Mayor pushes non-LeBreton arena

Good morning!

It is once again Winterlude, and much like last year it is once again…crummy out there. Here’s hoping we can put some winter back in the lude. Temperatures seem at least to be dropping again, so there’s that to be thankful for. A bit of snow wouldn’t hurt to freshen things up, though.

We’ve got plenty to get to today, including lots of city hall news and many events, so let’s get right to it.

— Robert Hiltz, managing editor

Consider forwarding this to your friends so they can discover the Lookout. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

WEATHER

Friday: +1 🌡️ -10 | 🌤

Saturday: -2 🌡️ -9 | ☀️

Sunday: -1 🌡️ -11 | ☀️

Monday: -3 🌡️ -13 | 🌤

CITY HALL

Mayor again floats a not-LeBreton arena, campaign accepted developer donations

What happened: Mayor Mark Sutcliffe continues to push for a new Senators arena at a location other than LeBreton Flats. In a lengthy interview with The Athletic, Sutcliffe said he thinks there are better locations even closer to downtown than the proposed location on NCC land.

• “The Senators should have as many options as possible for where they can locate an arena,” he told the sports outlet. “And to me, there’s got to be a way to do it downtown somewhere.”

Where, exactly? The mayor doesn’t have a specific location in mind. Not in this interview anyhow. He’s previously floated locations like federal government buildings including the (still occupied) Department of National Defence building on King Edward, or the (too small) L’Esplanade Laurier. Bayview Yards (much further from downtown) and Hurdman or the baseball stadium (ditto), have also been mentioned previously.

• “At some point, we’re going to need to figure out if there is an option downtown. We’re going to have to develop one or two concepts. See how feasible they are and put them on the table,” he told The Athletic.

The Lookout followed up with the mayor’s office if he, his staff, or anyone else had any specific locations in mind or if the plausibility of any of these theoretical locations had been studied, formally or informally. We’ll update readers in a future issue if we hear anything back.

Some point: The NCC and the Sens entered into an agreement to negotiate a lease for land on LeBreton for a new development. The original agreement, signed in 2022, was extended to give a new owner time to come in to negotiate a deal. Now, the federal commission has given the team an extension to the fall to negotiate.

But it just might work: Longtime Sun/Citizen Sens columnist, who historically has a good read on the team’s internal thinking, said on Twitter the mayor’s pressure is having the effect of getting the team a better deal with the NCC.

Developer donations

Elsewhere: After promising his campaign wouldn’t take developer donations, Sutcliffe’s campaign turns out to have accepted donations from developers. Going through campaign records, advocacy group Horizon Ottawa discovered the mayor’s campaign took $1,000 from a Katasa Group executive Tanya Chowieri.

In a statement to CBC, Sutcliffe said he was disappointed his team was not able to identify the donation previously. 

• “This is the first I have heard of this contribution, and it was not identified when the media and others reviewed the list of contributors that was filed with the elections office. If I had known about it previously, it would have been returned immediately.”

(In elections filings, Chowieri’s name was misspelled, perhaps leading to the difficulties.)

Who she is: Tanya Chowieri is the daughter of Katasa’s founder, Samir Chowieri, as the Ottawa Citizen previously reported. She and her three sisters run the development company, headquartered in Gatineau.

Oh, that Katasa: It’s the same development group that pulled a voluntary $300,000 contribution to the city this week for affordable housing and traffic calming. The contribution, which the mayor voted to accept last week, is one he said this week should be investigated by the integrity commissioner.

Not the only one: Horizon said there are other donors in the development industry, like contractors, construction companies, architects, and more, all gave money to the mayor’s campaign. According to Horizon’s database of donors, those donations were worth $91,770.

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

💰 $5 million: The amount a massive house overlooking Dow’s Lake finally sold for. The home had been on the market for several years, and was previously listed at $6.75 million. [CTV]

📉 700: Enrollment at the Ottawa Carleton Public School Board is short this many students from its projections. The board will eliminate 70 elementary school positions, but won’t need to do layoffs because the positions are currently filled by temporary teachers. [CTV]

🩻 328,000: The number of people province-wide that will get access to a doctor. Or that’s what the Ontario government hopes a new plan to add 400 primary healthcare teams will do. There are about 1.3 million people in Ontario without a family doctor. [CBC]

HOUSING

Record new rental units, but vacancy stays flat

What happened: Despite a record number of rental units constructed in Ottawa in 2023, the vacancy rate stayed flat at 2.1 percent compared to 2022, according to a new CMHC report. The city added about 3,500 new units to the housing market, but this wasn’t enough.

• “Although this rate is close to the historical average, the difference is that it was accompanied by a larger increase in rents. Together, these factors make it difficult for tenants to find housing,” the report said. “The low vacancy rates in 2022 and 2023 show that [the 3,500 new units] were not enough to soften the market, given the strong demand.”

Rising rents: Rents were up 4.0 percent last year, which is down slightly from 2022’s increase of 4.8 percent. Prices for a two bedroom unit average to $2,085 in a condo, compared to $1,698 in a purpose-built rental unit. (The CMHC said part of this is explained by the condos being newer builds, which fetches higher rents.)

Three factors: Rents are rising and the market is staying tight because of three basic factors, according to the CMHC. International migration rose 56 percent compared to the previous year, and high mortgage costs are keeping renters where they are rather than moving on and buying a home. 

• The third factor is the rise in Ottawa’s unemployment rate to 5.1 percent from four percent. 

Turnover: Turnover in tenants has remained stable at 16.7 percent. But new renters are facing higher rents. Two-bedroom units with high turnover had an average rent of $1,903, compared to lower turnover units, which had an average cost of $1,643.

