A pedestrian is lucky to alive after being struck by a vehicle on highway 417 eastbound just past Vanier yesterday afternoon. The highway was closed for over an hour while police attended to the cleanup and investigation.

The pedestrian appeared to be attempting to cross the road when he was struck. A secondary collision occurred involving at least one more vehicle. No motorists were injured in either collision and the pedestrian was transported to hospital miraculously in non-life-threatening condition.

Police reopened the highway for the afternoon rush-hour and have not released what charges, if any. will be laid.

West Jet flight attendants have issued a 72-hour strike notice to the airline after 11 months’ worth of on-going negotiations have failed. CUPE, the union representing the workers, says a pivotal demand is that flight attendants get paid from the time they check-in to the time they clock-out as opposed to being paid by flight time.

The office of the Minister for Jobs and Families released a statement saying that an agreement can still be reached even with a strike or lockout and the parties can and should come to an agreement at the bargaining table. The Feds could force binding arbitration in this case and have suggested the parties could use the Federal Conciliation and Mediation Service to help with negotiations.

The Strike could take effect August 2nd at 12:01 am Pacific time and West Jet is offering free cancellation and rebooking options.

The Ottawa Police Service Robbery Unit has arrested and charged a man after a retail robbery in downtown Ottawa. Police allege 34-year-old David Charette entered a convenience store in the 100 block of Rideau Street on July the 28th around 7:30am.

Police say the man demanded merchandise from the store clerk and when he was refused, he assaulted a staff member, took the items and fled. Patrolling police officers located the suspect a short time and a short distance later and arrested him without further incident.

The suspect is charged with:

• Robbery
• Breach of Probation
• Uttering Threats

On-line passport renewals for some Canadians have existed since 2024 with a daily cap of 2000 applications.

The federal government had announced that now all Canadians over the age of 16 can renew their passports on-line. Canadians will need to be inside Canada when they apply on-line and applicants will still have to submit a professionally taken digital passport photo which meets passport specifications.

Passports can be renewed on-line within six months before their expiry date and the standard of service is expected to be 20 days for your passport to be received in the mail. If it is not received within 30 days, your application fee will be refunded.

A total of 10,006 federal public servants have applied to accept the early retirement packages offered by the federal government.

The federal government sent out the early retirement offers in December in an effort to reduce costs and shrink the size of the federal public service. Employees aged 50 and older with at least two years of pensionable service and a minimum of 10 years of employment are eligible to retire early and receive their full pensions without any penalty for early retirement.

The Treasury Board has not announced a target number for staff reductions within the federal public service but it confirmed that, to date, 6,855 applicants have met the eligibility requirements for early retirement, while the remaining applications are still undergoing review. The deadline for applications was last Tuesday.

Eleven Eastern Ontario MPPs are questioning whether the province should support the federal megaproject high-speed rail line from Toronto to Quebec City. The province also appears to be reconsidering its support. This comes shortly after the federal government rejected the provincial plan to expand Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto.

Federal Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon says the federal government and the province are working well together on the $60 to $90-billion project, along with a number of other important economic initiatives, and that work will continue.

Alto says the project is subject to one of the most comprehensive public consultation processes in Canadian history, adding that it remains willing to listen to local concerns and feedback received through those discussions.

The City of Ottawa has announced a number of events to mark its 200th anniversary. September 26th Marion Dewar Plaza at City Hall will be available for free to the public to enjoy what Council is calling the “Ottawa 200 Block Party”.

Performances and entertainment include:

– 2025 Ottawa Awards Hip Hop Artist of the Year Cody Coyote

– Eclectic francophone singer-songwriter Mehdi Cayenne

– DJ-forward cultural programming from NO DEF Collective

– Franco-Ontarian pop songstress Jessy Lindsay

– Dynamic drag performance duo Sunshine Glitterchild and Saltina Shaker

– Ottawa-born pop and R&B artist Duava

– Acoustic blues/roots duo The Blind & The Beautiful

Local food and beverage vendors will be in attendance with a number of experienced planned which will focus on Ottawa’s history.

Two Ottawa men in their 20s are facing drug trafficking-related charges following a police investigation that culminated in the execution of multiple search warrants across the city. The Ottawa Police Service said members of its Guns and Gangs Unit led the investigation, targeting suspected drug trafficking activity in the community.

On July 22, officers, assisted by the Ottawa Police Tactical Unit and the Central Neighbourhood Resource Team, carried out coordinated searches at several locations in Vanier and the ByWard Market and arrested two suspects. During the searches, investigators seized a quantity of cocaine, hydromorphone pills, cash, and a variety of items believed to be associated with drug trafficking operations.

Following the investigation, both men were charged with Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000 and Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking. Police have not released the identities of the accused. The arrests and seizures form part of ongoing efforts by Ottawa Police to combat illegal drug activity and gang-related crime throughout the city.

Ottawa Police charged a 36-year-old Ottawa man with sexual assault following an investigation by the Service’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit. Investigators announced the charge and said they are now appealing to the public for information, believing there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward. The accused worked as a rideshare driver for both Uber and Lyft in and around the Ottawa area.

