Queen’s Park reporter for The Trillium. Sleek, vigilant puma. jack@thetrillium.ca | Signal: jackhauen.33https://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3mlduan5p622yICYMI: Metrolinx has settled, for an undisclosed amount, a $500 million expropriation dispute with a development group that includes a close friend of Premier Doug Ford. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/ford-friends-company-settles-500m-air-rights-expropriation-dispute-with-metrolinx-1224771108 May 2026 13:41 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlduan5p622yhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3mjncct2nv22pPremier Doug Ford said he will not ban companies from charging two people different prices for the same item, saying that doing so would be “socialism.” #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news/government-finance-and-the-economy/socialism-does-not-work-ford-says-no-to-ban-on-personalized-algorithmic-pricing-1215320816 Apr 2026 20:56 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjncct2nv22phttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3mjmzldksac2wMetrolinx said it fired the German partners who were supposed to take over GO trains because they couldn't meet deadlines. Internally, however, the group found they were waiting on several key tasks being "blocked" by Metrolinx. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/metrolinx-blocked-key-tasks-then-fired-partners-for-missing-deadlines-report-1213377716 Apr 2026 18:20 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjmzldksac2whttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3mhdwkv5smc22New: Metrolinx's plan to run more frequent, shorter GO trains is now “unlikely to materialize” after it fired the European partners who planned to make it happen, according to a draft of the agency's internal fleet strategy. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/shorter-more-frequent-go-train-plan-unlikely-to-materialize-leaked-document-1200259618 Mar 2026 16:42 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhdwkv5smc22https://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3mhaxe7cjjs2bNew: Ontarians could be waiting another decade or more before they can hop on an electric GO train. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/metrolinx-could-run-first-electric-go-trains-in-2036-leaked-document-1200251217 Mar 2026 12:18 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhaxe7cjjs2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3mh6yezvwks2kNew: Metrolinx’s GO train fleet is in "poor" condition and assets could "begin to fail" this year, according to an internal draft report. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/go-trains-in-poor-condition-assets-could-begin-to-fail-this-year-leaked-document-1198811716 Mar 2026 17:31 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh6yezvwks2khttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3mful6jobgc2bNew: The Ford government secretly reduced Canadian content requirements for two of its biggest transit projects, and when confronted, said no policies had changed. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/ford-government-hid-decision-to-lower-canadian-content-requirement-for-new-trains-emails-1193150127 Feb 2026 20:43 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3mful6jobgc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3mfuifqhh3c23New: How Ontario Place almost became a Universal Studios-style amusement park #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/inside-the-pitch-to-turn-ontario-place-into-a-universal-studios-style-amusement-park-1104077427 Feb 2026 19:53 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfuifqhh3c23https://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3mdeafpilsk2cNew: The OPP's anti-rackets branch is investigating Jake's House, another group given millions by the Ford government, including through the Skills Development Fund. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/the-trillium-investigations/opp-investigating-another-group-given-millions-by-ford-government-1179287226 Jan 2026 21:57 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdeafpilsk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3m3uk73sldc25A thread of recent @thetrillium.bsky.social reporting on the Skills Development Fund. #onpoli23 Oct 2025 14:13 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3m3uk73sldc25https://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3m2tycdq3ws2zICYMI: Months before he was labour minister, David Piccini was in Leafs glass seats with a director of a company he later granted $7.5M to. Piccini attended the Parisian wedding of the company’s lobbyist. From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/labour-minister-was-in-leafs-glass-seats-with-director-of-company-he-granted-funding-to-1132993410 Oct 2025 15:28 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2tycdq3ws2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3m2pwfn4g4k2gNew: Ontario's labour minister said he was personally involved in picking “lower-scoring” Skills Development Fund recipients. He held up one whose lobbyist's wedding he attended as an example of a lower-ranked applicant with sizeable impact. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news/politics/labour-minister-says-he-personally-helped-choose-lower-scoring-training-fund-recipients-1132315909 Oct 2025 00:43 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2pwfn4g4k2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3m2oifurujc2fNEW: David Piccini, the minister whose office picks Skills Development Fund recipients, was in Paris this weekend at the wedding of a lobbyist whose clients received millions from that fund. From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social. https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/ontario-labour-minister-attended-lobbyists-wedding-after-granting-his-clients-millions-in-training-funds-1131899908 Oct 2025 11:00 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2oifurujc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3m2kjpuojg22wNew: Clients of lobbying firms with close connections to Premier Doug Ford and his nephew have been hugely successful in applying to the province’s Skills Development Fund. Full analysis: https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/clients-of-lobby-firms-connected-to-premier-his-nephew-given-tens-of-millions-in-training-funds-11312462 #onpoli06 Oct 2025 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2kjpuojg22whttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3m25d27avrc2hNEW: The organization that’s supposed to be making sure the people building your home aren’t cheats, liars or swindlers is asleep at the wheel, Ontario’s auditor general has found. From me and Steve Cornwell. