Wellington Street likely to reopen, dropping the LRT lawsuit

Good morning!

I don’t know what it’s like in your neighbourhood, but by 8 pm our sidewalk had yet to be plowed by the city. The street, meanwhile, has been plowed at least twice. The second time, the plow pushed the street snow into the narrow strip of sidewalk that’s been packed down by numerous feet, so nw long sections are largely impassible on foot. It’s neat!

Hopefully it’s better in your neighbourhood. If it’s not, and you’ve got photos, send them our way — we may run a collage next week if it’s a city-wide problem.

Anyway, we’ve got a lot of news to get through, so why don’t we get to that.

— Robert Hiltz, managing editor

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Weather Report

Friday: -5🌡️ -4 | 🌤

Saturday: -3 🌡️ -14 | ❄️

Sunday: -10 🌡️ -15 | ❄️

Monday: -10 🌡️ -16 | ☁️

CITY HALL

Reopening Wellington, settling with LRT builder

What happened: The return of city council from their winter break brought a flurry of activity. The fate of Wellington Street, whether to continue a lawsuit against the LRT, and much more, were all discussed.

Settling LRT lawsuit: The city has decided to settle its lawsuit with Rideau Transit Group, the private operator of the LRT. Council got a private briefing on the possible terms of the agreement, but full details are not public, CTV reported. Sources told the broadcaster that RTG would hire more workers to keep on top of issues, while the city said it would not pursue efforts to declare the operator in default of its contract.

• The city had sued for $131 million for the failures and delays of the LRT system, and RTG countersued for $225 million. If a judge had declared the private operator in default of the agreement, it could have paved the way for the city to take over operation of the troubled system.

Re-opening Wellington: The transportation committee voted to reopen Wellington Street in front of Parliament to traffic. The reopening will also involve installing a bike lane separated by flex posts, and potentially closing it for events during the summer months as a pilot project. The street won’t reopen until at least March 1, while the city reinstalls traffic lights and other infrastructure. The full council will vote on the plan Feb. 8.

State of the city: Mayor Mark Sutcliffe made a brief speech to open the new year at council. He highlighted the many problems facing the city — the housing and affordability crises, budget pressure, the growth of homelessness — but said he still had hope. “I’m optimistic that by working together we will do the hard work required to tackle these issues and solve these problems,” Sutcliffe said.

• “There's no question that after the convoy and the light rail inquiry, many Ottawa residents finished the year feeling like our collective reputation has been damaged,” Sutcliffe said.

The Lookout’s quibble: Reputational issues, in the face of tangible issues like the LRT failure, are likely less of a concern for residents. The problems revealed by the convoy and the LRT inquiry aren’t that people might think badly of the city, the problem is the city has failed them in tangible ways. People don’t want the city’s reputation to be better, they want the city to be less broken.

Other city hall news

OC Transpo signs incorrect: The city said a number of signs posted to west-end bus stops listing routes that would be cancelled during severe storms were incorrect and should not have been posted. “We do apologize. We know this is frustrating,” OC Transpo tweeted.

Electric bus review: The transit commission will review the city’s plan to only buy electric buses going forward, the Ottawa CItizen reported. The city has federal funding lined up to buy 350 new buses, and the previous council voted to direct staff to move forward, but the new transit commission wants to give a second look at the proposal to make sure the city doesn’t rush into another LRT debacle.

City sues federal government: The city wants to recoup about $22 million from the feds, who they say claimed a provincial tax credit incorrectly to lower the amount they pay the city in lieu of property taxes. The city argues the federal government isn’t a business, and therefore shouldn’t have qualified for the program. [CTV]

Yakety Sax: It looks like at the Feb. 22 council meeting, a brass band will post up outside city hall to play Yakety Sax (the Benny Hill theme), after a GoFundMe raised $500 to hire the necessary musicians. “That the meeting will include the new budget only adds to the necessity for this zany musical leitmotif,” organizer David Hicks wrote.

Is Ottawa disappointing? Mayor Sutcliffe sent out 10 tweets at 6 am yesterday morning denouncing a story based on a dubious study ranking how “overrated” Ottawa — and other cities around the world — was as a tourist destination. Luke LeBrun, editor of PressProgress, did a bit of digging and found the supposed study by a UK gambling outfit, was actually a ploy from a digital marketing company based out of Romania.

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

💸 9,936: The number of parking tickets issued by the city for violating winter parking bans this year. [CTV]

💰 4.5%: The Bank of Canada raised the benchmark interest rate 0.25 percentage points to this level. The bank said it would pause increases to see how the economy reacts. Rates have been on the rise as the bank tries to tamp down inflation. [CBC]

✉️ $292,500: A rare, pre-Confederation Canadian stamp was sold at an Ottawa auction for this much. The 12-Penny Black depicts Queen Victoria and was printed in 1851. [CTV]

HOUSING

Rents increased 18% last year

What happened: Average rent in the city for a new tenant rose 17 percent, according to a new CMHC study. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment that turned over last year was $1,831, compared for an apartment with the same tenant which was $1,520, CTV reported.

The city’s vacancy rate was 2.1 percent, down from 3.4 percent in 2021. Gatineau’s vacancy rate was 0.8 percent in 2022.

• Nearly half of residents, 46 percent, aged 25 to 44 were renting instead of owning.