Police said the charge stemmed from an ongoing investigation into allegations involving the accused. While details surrounding the incident have not been publicly released, investigators noted that the nature of the accused’s employment has raised concerns that other individuals may have had contact with him while using rideshare services. As a result, detectives are actively seeking to identify and speak with anyone who may have information relevant to the case.

Authorities are urging anyone who believes they may have been a victim, or anyone with information that could assist investigators, to contact Ottawa Police. The public safety warning comes as officers continue to investigate the allegations and determine whether additional offences may have occurred. Police emphasized that reports from members of the public could play a key role in advancing the investigation and ensuring the safety of the community.

Motorists travelling through South Glengarry were forced to find alternate routes when emergency crews responded to a vehicle fire at a busy rural intersection. 

The South Glengarry Fire Department was dispatched to the intersection of County Road 17 and County Road 27 following reports of a pick-up truck fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters arrived on scene and began efforts to contain and extinguish the blaze while ensuring the safety of motorists in the area. 

The highway was shut down for several hours yesterday as emergency responders remained on scene once the fire was extinguished for the investigation and cleanup. No injuries were reported.

Police say a truck driver fell asleep while driving a big rig on highway 416 in the south end very early yesterday morning. Police allege the trucker fell asleep and crossed the centre median near Bankfield Road around 4:30 am and travelled in the wrong direction for several hundreds of metres. 

Other drivers called 911 and police were dispatched to the area. The driver came to and stopped his truck heading northbound in the southbound lanes. Police arrived on the scene and shut down the highway to investigate the incident and arrange for the safe relocation of the transport. 

The driver was charged with Careless Driving, which includes a $490 fine and six demerit points.

Ottawa Police Service has confirmed that two youths have been charged in the stabbing of a 55-year-old father at Craig Henry Park in Nepean on Thursday evening. 

The incident was reported to be an altercation between several teenage girls, one of which was the daughter of the man. City Councillor Sean Devine said the father tried to intervene in the altercation when he was stabbed. 

Police said the investigation is on-going and there is no further threat to public safety.

Three new by-elections have been announced to take place at the end of August. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney said elections will be held in the ridings  of Toronto Beaches – East-York, Quebec’s Chicoutimi-Le Fjords, and in the British Columbia riding of North Vancouver–Capilano. Advance polling will be held between August 21 to August 24. 

The liberals only need to retain one of the three available seats in order to maintain their majority in the House of Commons.

The federal conservatives are calling for the Carney liberals to convene an emergency meeting of the Standing Committee on International Trade to explain the plan to deal with the new US tariff threats. U.S. President Donald Trump released an array of new tariffs set to come into effect within a month. 

These tariffs effectively replace tariffs that the U.S. federal court deemed illegal, forcing their removal which coincided with the announcement of the new tariffs. U.S. officials insist these tariffs are a reaction to ongoing trade disputes and reactions, including the banning of US liquor on some Canadian shelves. 

The conservatives want the federal government to table a written plan at the committee meeting in order to assess the plan and provide their input according to Shuv Majumdar, the shadow minister for Canada-U.S. relations. The PMO‘s office has not commented on the open letter.

More information has now been released on the stabbing of a parent Thursday evening in Craig Henry Park in Nepean. Knoxdale/Merrivale Councilor Sean Devine said the 55-year-old man who was stabbed by a youth, was intervening in an altercation involving several teenage females. 

Divine said one of the teenagers involved in the altercation was the man’s daughter. The man was stabbed twice in the abdomen and rushed to hospital in serious but stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. 

The incident was reportedly non-gang related and two suspects remain in police custody at this time.

Ottawa Police Officer, Acting Staff Sergeant Devon Archer has been awarded the 2026 Ontario Police Association “Hero of the Year Award for his community involvement and commitment to youth. The Police Services Hero of the Year Awards invites members of the public to nominate police for the work they do on behalf of Ontarians, whether it’s an act of extraordinary bravery, a moment of kindness, or a long-standing commitment to the community. 

Archer has organized soccer programs and leagues that have developed into the National Capital Blues Foundation which is an Ottawa-based nonprofit supporting at-risk youth from diverse backgrounds through access to sports, caring mentorship, and resilience-building programs.  

Archer credited his peers and the police service for their support saying that it takes a village to do the work.

Two suspects in a murder in a Perth park in April remain on the run and OPP have released photos of the men.  

Police believe the suspects are in provinces on opposite ends of the country with 34-year-old Joseph Medore believed to be in British Columbia camping in remote areas near Richmond, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Terrace. The other suspect, 28-year-old Brayton Kennedy was seen in the Moncton, New Brunswick area. 

Two other suspects in the case are in custody charged with conspiracy to commit murder and accessory after the fact to murder.

Prime Minister Mark Carney left his meeting with Premiers yesterday confirming that Canada has not ruled out retaliatory tariffs if the new tariffs set to drop in a month actually do come into effect pending on-going CUSMA renegotiation discussions. 

