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- LRT extensions fall further behind schedule
LRT extensions fall further behind schedule
The trains are not on time. But the good news is the city is keen to get testing right this time around.
Robert Hiltz
31 Mar
Good morning!
It’s not really local news, but this piece in New York Magazine fascinated me. Have you noted how LED lighting seems kind of dull? How the world under digital lamps can seem flat, or flickery. You aren’t the only one. It’s a pretty deep dive into, well, lightbulbs. But if you’ve noticed newer bulbs don’t quite offer what old bulbs did, you aren’t the only one.
The good news is our fundraising drive is almost over, so I won’t bother you about it too much longer. But the bad news is our fundraising drive is almost over and you might miss it.
Becoming a member gives you access to our exclusive Insider food or city hall publications (or both!) but it makes it possible for this newsletter to keep running. If you’ve been looking to become a member, now’s a great time.
We’re also offering a limited-time discount if you want a membership to both Insider Capital Eats and City Hall.
Anyway, we’ve got plenty of local news to get to, including news about when the LRT extensions will be ready (spoiler: later than expected), and plenty more.
— Robert Hiltz, managing editor
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Weather Report
Friday: +2 🌡️ +1 | ❄️ (periods of snow)
Saturday: +12 🌡️ -12 | 🌧
Sunday: +2 🌡️ -4 | ☀️
Monday: +9 🌡️ 0 | ❄️/🌧
TRANSIT
Stage 2 of the LRT falls even further behind (but maybe for good reason)
Ron Dennis/Ottawa Lookout Reader
What happened: The extensions of the O Train south and east have both fallen further behind schedule. It’s expected the north-south Trillium Line won’t open until October of this year, CTV reported.
The eastern end is now 51 days behind schedule and won’t open until January 2025.
Effect of the inquiry: Testing was at the fore of the light-rail subcommittee meeting. That’s largely thanks to the LRT inquiry, which showed the original LRT line did not undergo enough testing before it was handed over to the city.
“I don't think anyone is saying, 'Accelerate this, cut corners, get it running without all the due diligence taking place.' We need to get it right,” Coun. Steve Deroches, the chair of the committee, said according to CBC.
To pass, the train will need to be running at 98.5 percent on-time performance over a two-week period. Total testing will be 21 days, much longer than the 12 days used for Stage 1 of the LRT.
The plan: The key date is Aug. 1, when the track along the entire line is expected to be in place. If the builders make that deadline, the city can start its testing and training program with trains running on the line.
In the east: The city hopes to begin early testing on a section of the eastern extension this fall. If the line stays on its current schedule, the year after it would undergo full testing in winter, something the first stage badly needed.
Budget woes
What happened: As part of this year’s municipal budget, the city had planned on both the province and federal governments filling a hole in the transit budget. With both budgets now tabled, and no new money on offer, Ottawa has been given the cold shoulder.
“I would suggest that we are disappointed with respect to both budgets that were tabled and the lack of announcement in those.… We know we have a gap but we are going to continue to pursue the money from other levels of government and seek that assistance,” interim city manager Wendy Stephanson said according to CTV.
The bottom line: This year’s transit budget has a $39-million deficit. Ridership has stayed well below pre-pandemic levels, and fare revenues have suffered as a result. Rather than rebalance the amount of the transit budget OC Transpo relied on fares for, the city instead hoped someone else would fill the hole. The city said it has a plan to deal with this in the short term, but something will have to give eventually.
OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS
🚒 $300,000: The estimated cost of damage to a Gatineau apartment building after a fire. [CityNews]
😓 17: The maximum number of hours teens 16 and under will be able to work in Quebec if a new provincial bill passes. [CBC]
HEALTHCARE
Public care for babies desperately underfunded
What happened: The Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program run by Ottawa Public Health doesn’t have enough funding to provide the care its clients need, the Ottawa Citizen reported.
Demand up: To keep up with the demand for the program, public health is cutting services. While it is administered by local public health, it is funded by the provincial government. The program first started in 2008 with $4.5 million in funding, an amount that has not changed since, according to the Citizen.
Because of the tight budget, the program can only help those at the highest risk. Where nurses used to help a family for six months, they can now only see them for four or five months.
What it does: Public health nurses visit new parents to monitor their development and offer health advice. The nurses also monitor mothers for postpartum depression. They can offer advice to parents when a baby gets sick — like what symptoms to look for if a hospital visit is necessary.
“We are seeing more and more families with complex needs without an increase in budgeting.… It is not sustainable,” public health’s Louise Gilbert told the paper.
