Despite the holidays approaching, it’s been a busy week here in Ottawa. It seems it will take more than Wednesday’s snowfall to slow this city down.
On transit:
With snow making a few appearances in Ottawa this week, OC Transpo is continuing to prepare for winter. That includes opening the O-Train Lines 2 and 4 South Expansion. TransitNext, the developer contracted for the project, submitted a notice of substantial completion last week, signifying that they have satisfied the terms of their agreement with the City. The City will be reviewing it in the coming weeks and acquiring necessary licensing.
The official opening date will be announced at a technical briefing for media on Friday morning.
The announcement comes as residents of Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood are seeking legal action against the City for a noise issue that has resulted from a piece of retro-fitted rail equipment.
Protestors on the Hill
On Tuesday, Jewish-Canadian protestors occupied the Confederation building on Parliament Hill to demand the Canadian government implement an arms embargo with Israel.
The sit-in involved approximately 100 Jewish protestors from the Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition, including organizers from Independent Jewish Voices. Prayers were held by a rabbi and attendees sang and chanting while preventing MPs from entering their offices.
“Today’s action is grounded in the Torah’s command: ‘Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbour’,” said Rabbi David Mivasair in a press release. “A small, well-funded pro-Israel lobby has hijacked Jewish identity to justify unspeakable atrocities. As Jews, we reject genocide in our name.”
The Ottawa Citizen has the story.
Garbage limits in full effect
The City of Ottawa’s new three-item limit on curbside garbage collection has now entered the final phase of implementation. The policy came into effect on Sept. 30 and after two months of issuing “courtesy tags” and warnings, the limit is now in the final phase.
A memo from Shelley McDonald, director of solid waste services at the City, said this final phase requires that only three garbage items will be collected per household and that collection operators will continue to document cases of “improper setouts” for review by a solid waste inspector.
Data included in the memo showed that in the first week of the policy, 1.79 per cent of properties were tagged for being over the limit. In the most recent week available, which was from the second week of November, that number decreased to 0.98 per cent.
The memo also said that since the policy was implemented in September, the City has received approximately 606 service requests for illegal dumping. This is not a large increase, said McDonald.
Crime round-up:
Ottawa police are investigating after a woman was reportedly shot in the Mooney’s Bay neighbourhood late Tuesday.
In a news release, police said the incident occurred in the 2800 block of Riverside Drive just before midnight. Paramedics confirmed the victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition from a gunshot wound.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
The Ottawa Citizen is following.
A man was caught watching a pornographic film while driving on Hwy. 417 on Monday, police have said.
The 38-year-old was seen by police driving with his phone resting behind his steering wheel while driving near March Road, police said. He was fined $615 and three demerit points.
CityNews is reporting on this.
And Ontario’s police watchdog agency is investigating the Nov. 28 death of an 18-year-old woman who fell to her death from a Lowertown apartment building.
In a media release, the Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said officers made their way to her apartment building, located in the area of Murray Street and Beausoleil Drive, after receiving a 911 call concerned for the woman’s wellbeing.
Officers spoke to her via phone, and then while officers were at the door of the teenager’s apartment unit, other officers located her at the base of the apartment building. Despite lifesaving efforts, the woman was declared dead shortly after, said SIU.
Meanwhile, the victim of a fire in a Nepean bungalow on Oct. 8 has died in hospital, police have said. The home at 96 Rossland Ave. happened around 3:45 a.m. and paramedics treated one man and one woman for burns and smoke inhalation. The woman died in the burn unit of a Toronto hospital on Nov. 22.
Police say the fire is being investigated as arson connected to the Alkhalils, an international crime family.
CBC News has this one.
Three people have been charged in the October abduction of a youth in the east end of the city. They face a long list of charges in connection with a kidnapping, robbery and extortion, police said this week.
In a press release, police said the victim, a youth, was picked up by a suspect and brought to a residence in Orléans, where the victim was confined to a residence, assaulted and video-recorded as the accused individuals demanded money. The victim’s name and other details are covered by a publication ban.
On Oct. 25, a 17-year-old was charged in connection with the incident. On Nov. 13, poice executed a search warrant, which resulted in the arrest of two more people.
The Ottawa Citizen has the whole story.
In Other Headlines:
- Dr. Vera Etches appointed head of CHEO (Ottawa Citizen)
- Snow blankets Ottawa with city vehicles out plowing, salting (CityNews Ottawa)
- Abdi’s behaviour on day of arrest points to schizophrenia, inquest hears (CBC News)
- Here’s how many drivers the OPP nabbed in eastern Ontario during the first week of the Festive RIDE (CTV News)
- Screams for help lead firefighters to adult and child in burning townhome (CBC News)
- Strong support for speed cameras near schools in Ottawa, data shows (CityNews Ottawa)
- VideoDoctors in Ottawa are seeing a surge in ‘walking pneumonia’ cases this year (CBC News)
- Convoy organizer Steeve Charland found guilty of mischief (CBC News)
- Ottawa Public Health to start sending notices to students without updated immunization records (CTV News)