Carney said the new tariffs are both a bargaining chip used by the U.S. to gain leverage in on-going negotiations and a push to create an end game in negotiations. Carney said he believes we do not need to respond to the threats in advance of the deadline but all options are on the table. 

The Conservatives again criticized the government for not getting a deal done in a timely manner.

Ottawa Police Service have concluded their investigation into the discharge of a crossbow within Oreleans city limits that left an arrow lodged in the wall of a residence. Police say that a man turned himself in to an east district police station on June 17th and confessed to shooting the weapon earlier in June. 

Police said the suspect took a shot at a coyote late in the evening of June the 7th while walking home on a trail near Palinhill Drive. Police say the crossbow arrow or bolt as it is known by some, missed the wily coyote, ricocheted off the pavement and struck the house. 

Police and the Crown elected not to lay charges against the shooter choosing a diversion program focusing on accountability through conditions rather than prosecution.

Ottawa Police Service has released its final investigation findings into the murder/suicide that claimed the lives of two young brothers in Ottawa and their Father. Police say that the boy’s divorced father, Mohammed Al-Lami, picked up his 7- and 12-year-old sons for a scheduled parenting session and drove them to a home on Mandevilla Crescent on June 27th. 

Police believe Al-Lami murdered his sons either late in the evening of June 28th or early June 29th. He then proceeded to his dental practice in Iroquois where Police say he intentionally lit the business on fire before departing back toward Ottawa. Emergency crews then responded to a vehicle fire at highway 416 near Rideau River Valley Road where they discovered Al-Lami deceased, pinning the cause of death as a suicide. 

Police indicated Al-Lami operated alone and they also indicated there was a history of intimate partner violence in the relationship along with conflicts relating to parenting arrangements and child support. 

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has adjusted its forecast for home sales and prices for the balance of the year, as home sales and home sale prices continue to decline in 2026. 

The CMHC had forecast an increase in sales and sales prices this year, but factors like economic uncertainty, slower population growth and elevated borrowing costs, are credited for the sluggish market. 

The new baseline forecast predicts 457, 200 home sales in 2026 , down almost 3% from prior estimates. Median prices are forecast at $675, 200, down from the previous forecast average of $679,543.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said he spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday morning, and that the two leaders “agreed to intensify negotiations in the coming weeks.” 

Carney categorized Trump’s latest tariff threat as a series of trade actions that are in violation of the CUSMA agreement between Canada,  U.S., and Mexico. The U.S. and Mexico are heading into a third round of CUSMA review talks this week, but negotiations between Canada and the United States have been stalled. 

On Monday, a senior U.S. administration official said while there is no timeline for formal negotiations to begin, “substantive discussions” have been happening.

After U.S. President Donald Trump explicitly cited Ontario’s alcohol ban as one of the reasons for his plan to impose 50 per cent tariffs on most Canadian goods, Premier Doug Ford says he still won’t be putting American alcohol back on the shelves at the LCBO. 

Speaking during media availability in P.E.I. On Tuesday afternoon, while attending meetings with fellow premiers, Ford said he felt Ontario had led Canada’s tariff response. He cited the ban of American booze and a short-lived electricity surcharge that was in place for 48 hours. 

Ford said Canada has to go on “offence” when it comes to Trump’s tariffs, suggesting that Canada hit the U.S. “tariff-to-tariff.”

The Ottawa Police Service has outlined the events that led up to the deaths of two young boys and their father last month. On June 29, the boys, aged 7 and 12, were found deceased at a home on Mandevilla Crescent. 

The children’s father, who police have identified as 40-year-old Mohammad Al-Lami, was later found dead inside a burning vehicle. The investigation concluded that the boys were killed by their father late in the evening of June 28 or in the early morning hours of June 29. Al-Lami then set fire to his dental practice in Iroquois before dying by suicide inside his vehicle at a carpool lot along the 416 near Kemptville.

 At the mother’s request, the names of the boys will not be released publicly, and police say no criminal charges can be laid because the person responsible is now deceased.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford doesn’t have a clear idea about the future of former cabinet minister Stan Cho. Cho stepped down from his role as minister of tourism, culture, and gaming last week, after promising to reimburse more than $16,000 in hotel expenses. 

New reporting shows Cho had also billed his riding association for thousands of dollars in meals, flights, limo rides, and hotel rooms over the last three years. 

Speaking at an unrelated news conference yesterday, the premier described Cho’s actions as “unacceptable,” but he did not say whether Cho would remain in caucus.

The City of Ottawa is encouraging federal public workers to linger around downtown after they clock out to help ease congestion during the afternoon rush. 

A new ad campaign from the city is set to launch later this summer, with the goal of relieving pressure on OC Transpo buses, the O-Train, and roads across the city. OC Transpo is anticipating an additional 65,000 trips a week into the downtown area this fall, with federal public servants required to be in the office a minimum of four days a week. 

The campaign isn’t strictly about spacing out the rides of commuters heading back home, but also to promote downtown events, restaurants, shops, cultural attractions, and new public spaces.