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news/housing/ontarios-home-building-regulator-rubber-stamps-developers-with-major-issues-auditor-general-1128830101 Oct 2025 15:09 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3m25d27avrc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3m25cxx7mac2hBREAKING: The Ford govt has given groups hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars against the advice of civil servants who’d evaluated their applications, per Ontario’s auditor general. @thetrillium.bsky.social has been covering this story in depth. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/politics/ford-government-skills-training-funding-not-fair-transparent-or-accountable-auditor-general-1128828401 Oct 2025 15:07 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3m25cxx7mac2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3m22yepqj2c2jFacing pressure from above, Ontario's psychologist regulator has voted to cut training requirements and allow unlimited exam attempts. It's a fascinating debate. What's more important: the highest bar for mental health docs — or more of them? #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/health/college-looks-to-cut-psychologist-training-requirements-citing-ford-government-changes-1128085930 Sep 2025 16:52 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3m22yepqj2c2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3lzotbyftv22zPremier Doug Ford says speed cameras don't slow people down. They do. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/ontario-to-ban-speed-cameras-fund-other-road-calming-measures-instead-1126503525 Sep 2025 20:49 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzotbyftv22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3lwyv643q3c2bOntario's highest court will now decide whether Doug Ford's government can have its way with three major Toronto bike lanes. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/ford-government-appeals-decision-blocking-its-bike-lane-removals-1111221322 Aug 2025 16:34 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwyv643q3c2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3lwoy3wqfq224The premier thanked Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown for following his lead on RTO, and called on everyone else to follow suit. Not all municipalities are into the idea. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/ford-calls-on-municipalities-to-return-civil-servants-to-office-1108998618 Aug 2025 18:00 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3lwoy3wqfq224https://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3lvqsus542225New: Doug Ford is leaving open the possibility of invoking the notwithstanding clause to remove three Toronto bike lanes. “Let's see what happens at the Court of Appeal, and then we'll go from there." #onpoli #topoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/doug-ford-notwithstanding-clause-toronto-bike-lanes-case-1104037906 Aug 2025 18:07 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvqsus542225https://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3lv73m543lc2bCycling advocates have won. The Ford government's plan to remove three major bike lanes in Toronto violates the Charter, Ontario's Superior Court rules. Story to come. #onpoli #topoli30 Jul 2025 16:55 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3lv73m543lc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3lusshg4owc2iNew: Ontario could make up to $800,000/day from a U.S. electricity surcharge, according to internal estimates. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news/energy-and-the-environment/beefed-up-us-electricity-surcharge-could-net-ontario-800kday-internal-estimate-1099085725 Jul 2025 19:39 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3lusshg4owc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3lusb5t4soc2oMetrolinx facing $8.2 billion in legal claims https://www.thetrillium.ca/insider-news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/metrolinx-facing-82-billion-in-legal-claims-1098571825 Jul 2025 14:30 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3lusb5t4soc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3lu6iroi7qk2uThe Ontario NDP is calling for "urgent action" after an increase in overdoses after CTS site closures. During the recent campaign, I repeatedly pressed Marit Stiles on whether she would reinstate CTS sites. She was noncommittal. thetrillium.ca/insider-news/s…17 Jul 2025 17:53 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3lu6iroi7qk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3lu62qqrx3k22In which a Toronto cop gives $325 tickets to cyclists who slow-roll a changing red light, but two videos beforehand, ignores a driver who slow-rolls a stop sign because he’s a “fair and reasonable person.”17 Jul 2025 13:42 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3lu62qqrx3k22https://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3ltzg6ticik2j62% of Torontonians say main streets should "offer a balance to all road users" including transit, pedestrians and cyclists — but not many PC voters agree. Most Toronto Tories said main streets "should be prioritized for car traffic or parking." #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/most-torontonians-for-building-protected-bike-lanes-poll-1094097615 Jul 2025 17:23 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltzg6ticik2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jackhauen.bsky.social/post/3ltn4lsizkk26After responses about expanding GO train service to Vancouver and an electrification schedule 18,000 years into the future, Metrolinx says GO Transit will no longer respond using AI. #onpoli https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/municipalities-transit-and-infrastructure/go-transit-x-account-will-no-longer-respond-to-riders-with-ai-metrolinx-1092240710 Jul 2025 20:00 +0000at://did:plc:duolrmqltdssfpgbtpp344nn/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltn4lsizkk26