• “The $260 rent gap between apartments with and without tenant turnover reflects this rental market tightening,” the CMHC said.

Condo market tighter: While the purpose-built rental market is tight, the condo rental market is tighter. Condos make up about 30 percent of the market, and the vacancy rate is an extremely tight 0.4 percent. The rate has been below one percent since 2019.

THE AGENDA

🕶️ School boards in Ottawa and the surrounding area have moved a spring PA day to April 8, because a total solar eclipse is set for that day when students will be leaving school and heading home. Officials were concerned too many children would be outside at a time when it is dangerous to look at the sun. [CTV]

🏳️‍🌈 Police are looking for two suspects who allegedly ripped down a pride flag from a home and set it on fire in Stittsville. The two men used their vehicle to pull down a flagpole, before destroying the flag, police said. [CTV]

💉 Ontario put restrictions on who can get provincial drug coverage for Ozempic because of shortages. Only people with type-2 diabetes will have the drug covered. Ozempic has been prescribed to many as a weight-loss medication. [CBC]

🫨 A light, 3.7 magnitude earthquake near the Quebec border shook Cornwall. There was no damage reported. [CTV]

❄️ The opening of Winterlude’s Snowflake Kingdom has been pushed back a day to Saturday morning because of the warm weather. Winterlude kicks off today. [Ottawa Citizen]

🍞📈 After a temporary price freeze, expect prices at the grocery store to take a big jump next week. Metro announced that suppliers are about to end their pause on price increases and those will be passed to consumers. Last year, grocery prices rose to record levels. [CTV/The Canadian Press]

🚒 Two dozen calves were killed in a Richmond barn fire earlier this week. The fire was already raging by the time fire crews could arrive, and they were unable to enter the building. The cause of the fire is under investigation. [CTV]

🏛️ The mayor of Renfrew said he has no plans to step down, after city council voted 4-3 in a no-confidence vote. At issue is a new recreation centre whose price has nearly doubled in cost, to $35 million from $18 million, and is far behind schedule. [CTV]

😷 Levels of RSV and COVID in Ottawa’s wastewater have begun to moderate after peaking last month. Ottawa Public Health said flu rates remain high. [CBC]

EVENTS

What to do this weekend

Arts

🌲 Cold Comfort for a Hot World, Until Feb. 4: The latest artist-in-residence series at the Diefenbunker museum which looks at coping with the crisis of climate change through a Cold War lens. At the Diefenbunker, 3929 Carp Rd. Included in museum admission.

Music

💿 Green Day - Dookie 30th Anniversary Tribute, Friday 7 pm: A live musical tribute in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the album Dookie. At Overflow Brewing Company, 2477 Kaladar Ave. Tickets $26.

Food

🍦 National Ice Cream For Breakfast Day, Saturday: It’s ice cream. It’s breakfast (including waffles!). It’s at the Merry Dairy, 102 Fairmont. Takeout or eat at their heated patio.

Kids/Family

☃️ Winterlude, Friday until Feb. 19: The city’s winter festival kicks off today. With plenty of indoor and outdoor activities all across the region. Public art, family fun, and more. Most events are free.

✨ Snowshoeing under the stars, Fridays in February: Go for a guided tour of the Pinhey’s Point Historic Site on snowshoes at night. For ages 15 and up. Snowshoes are provided, for all skill levels. Registration required, $15.

General

🏃 Ottawa Fitness & Wellness Expo, Saturday 9 am: Demos, consultations, workshops and more at this expo for everything fitness. At the Nepean Sportsplex, 1701 Woodroffe Ave. Tickets $12.

👶 Snow Angels for CHEO - Fundraiser Trivia Night, Sunday 4 pm: A trivia night to raise money for CHEO Oncology, with pool, ping pong and more. At Tail Gators, 1642 Merivale Rd. Tickets $23.

Culture 

❄️ Pibòn (Winter) Festival - Winterlude Edition, Feb. 2-19: A wide range of Indigenous activities for the winter festival. Various locations. Some events ticketed.

CAPITAL EATS

This week in food

🍝 Our food editor decided to subject himself to the trials and tribulations of finding out who in the city makes the best take-home fresh pasta. For the first edition Fettuccine’s and Parma Ravioli go head to head.

👨‍🍳 Ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Culinary Championships, our food editor talks to BC’s Neil Taylor, who’s competing to be crowned the country’s top chef. (Member’s only)

🍷 Looking for an uncommon wine experience? This Passerina might be just the ticket. (Member’s only)

🫓 Sometimes the best finds are the unexpected ones. That’s what the discovery of the Yemeni restaurant Hadhramout was like, with delightful springy breads and lip-smacking sauce.

🥣 Hear us out, savoury oatmeal. Head to Yemen Gate and make sure you try the oat soup, you won’t be disappointed.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• People over the age of 72 can soon apply for a new national dental care plan. Letters with registration registration have started to go out, and coverage is expected to start in the spring. [CBC]

• Let’s hear it for the trumpeter swans! Once nearly extinct, the birds are congregating in Almonte for the winter. [CBC]

• The refurbished River House sure is pretty at night. [Reddit]

• Iconic rock band Heart will come through town Aug.1, with openers Cheap Trick, on their latest tour. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Want to have your announcement featured? Learn how here.

OTTAWA GAMES

Think you can solve this week’s Ottawa Wordle? Play now.

QUIZ RESULTS

Unfortunately, only 43 percent of you knew that, according to the Ottawa Food Bank, 1 in 7 people in the city suffer from some level of food insecurity. It’s worse out there than you may know.