U.S. President Donald Trump is imposing a new 50 per cent tariff on some Canadian goods, including wine, hockey sticks, and cement after signing a new executive order. The new tariffs are retaliation for what his administration characterized as Canada’s discriminatory trade policies. 

Specifically, the U.S. is taking issue with provincial bans on American alcohol, supply management on dairy, and certain tariffs and quotas on cars imported to Canada from the U.S. 

In a background briefing, a senior administration official said the president is using a section of the Tariff Act of 1930, which is an emergency trade authority that gives the U.S. president the ability to impose additional duties of up to 50 per cent on countries that discriminate against U.S. commerce. The new tariffs are expected to go into effect on August 19.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has selected Alberta MP Dane Lloyd to serve as the party’s referendum lead for Alberta, as the province prepares to vote on a question related to separation this fall. 

Lloyd has held his Parkland riding since 2017 and is a lifelong Albertan. Pollievre is campaigning for Alberta to remain within Canada, and in his announcement confirming Lloyd’s role, he detailed the “legitimate concerns and grievances” that Albertans have with the status quo. 

Last month, Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed Morgan Breitkreutz to serve as the government’s senior adviser on Alberta. He’s set to co-ordinate the federal response to the Alberta referendum, and also help steer major projects like the proposed pipeline to the West Coast.

Ontario’s Emergency Preparedness Minister, Jill Dunlop has announced that mayors, First Nations chiefs, police chiefs, and other government officials in the province can now request messages be distributed to residents on television, radio, and mobile devices on the Alert Ready system. 

That system is used nationwide to alert the public to emergencies such as tornadoes, wildfires, and Amber Alerts. Dunlop said access to the system is being expanded because of this year’s significant wildfire season, and that Alert Ready messages can be sent for situations that present a threat to life or public safety. 

She added that messages proposed by local authorities will be assessed by the province’s emergency operations centre before being sent to the public.

A pair of assaults at the same intersection in Byward Market happened over the weekend. On Sunday, a man was seriously injured at Cumberland and George around 6:00 pm. 

Ottawa paramedics treated a 35-year-old man for a head injury in that assault. The man was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition. That followed an incident on Saturday afternoon, when police responded to the same intersection for reports of an assault with a weapon. 

Paramedics treated a 28-year-old man for a serious but non-life-threatening facial laceration in that attack. Police say investigations into both incidents are ongoing, and no arrests have been made.

Air quality warnings have been lifted from Ottawa, and the smoke from wildfires is expected to subside in some parts of southern Ontario today. Environment Canada says conditions could improve temporarily for some areas today, but persist into the weekend for others. 

Meanwhile, Ontario Emergency Preparedness Minister Jill Dunlop said that 15 communities in the north have started evacuations or are considering them. Dunlop said it’s likely there will be simultaneous evacuations that need to be done by air, with several communities inaccessible by road. 

The minister asked for federal assistance as crews battle more than 180 wildfires burning across northern Ontario.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the federal government plans to spend $2 billion over the next four years on made-in-Canada armoured vehicles. 

Carney announced the deal Thursday in London, Ont., at General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, an aerospace and defence contractor whose parent company is headquartered in the United States. Every vehicle will be built at the company’s Ontario factory with parts sourced from providers across the country, and an estimated 6,000 jobs will be created over the next eight years as a result of the deal. 

The planned addition of 190 armoured combat support vehicles will bring the Canadian Armed Forces’ total fleet up to 550 vehicles. The new vehicles will be used in training exercises at military bases across the country.

Defence Minister David McGuinty is expected to announce next week that Canada will play a role in an international program to build the next generation of stealth fighter jets. 

Government sources say that Canada has reached a deal to join the Global Combat Air Program as an “observer”. The United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy are all partners in the multibillion-dollar program to develop and build sixth-generation fighter jets by 2035. 

At the moment, Canada is still playing catch-up with the fifth generation of fighter jets, and the federal government is reviewing whether it will go ahead with purchasing its full order of 88 F-35s from the United States.

Defence Minister David McGuinty is expected to announce next week that Canada will play a role in an international program to build the next generation of stealth fighter jets. 

Government sources say that Canada has reached a deal to join the Global Combat Air Program as an “observer”. The United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy are all partners in the multibillion-dollar program to develop and build sixth-generation fighter jets by 2035. 

At the moment, Canada is still playing catch-up with the fifth generation of fighter jets, and the federal government is reviewing whether it will go ahead with purchasing its full order of 88 F-35s from the United States.

An orange haze set over much of southern Ontario on Wednesday as smoke from nearly 200 active wildfires in northern Ontario drifted into the region. With the orange skies came an orange warning from Environment Canada about poor air quality. 

At one point yesterday morning, Toronto ranked first in a list of the world’s most polluted major cities, according to a global ranking by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company. The wildfires burning across northwestern Ontario have prompted mandatory evacuations from a number of First Nations communities, including Collins First Nation, located about 200 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, where some people had to flee the area by boat. 

