David Clinton

Canada's universities claim they're underfunded and are at risk of serious financial harm...despite the fact that they're among the nation's wealthiest institutions. And a new report from their representatives pushes some serious disinformation. theaudit.ca/p/assessing-th…

@goingtogetugly @hollyanndoan Nope. I said "as long as the speech itself is never *prosecuted*" not that it can never trigger intervention. And my business metrics analogy simply allowed for decoupling tracking from intervention - not to suggest that intervention should never happen (which would be bizarre).

@davidbclinton @hollyanndoan You are completely contradicting yourself. You started by arguing that the state tracking alleged 'trends' is disconnected from state intervention. Now you're arguing that tracking trends directs state intervention. Also, you're relying on circular argument.

“Even though the Liberal gov’t is pushing hard to provide official agencies with the tools to suppress and punish offensive speech (which they call “hate speech” and “harmful rhetoric”), the vast majority of Canadians of all demographic profiles clearly disagree.” Via @davidbclinton, The Audit open.substack.com/pub/theaudit/p…

@goingtogetugly @hollyanndoan No contradiction. The state would be negligent if it didn't use data tools to identify trends. See NYC's successful broken windows policing policies from the 90's for details. The resulting interventions weren't about speech (or even broken windows)

@davidbclinton @hollyanndoan So now you're saying that tracking 'hate speech' IS about state intervention. That would appear to be a contradiction. Saying "not all hate speech is subjective" is a circular argument. It assumes the validity of the concept of 'hate speech' in the conclusion.

@goingtogetugly @hollyanndoan I would argue that observing a clear growth trend in, say, obviously antisemitic graffiti on Jewish buildings (which is Sec 423 criminal intimidation, by the way) could guide governments to increase security resources. Not all hate speech is subjective.

@davidbclinton @hollyanndoan Does the state track business metrics for no purpose or does it intervene when the metrics don't meet their approval? Business metrics are objective data. Hate speech is a subjective value judgement. It's the opposite of useful data. It manipulates perception of social trends.

@goingtogetugly @hollyanndoan There's nothing wrong with acknowledging that hate speech is nasty and antisocial. And to the extent that it's a useful data proxy for social trends, tracking it can be useful. A state can track business metrics without trying to control commerce, right?

@davidbclinton @hollyanndoan Except endorsing the state tracking 'hate speech' is validating the concept of 'hate speech'.

@goingtogetugly @hollyanndoan That's a good point - and I'm a free speech maximalist myself. But I think there is value in *tracking* hate speech to identify important trends...as long as the speech itself is never prosecuted.

@hollyanndoan Conservatives/non Leftists should come clean on their beliefs about the concept of 'hate speech'.

“It’s pretty clear that things are moving in the wrong direction” Data analyst @davidbclinton assesses institutional corruption in Canada. Chart: Transparency International @anticorruption open.substack.com/pub/theaudit/p…

The true value of foreign aid (via U.S.A.I.D.) according to the New York Times: "Much of the $35 billion it managed in 2024 went to Washington-based contractors, not directly to people in need overseas. The success of many projects was hard to measure." nytimes.com/2026/04/21/us/…

Perhaps Canada just can't build anything anymore. But once upon a time, we knew our place in the larger scheme of things and competed where it made sense. theaudit.ca/p/why-canada-c…

Universities largely automated their research and teaching methodologies to reduce costs and variation. But that means AI will inevitably replace the higher ed services at 0 cost. An insider's overview of what's happening: hollisrobbinsanecdotal.substack.com/p/attention-is…

@ronmortgageguy And municipal planners in Toronto are working hard to hard code the end of urban home ownership as we speak...one neighbourhood at a time: theaudit.ca/p/municipal-pl…

Let's Just Admit It: All Levels Of Government Have Worked To Destroy The Type Of Housing Most People Actually Want For the majority of Canadian they're dream of Homeownership is still a Single Family Home But we don't build many anymore And it's clearly intentional 2/

@MareadelPortill @mattgurney Could you give me an example (that's not operating in the shadow market or that wasn't grandfathered in - like the Shouldice Hernia Hospital in Toronto)?

@davidbclinton @mattgurney The Canada Health Act (CHA) "allows" for-profit delivery of services that are covered by the CHA. For example, physicians provide for-profit delivery of services that are covered by the CHA.

One of my favourite health-care experiences in Canada (in a bad way!) was having a potential medical situation that was serious but NOT an emergency. No GPs or walk-ins available. ER wasn't appropriate. Called the Ontario telehealth line. After a long wait, got a nurse. 1/3

@MareadelPortill @mattgurney The Supreme Court disagrees with that, limiting their Chaoulli v. Quebec - 2005 decision to just Quebec. But in any case, province health transfers can be penalized for-profit delivery of services that are covered by the CHA.

@davidbclinton @mattgurney The 1984 Canada Health Act (CHA) does not apply to for-profit healthcare. The CHA applies to Provinces and Territories only. Only a Province or Territory can contravene the CHA.

@mattgurney I wrote about how for-profit healthcare had effectively sidestepped the Canada Health Act years ago: theaudit.ca/p/the-canada-h…

I asked her point blank if she was actually going to be able to help in any way or if she was basically just a PR exercise. And she sighed heavily, there was a long pause, and then she told me that there was very, very little chance she'd be able to help. It was ER or bust. 2/3

Oxford University researchers have discovered the densest element yet known to science... The new element, Governmentium (symbol=Gv), has one neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called pillocks. Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A tiny amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second, to take from 4 days to 4 years to complete. Governmentium has a normal half-life of 2 to 6 years. It does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganisation in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganisation will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration. This hypothetical quantity is referred to as a critical morass. When catalysed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium (symbol=Ad), an element that radiates just as much energy as Governmentium, since it has half as many pillocks but twice as many morons.

Anyone who cares about Canadian government waste and corruption should take a good look at the work done by @idiom_bytes

Welcome to Canada's Indigenous Province Join me as we look at a comparison of Indigenous Province, to the rest of Canada's Provinces🧵 The algo is killing the reach, so appreciate the share

Why be surprised so few Candians vote? First Nation bands can derail national projects, Quebec gets far more than its share of seats in Parliament and Senate, and the Prime Minster decides who will occupy thousands of the most powerful jobs in the country. theaudit.ca/p/are-undecide…

@TheophanesRex @TheReclamare That worked both ways. Great to be introduced to your fascinating work!

@TheReclamare @davidbclinton Followed.

Another good post from @davidbclinton on immigration - theaudit.ca/p/plugging-ann… I know you know this stuff @TheophanesRex but David is a good sort to follow, if you don't already