THE AGENDA
🌊 A flood watch has been issued for the Rideau River Valley, particularly near feeder creeks and streams, and on the river near Kars and Becketts Landing. [CTV]
🚨 A Leeds County OPP officer was convicted of sexual assault for penetrating an unconscious woman and filming it. Jason Redmond was previously convicted of drug trafficking and forging documents. He remains on the force and has been on paid leave since 2015. [Ottawa Citizen]
🏟️ There are as many as nine possible locations for a new arena for the Senators. Some are more far-fetched than others. [CBC]
😷 COVID assessment centres across the city are closing, as provincial funding for them winds down. [Ottawa Citizen]
🥡 Forever chemicals have been found in compostable takeout containers. [CBC]
⚖️ A forgery charge was withdrawn against a consultant for the Ottawa Police Board after he decided to complete a diversion program instead. Completing the program is not an admission of guilt. [Ottawa Citizen]
🚒 A rookie firefighter was choked by a colleague and a supervisor urged them not to report the incident. [CBC]
🦃 A trio of troublesome turkeys continue to roam free around Mud Lake after NCC biologists failed to capture the aggressive birds to move them elsewhere in the city. [Ottawa Citizen]
🗞️ Six Quebec newspapers, including the local French-language Le Droit, will stop printing paper editions and go digital only by the end of the year. The parent company Coops de l’information (CN2i) will also cut 100 of 350 employees. [CTV]
⚖️ The judge in the trial of two convoy leaders was ordered by a higher court to rule on whether they should recuse themselves before moving on with the rest of the trial. [Ottawa Citizen]
EVENTS
What to do this weekend
Arts
📸 APEX Reception, Friday 5:30 pm: The SPAO: Photographic Arts Centre’s annual awards for part-time photography students with prizes for the best in show and people’s choice. At 77 Pamilla St. Tickets are free.
Kids/Family
🍁 Maple Weekend, North Grenville Pancake Breakfast, Saturday 10 am: A guided tour of the sugarbush’s operations, taffy pull, and pancake breakfast. At the Kemptville Campus - Agroforestry Centre, 2627 Bedell Rd. Donate at the door for admission.
General
💥 Ottawa Mini-Comiccon, Saturday and Sunday: A great shopping experience for fans and collectors of all things comics. At the EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Dr. Free admission.
✈️ Ottawa Travel and Vacation Show, Saturday and Sunday: More than 190 exhibitors from destinations across the globe and across the country. Get first-hand knowledge from tour company operators as you look to plan your next trip. At the Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel By Dr. Free admission.
💍 Ottawa Spring Wedding Show, Saturday and Sunday: Looking to tie the knot soon? Visit vendors of all kinds with everything you need for planning your wedding. At the EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Dr. Tickets $17.
🧸 Ottawa Parent and Child Expo, Saturday and Sunday: The city’s biggest expo for families with games, activities, educational materials, entertainment and more. At the Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave. Limited tickets only available at the door.
Market
🛍️ Eid Bazaar, Saturday 12 pm: About 50 vendors selling everything you need for Eid. Clothing, jewellery, gifts, face painting, and plenty of food are all on offer. At the Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave. Reservations are free.
Other
🍽️ Iftar Fundraiser for Syria and Turkiye, Sunday 5:30 pm: An Iftar dinner to raise money for victims of the devastating earthquake earlier this year. Hosted by Human Concern INternational and the Turkish Association of Canada at Sait Elias Banquet Centre, 750 Ridgewood Ave. Reservations are free.
CAPITAL EATS
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.
🌭 The best way to learn how sausage is made is by doing it yourself, as our food editor found at a recent workshop.
🍜 Chinatown has plenty of great places to eat. Here’s a quick guide to some can’t-miss dishes at a few spots you’ll want to check out.
🍶 (For Insiders) The world of Japanese whiskey and sake is a complex one, as this recap of two fascinating lectures at the Japanese Embassy shows. (And if you want to go really deep into the world of understanding sake, scroll down, Ralf has you covered!)
🍷 (For Insiders) Looking for a quality weekend wine? Why not try this Argentinian Malbec that won’t break the bank. (Scroll down)
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Prospective Sens buyer Ryan Reynolds was in town and met the mayor. [Twitter]
The Vanier sugar shack officially reopened for the first time since a 2020 fire. [CBC]
Sens goalie Cam Talbot is feeling good after weeks on the sidelines due to injury. [Ottawa Citizen]
CHEO has a new therapeutic clown, Zedd, who takes over from Mollypenny who recently retired. [CTV]
Please make sure your vehicle is held together with more than a bungee cord. Police had to pull this truck off the road because it was unsafe. [CTV]
The World Men’s Curling Championship arrives at Lansdowne this week, with the best rinks around the world coming to town. [CTV]
Want to have your announcement featured? Contact our partnership team for more info.
TOP PHOTO
Joanne Reyes/Ottawa Lookout Reader
Today’s photo comes from reader Joanne Reyes. “Out for my walk and had to photograph this. Still snow, but technically spring and it was great to see the water flowing,” she said.
Do you have a photo you’d like to share with the Lookout community? Send it in!
OTTAWA GAMES
Congrats to Adam, Jeffery, Andi, Bam, Ann, and Jean who all knew this week’s Ottawa Guesser was of the Nepean Sportsplex.
Can you guess this week’s Ottawa Wordle? Play now.
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