The smoke is expected to cause another day of poor air quality and reduced visibility for much of southern Ontario today, before dissipating on Friday morning.

The City is set to introduce a new bylaw that will require landlords to obtain a licence when issuing an eviction notice for renovations or repairs. 

Council voted 21 – 5 in favour of the bylaw on Wednesday. When the bylaw comes into effect on January 1, 2027, landlords who want to evict a tenant in order to complete renovations will be required to apply for a licence from the City of Ottawa within seven days of issuing the eviction notice. 

Landlords would also be required to obtain a building permit prior to issuing the eviction notice, provide the affected tenant with a City of Ottawa product eviction education guide, and provide the city with details of the rental property and the scope of the construction.

One of the leaders of Alberta’s separatist movement has had his personal and professional bank accounts temporarily frozen. The accounts belonging to lawyer Jeff Rath were frozen as part of a legal dispute over millions of dollars in trust funds that a First Nation alleges were misappropriated. 

Tallcree First Nation Chief Rupert Meneen requested an urgent hearing last week after Rath failed to account for $6 million in retroactive charges to the First Nation’s trust account. The hearing was requested over concerns the funds would be “dissipated, transferred, concealed, or placed beyond reach” before the matter could be heard in the course of normal proceedings.

The full matter will be heard in court later today, and it’s expected that the court will look at extending the temporary order.

An Ontario cabinet minister who represents a riding in North Toronto has promised to reimburse more than $16,000 in hotel expenses. Stan Cho, who serves as the minister of tourism, culture, and gaming, and represents the riding of Willowdale, has billed so-called special circumstances requiring hotel accommodation in Toronto on multiple occasions since 2023. 

Reports of the expenses prompted criticism from opposition parties, who called it an abuse of taxpayer dollars. In a statement, Cho said that his expenses met the criteria for special circumstances under the legislature’s rules for members, but his office did not provide an explanation for why he incurred the expenses. 

The legislature’s website gives a snowstorm as one example of an acceptable special circumstance where hotel accommodations can be expensed by an MP who lives within 50 kilometres of Queen’s Park.

A woman in her 20s is recovering from serious but non-life threatening injuries after being stabbed downtown on Tuesday afternoon. Ottawa paramedics located the victim with stab wounds in the Rideau and Cumberland area around 4:45 yesterday afternoon. 

She was treated on scene before being transported to hospital in critical but stable condition. Ottawa police say officers responded to an intersection two blocks away at Cumberland and Daly, approximately 15 minutes earlier, for reports of a serious assault. 

Both intersections are now part of the same ongoing investigation. No arrests have been made.

Fashion mogul Peter Nygard has been found guilty of sexual assault and forcible confinement. The ruling from a Court of Quebec judge in Montreal came down on Monday after the 84-year-old accepted a plea deal and did not present any evidence in his defence. 

He appeared via video call from an Ontario prison. The case in Quebec is separate from Nygard’s 2023 conviction in Toronto, where he was found guilty of four counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 11 years in prison. 

Nygard, who founded the now-defunct women’s apparel company Nygard International, will appear in court on October 2 for sentencing.

The head of the City’s Emergency and Protective Services has apologized for the fireworks show that lit up the sky last Thursday, much to the surprise of residents and city councillors. The unused fireworks from the rained-out Canada Day show were set off at the end of the first night of Ottawa Bluesfest, but there was no advance word to the public. 

Emergency and Protective Services general manager, Ryan Perrault, originally said the decision not to advertise or notify residents of the fireworks display was made in an effort to avoid additional crowding as Bluesfest was letting out. 

Canadian Heritage also stated the fireworks had already been primed, and disarming them would have posed a safety risk to the fireworks crew. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Perrault said he was sorry for the confusion.

The provincial government will be sending more financial aid to local residents affected by flooding on Canada Day. Ontario’s Municipal Affairs Minister, Rob Flack, confirmed the Disaster Recovery for Ontarians program will be activated for eligible areas in Ottawa that experienced significant flooding. 

In a statement posted to social media, Flack said that, “many families are facing challenging circumstances,” and that the provincial government “is working alongside municipal partners to help ensure affected communities receive the support they need.” 

Flack added that residents facing losses not covered by insurance may be eligible to apply for assistance through the program once it is activated. The minister didn’t specify when residents could start to apply for assistance or which areas may be eligible.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is defending the deal between Canada and the United States to open the Gordie Howe International Bridge, insisting that profits split with the Americans will be minimal. Canada will receive 50 per cent of the bridge’s toll profits in the first 15 years, with the other 50 per cent going into an economic development fund. 

That’s a change from the original agreement signed in 2012, which had Canada pay for the full cost of construction, and then collect 100 per cent of toll profits until the investment was recouped. Despite those changes, Carney called it a “good deal for Canada,” and said the money in that economic development fund will be invested in the U.S. side of the region, which he argues will drive more traffic. 

The bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit is scheduled to open on July 27, and is expected to significantly streamline cross-border trade.

Ahead of the increase in traffic that will come in September, when schools are back in session and federal employees return to in-office work, a new transit plan will be presented to city council for consideration this week. 