Cross-Canada problem: Things are slightly worse nationwide, rents rose 18 percent over the last year, with vacancy rates falling to 1.9 percent, the lowest since 2001, CBC reported. The numbers only include rents for purpose-built apartments and don’t factor in condos or other homes being rented out.

Ottawa has the fourth-highest rental price in the country, with a price of $1,625 for a purpose-built two-bedroom apartment. That’s only behind Victoria ($1,699), Toronto ($1,765), and Vancouver ($2,002).

SPONSORED BY PARTICIPACTION

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In contrast, a $2,000 investment in helping an inactive person to become active will pay for itself in less than one year on average, when accounting for the benefits to the overall economy and society.

ParticipACTION inspires and supports Canadians to make physical activity a vital part of their everyday lives.

Now ParticipACTION is calling for renewed funding to help Canadians – of all ages – live happier, healthier lives. See why the funding is so critically needed.

THE AGENDA

🚔 Ottawa police will have an increased presence downtown this weekend for the first anniversary of the convoy. Parking restrictions for certain areas of the core will be in effect.

🔭 Ottawa students at Ottawa’s St. Brother André Elementary School discovered epipens don’t work in space. The students sent the medicine epinephrine on a research balloon and part of it turned into poisonous benzoic acid, thought to be caused by cosmic radiation. [CTV]

🚨 The OPP arrested a suspect and charged him with second-degree murder. Police found a person in Eganville dead in their home on Wednesday. [CBC]

⚖️ An Almonte man who has been suing the town for years has been declared a vexatious litigant by a judge, and must now get approval from a judge before filing any new lawsuits. The man said he would appeal the ruling. [Ottawa Citizen]

😷 Kieran Moore, the provincial chief medical officer of health, said the worst of respiratory virus season is over, but warned a new more transmissible COVID variant made a spring wave of the virus possible. [The Canadian Press]

❄️ The city received as much as 25 cm of snow in some areas and several OC Transpo buses had to be pushed out of deep snow. [CBC]

EVENTS

Your weekend guide

Arts

Irish dance and music, Saturday 7 pm: An evening of fun for all. Entertainment by the Ottawa Celtic Choir with dancing food and drink. At St-Mark’s Catholic Church, 160 Rue Principale, Gatineau. Tickets $13.

Music

The Sheepdogs, Saturday 7 pm: Saskatoon’s are touring their new EP No Simple Thing. Boy Golden opens. At the NAC’s Southam Hall. Tickets start at $41.

Young String Performers in Concert, Saturday 7:30 pm: Young and talented musicians under the age of 18 from around the city put on their first concert of the season. At the First Unitarian Church, 30 Cleary Ave. Tickets $17.

Sports

Intro to XC Skiing, Saturday 6 pm: Learn to cross country ski, or just get a refresher. Adventure Report and Fresh Air Experience will donate expertise and equipment. Remic Rapids Park. Get on the waitlist.

Super Bowl tailgate party, Sunday, 12 pm: Watch the conference championships at Tailgators, 1642 Merivale Rd., and enter for your chance to win a trip for two to the upcoming Super Bowl. Free general admission, guaranteed seating plus beer and snacks $27.

Ottawa Law Classic, Sunday 3 pm: The civil and common law students and other teams at the uOttawa law school face off to raise funds for Do It For Daron. Tickets $17.

Kids/Family

Greely Winter Carnival, until Sunday: Head on down to Greely for the 50th annual winter carnival, with sleigh rides, skating, magic shows, pancake breakfasts and plenty more. Many events are free.

Culture

Robert Burns Celebration, Sunday 4:30 pm: An annual celebration of the bard of Scotland featuring Bobby Watt and Ecosse. Songs, stories, poems, and music at Heat and Crown, 67 Clarence St. Tickets $23.

OTTAWA FOOD

What happened this week in food

Every week our team at Capital Eats scours Ottawa for the best places to eat, drinks to try and events to attend. Here’s a breakdown of all the biggest stories.

🥟 A steady hand in the kitchen and quality service in the front of house are guiding this dim sum restaurant to great things.

☕️ Beyond its gorgeous interior, this cafe serves up great coffee and treats. Don’t miss the lavender cheesecake. What’s more, you can pick up a flower arrangement while you’re there.

🍬 Baklawa at the peak of freshness, this is a place you won’t want to miss for all kinds of sweet treats.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Good news buffet fans, Tucker’s Marketplace has reopened after three years of being closed.

• Two teens holding up a drug store, a stolen car, and a chase through the west end. Just your typical weekend in…1934. [Kitchissippi Museum]

• Veterans faced off against Ottawa Senators alumni to raise money for injured vets. [CBC]

• Thinking of going to see the Sheepdogs? The band’s bassist Ryan Gullen sat down to chat with Apt613 ahead of the show. [Apt613]

• Want to have your announcement featured? Contact our partnership team for more info.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Reader Louise Bradley sent in this great wildlife shot. “Let me introduce you to the stunning Merlin. This photo was taken in Ottawa,” she said.

Do you have a photo you’d like to share? Send it in!

OTTAWA WORDLE

Congrats to Sandra, Shellie, Don, Adam, Gord, and the many others of you who all knew this week’s Ottawa Guesser was of Range Road, running next to Strathcona Park.

Do you think you can get this week’s Ottawa Wordle? Play now.

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