal blog will begin its 19th year. Financial contributions from readers keep the lights on. If you judge IN-SIGHTS to be worthwhile, please contribute by clicking on this post and following the link provided.
18 years
Urban challenges
I’ve been reading two books: Broken City by Patrick Condon, and Happy City by Charles Montgomery. Both are compelling and deeply researched, and each offers practical, evidence-based ways to improve urban life.
Lessons from Finland.
At the Canada West Forum website, you’ll find a video contrasting two very different responses to homelessness. It shows formerly unhoused people in Finland now living securely and comfortably in permanent homes — a testament to that country’s commitment to long-term solutions. The video also examines American efforts to provide compact, temporary shelters — an approach that may offer short-term relief but is far less effective for people facing chronic housing instability. The Finnish model is explained by Juha Kahila, who will be a featured participant in the upcoming online Canada West Forum event, Housing: The Affordability Challenge.
BC’s uncomfortable political reality — REDUX
The material below the separator line was first posted at IN-SIGHTS in April, 2013. Today, an acquaintance reminded me about Sean Holman’s important work across many years. In the early days of […]
Darlene Marzari on local governments
UBC Professor Patrick Condon used Facebook to circulate an opinion from former NDP Minister of Municipal Affairs, Darlene Marzari. It had been published in BC Orders of the Day, a journal for BC MLAs.
Housing and homelessness online forum – February 23
Affordable housing is a major problem, with many Canadians struggling with high costs and the inadequate supply of suitable homes. These struggles can impact health, happiness, and financial stability, and may lead to homelessness and a cycle of housing insecurity. Can this situation in Canada be changed? Can we learn from other regions? The answer to both questions is a resounding YES!
MAGA deals with climate change
White House For Sale — Trump’s Profiteering Hits $4+ Billion
The New Yorker is one of many prestigious properties owned by the Newhouse Family. Their wealth is estimated at about C$33 billion. So if one of the most respected journalists working for […]
From A Reader
In 1814, soldiers from British North America (the precursor to modern Canada) were part of the military force that burned Washington DC. 2025 saw the end of a peaceful friendship between two neighbours that lasted over 150 years
After words of the Presidente-for Life
This is a response from A. Reader to Mr Stewart’s comment at the post Middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.,,
Immigration questions
Different questions asked and answered in different countries.
About Canada’s sick neighbour
One of the most articulate critics of Donald Trump and his warriors is Boston College historian Heather Cox Richardson. Below the separator is the text of her recent Substack post:
Middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu
A friend who worked in the PMO years ago says Mark Carney was known in Ottawa as a straight-shooter who often wrote his own speeches and did so very quickly. He didn’t need speechwriters for this admirable address to important people in Davos.
Affordable housing is a major problem, with many Canadians struggling with high costs and the inadequate supply of suitable homes. These struggles can impact health, happiness, and financial stability, and may lead to homelessness and a cycle of housing insecurity.
Towering arrogance in the White House
I generally avoid spending money on American publications, but The Atlantic remains indispensable. Today, staff writer David A. Graham describes a deeply dangerous individual whose towering arrogance convinces him he understands the world better than anyone alive…
Wealth inequality — How did it get so extreme, and what can we do about it?
Wealth inequality is a lot like the climate crisis. Both are slow-moving train wrecks of immense proportions. Just as climate change is wreaking societal destruction around the globe, so is wealth inequality. Society tends to think they can ignore these problems, until they can’t anymore.
Fascism
Spectres of Fascism, Historical, Theoretical and International Perspectives is a book edited Dr. Samir Gandesha, Director of the SFU’S Institute for the Humanities. It was published in 2020 but is drawn from a free school presented at the Institute in 2017. The following is taken from Professor Gandesha’s foreword:
USA’s mad Health Secretary
Kennedy, who is a nephew of late US President John F Kennedy, openly opposes the use of vaccines and has also backed several conspiracy theories, including on so-called chemtrails allegedly left by airplanes. He has repeatedly been accused of spreading vaccine misinformation and dubious theories on health. He also often promotes the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism.
One individual driving change
MacKenzie Scott is one of the world’s wealthiest women, despite living away more than US$19 billion. In 2020, she issued a statement that began with this…
You can’t have Housing First without having housing first
Finland is the only country in the European Union where homelessness has been decreasing. The small Nordic country is hailed as a model for homelessness work and Finnish expertise is in high demand. One of the factors behind Finland’s success is the Y-Foundation, whose human yet effective operating model is internationally unique…
in-sights.ca 
Oh! Right! Add just one detail and it all makes sense. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-teases-wild-plan-to-cash-in-on-airport-named-after-himself/ https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-2675277121/ Trump files trademarks aimed at making millions…