The plan aims to enhance express transit routes, optimize traffic flow through signal timing, and expand parking capacity to prepare for the increase of commuters in the fall. City staff have also consulted with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to ensure the ongoing work on the 417 is completed before the fall. 

Council is expected to decide on whether to implement the plan on Wednesday.

Just as Environment Canada lifted its air quality warning Sunday afternoon, it issued a heat warning for Ottawa and eastern Ontario. Smoke from wildfires in Quebec dissipated yesterday afternoon, but now we’re heading into a stretch of hot and humid weather. 

A yellow warning is in place with daytime highs from today through Wednesday ranging from 30 to 36 degrees, with humidex values between 38 and 45. To protect yourself from the heat, Environment Canada recommends drinking water often and before you feel thirsty to replace fluids, turning on air conditioning, using a fan, or moving to a cooler area of your living space and if your living space is hot, head to a cool public space like a cooling centre, community centre, library, or shaded park. 

Temperatures are expected to return to normal by Thursday.

Music fans packed LeBreton Flats Friday night as Ottawa Bluesfest continued with one of its biggest lineups of the festival. Comfortable weather and a lively atmosphere helped create another memorable night for concertgoers as fans filled the festival grounds from the opening acts through the headlining performance.

Rock veterans Limp Bizkit closed out the night on the main stage, delivering a high-energy performance featuring many of the band’s biggest hits. Fans sang along throughout the set, with songs like “Rollin'” and “Break Stuff” generating some of the loudest cheers of the evening.

Earlier in the night, hip-hop pioneers Cypress Hill energized the crowd with a performance packed with classic tracks. Elsewhere, singer-songwriter Steve Earle, Marc Rebillet and Hank Azaria and The EZ Street Band offered a mix of country, rock and comedy-inspired entertainment across the festival’s other stages.

Ottawa Bluesfest continues through July 19 with more major artists still to come, including HARDY, The Lumineers, Lord Huron, Sheryl Crow, Gwen Stefani and The Guess Who. Organizers are expecting strong attendance throughout the remainder of one of Canada’s largest outdoor music festivals.

The Federal government is closing co-working sites in Ottawa, Gatineau and across Canada in September to reallocate the office space to federal organizations now that public servants are required to be in the office four days a week. 

The departments of Global Affairs Canada, Statistics Canada, and Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada have all said that there would be delays in the four day a week return to office mandate for most staff due to lack of office space. Public Services and Procurement Canada are assessing the space requirements of federal departments and agencies and prioritize maximizing the use of existing accommodations before even considering the acquisition of additional space. 

The reallocation of the coworking sites will provide dedicated workstations for affected federal departments who currently do not have the space to accommodate the public servants.

City of Ottawa garbage collection will begin a second sweep of neighborhoods on Monday to pick up debris from the Canada day storm. The city says that so far more than 700 tonnes of storm waste has been collected. 

Despite the current effort, residents have complained of rotting garbage, spoiled food, and sewage contaminated debris sitting on the curb waiting for pick up. The city garbage collectors are moving as quickly as they can to complete the clean up. Residents are encouraged to leave discarded items at the curb. Storm debris can be contaminated and may contain broken glass, sharp objects, mould, or other hazardous materials. 

The city warns that any household content that has not been cleaned and thoroughly dried within 24 to 48 hours should be discarded as they can be a source of mold and bacterial growth.

The US launched new airstrikes against Iran yesterday. Iran has retaliated by targeting US allied countries including Qatar and Kuwait. The strikes came after President Donald Trump said that recent Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz would signal the end of the ceasefire if they did not stop. 

Traffic through the strait had begun to improve with at least 576 ships passing through in June, as opposed to 233 in May. For perspective, more than 3100 ships transited the Strait in June of 2025. 

Trump has suggested that the latest back and forth fighting would not result in lengthy military action but also said that negotiators are wasting their time. However, these negotiations are expected to continue.

A City of Ottawa committee has voted for an anti-renovictions bylaw that landlord groups are calling another layer of bureaucracy. Renovictions are the practice of pushing longstanding tenants out of apartments to replace them with new tenants paying higher rents, using minor repairs or renovations as the pretext. 

Councillors have asked City staff to draw up a bylaw to rein in that practice. The proposed bylaw would require landlords to seek a city licence and prove they have obtained a building permit within a week of issuing an eviction notice for renovations. Landlords will have to inform tenants of their right to return to the unit at the same rent once the renovations are complete. 

Tenant advocacy groups are worried there are too many loopholes with the bylaw, for example landlords are not required to get a report from a qualified engineer or architect to prove an eviction is required to do the work.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has touched down in Saudi Arabia to meet with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The meeting is an effort to seek economic partnerships and to bridge relations. A sitting Prime Minister has not visited the country in 26 years. 

After a diplomatic dispute in 2018 Saudi Arabia withdrew their ambassador in Ottawa. They were restored in 2023. Carney listed multiple “priority sectors” to discuss, including AI; agriculture; tourism; mining; and infrastructure. 

Global affairs Canada says that Saudi Arabia is a valued security and economic partner for Canada and its allies, and that Canada values its strong bilateral relationship, reinforced by high-level engagements.

Some positive news for Marineland. The US government has formally approved an emergency rescue of most of the beluga whales from the now defunct amusement park. 

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada has endorsed the plan which will see the belugas transferred to 4 facilities in the US, including Chicago; San Diego; San Antonio, and Atlanta. The process will take a couple weeks as veterinarians need to evaluate the health of the whales before transport can take place. 

Marineland says it welcomes the relocation as they recognize that they can no longer provide the long-term care these animals require and believe the rescue is in the whales’ best interest. Marineland had threatened to euthanize the 30 belugas in January unless they were granted permission to ship them to the US.

An Angus Reid survey of 275 Canadian manufacturing companies shows that 42 percent of these companies indicated that they have or are considering moving production to the US. Of those relocating, 77% expect to make the transition within the next two years. 

The survey shows that while companies have been making short-term decisions to adapt to trade uncertainty and fluctuating tariffs, they are now forced to make longer term investment decisions. A spokesperson for KPMG Canada said that domestic manufacturers have shown resilience over the last year, but resilience certainly has its limits. 

The survey also found that 57% of manufacturing firms have paused, reduced, or cancelled capital investment projects. Last week, the US said it will not be renewing the Canada-US-Mexico agreement in its current form, but it will stay in place as negotiations continue.

87 Registered nursing positions are being cut from the Queensway-Carleton hospital in Ottawa’s west end. The move is part of a plan to trim one percent of its workforce to address financial pressures. 

The hospital is exploring options to minimize the impact, including transfers, redeployments, and voluntary early retirements. The hospital will in total be losing approximately 160 positions but adding an additional 119 jobs through role mixing and a change in staffing models. 

The Queensway-Carleton Hospital says it has been facing rising costs for drugs, food, supplies, salaries and operating needs while the funding has not kept pace.

Ottawa police are looking for witnesses to come forward to help in an ongoing investigation from an incident on Thursday July 2nd. There was a 14 hour hostage situation on Finlayson Crescent in South March that resulted in a suspect being shot by an officer. 

Investigators are asking anyone who observed suspicious activity in that area between June 29 and July 2 to contact police. The incident began at 7am with reports of a woman being held against her will. After hours of negotiations, the woman was rescued unharmed. 

A 42 year old male suspect is accused of holding a woman at knifepoint, and was subsequently shot by an Ottawa police officer. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The SIU is investigating.

Rogers Communications says it has signed a deal to buy the remaining 25% stake in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment from Kilmer Sports. This would give Rogers 100% ownership. The deal is worth 4.35 billion dollars. 

The MLSE owns the Raptors; the Toronto FC; the Argos; and the Leafs. Rogers Chief Executive Tony Staffieri calls this a defining moment for the company, and that it gives even more opportunity to invest in championship calibre teams, create unique experiences for customers and fans, and unlock long term value for shareholders. 

Last year Rogers closed a separate deal for 4.7 billion dollars with rival BCE to buy their 37.5 percent stake in MLSE.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says he will move a motion at the next city council meeting to help compensate residents affected by basement flooding following the record-breaking rainfall on July 1st. 

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Sutcliffe said his motion would boost the funding to the Compassionate Grant Program, which offers $1,000 to qualified property owners and tenants affected by flooding due to a sewer surcharge event. Nearly 4500 homes were affected by flooding after the storm dropped 120 millimetres of rain. 

After a conversation with Premier Doug Ford, Sutcliffe expects Ontario will allow Ottawa residents to apply for the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians funding. Residents will have four months to apply for funding from when the program is activated.

The federal government has chosen the German-Norwegian consortium TKMS as the supplier of 12 new state-of-the-art submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy. Prime Minister Carney made the announcement saying “These subs will strengthen our defence industrial base, they will deepen our partnerships with trusted allies, and they will open new opportunities for Canadian businesses in European supply chains.” 

The partnership will generate $167 billion in total economic activity in Canada. Prime Minister Carney also states that TKMS is the best choice for Canadian workers as it will directly create and sustain an ecosystem of well over a hundred thousand well-paying jobs across Canada. 

We can confirm this means Canada will receive tens of billions in investment from TKMS. Carney’s government has vowed to meet NATO’s new defence spending target of 5% GDP to be reached by 2035.

Following the Trump administration’s decision to require annual reviews of the Canada US Mexico agreement instead of renewing in its current form until 2042, the Canadian government finds itself uncertain about next steps. 

Canada US trade minister Dominic LeBlanc stated that this is somewhat uncharted territory. It is not typical for this kind of agreement. It was agreed that conversations would continue over the coming weeks. 

Le Blanc said at the conclusion of their July 1 conversation, we suggested bringing some structure and rigour to the review process the Americans have proposed. How those annual reviews will be conducted is yet to be determined.

Several Ottawa city councillors and MPPs are calling on the province to make disaster funding available for residents facing financial burdens after the Canada Day storms. 

More than 3200 basements were flooded and groups all over the city were forced to cancel activities due to flooded roads and downed trees. Knoxdale-Merivale councillor Sean Devine is calling on the government to activate the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program aimed at helping those who are uninsured or underinsured to recover costs associated with natural disasters. 

Financial help would be capped at $250,000 per application.

Prime Minister Carney is expected to announce a decision later today regarding the procurement of a new submarine fleet for the Royal Canadian Navy. 

2 companies are vying for the contract. One is the German-Norwegian consortium TKMS; the other is South Korea’s Hanwha. The contract is to build 12 new submarines. The newly created Defense Investment Agency is responsible for evaluating the bids. Currently, only one of the Navy’s existing 4 Victoria class subs are operational. 

The others are undergoing maintenance. Following the expected announcement, Prime Minister Carney will be heading to Turkey for the Nato Summit this week.

Canada’s men’s national soccer team’s World Cup journey came to an end Saturday after a difficult 3-0 loss to Morocco in the Round of 16. Entering the match with hopes of continuing its impressive tournament run, Canada struggled to find momentum against a disciplined Moroccan side that controlled key moments of the game and capitalized on its opportunities.

Morocco showed why it has emerged as one of the tournament’s strongest teams, applying pressure early and maintaining a well-organized defensive structure throughout the match. Canada worked to create offensive chances and attempted to push the pace, but found little room against Morocco’s compact defensive play and quick transitions. The Canadians battled throughout the contest but were unable to generate the breakthrough needed to shift momentum in their favour.

While the result brings Canada’s World Cup campaign to a close, the tournament represented another important step for the national program on the international stage. Canada showed resilience and determination throughout its run, earning victories and valuable experience against top competition. Although the loss ends hopes of advancing further, the team’s performance throughout the tournament continues to highlight the growth of Canadian soccer and the program’s increasing presence among the world’s top nations.

Canada’s men’s national soccer team will face one of its toughest tests of the tournament when it takes on Morocco in a highly anticipated World Cup Round of 16 matchup. Riding the momentum of a strong tournament performance and a hard-fought victory to reach the knockout stage, Canada enters the match with growing confidence but understands the challenge ahead against a disciplined and dangerous Moroccan squad.

Morocco arrives in the contest with a reputation for defensive organization, speed on the counterattack and an ability to frustrate opponents. The North African side has continued to establish itself as one of the strongest emerging programs in international soccer and has already shown throughout the tournament that it can compete with top-level opposition. Canada’s attack will need to find ways to break through a compact defensive structure while limiting Morocco’s opportunities in transition.

For Canada, the match represents another opportunity to continue what has already become a memorable run on the world stage. The national team has shown resilience, energy and confidence throughout the tournament, earning respect with its aggressive style of play and ability to rise to big moments. A victory would move Canada into the quarterfinals and mark another significant step forward for a program looking to establish itself among the world’s elite soccer nations.

Ottawa Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing man and say there are concerns for his well-being. Investigators are searching for 35-year-old Joshua Simser, who was last seen on June 29 in the area of the Royal Ottawa Hospital on Carling Avenue.

Police have not released additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding his disappearance but say concerns exist for his health and safety. Officers are urging anyone who may have seen Joshua or who may have information regarding his whereabouts to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ottawa Police at 613-236-1222 extension 7300.

Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa were disrupted after powerful thunderstorms and torrential rainfall swept through the nation’s capital, triggering widespread flooding, road closures and power outages across the city. The severe weather moved into the region Wednesday afternoon as thousands had gathered for holiday events, quickly turning streets into rivers and creating dangerous travel conditions. Officials ultimately suspended and cancelled several planned Canada Day activities as conditions worsened.

The storm brought an extraordinary amount of rainfall in a short period of time, with reports indicating more than 100 millimetres of rain fell in some areas, overwhelming drainage systems and flooding roads, underpasses and residential neighbourhoods. Ottawa firefighters responded to hundreds of weather-related calls, including downed wires and electrical hazards, while residents across the city reported flooded basements and widespread property damage. Thousands of customers were also left without power following the storm.

Environment Canada had warned of dangerous weather conditions including damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall and the possibility of flash flooding before the storms arrived. The city has since shifted its focus from emergency response to cleanup and recovery efforts as residents assess damage caused by what many are describing as one of Ottawa’s most significant Canada Day weather events in recent years.

A 75-year-old driver from Alexandria is facing charges after Ontario Provincial Police stopped a wrong-way vehicle on Highway 417 in Ottawa’s east end. The incident occurred near Anderson Road while the eastbound lanes of the highway had been temporarily closed due to a vehicle fire.

Police say the driver became impatient during the closure and made the dangerous decision to travel eastbound using the westbound lanes of the highway. Officers with the Ottawa OPP located the vehicle and safely stopped the driver before the situation escalated.

The driver has been charged with careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act. The offence carries a $490 fine and six demerit points. OPP continue to remind motorists to remain patient during road closures and follow traffic directions to help keep everyone safe.