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Good morning! 

A bit of a smaller newsletter today as we work on some planning for federal election coverage. If you have any story ideas, feel free to drop me an email. 

Any resident of Ottawa who takes the bus or LRT knows the system is not reliable. But at a transit commission meeting on Thursday, the city confirmed just how bad. OC Transpo general manager René Amilcar said while the rankings would be great for a school grade, it’s unacceptable for a transit system. We break it all down. 

Let’s get to it!

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor

[email protected]

X: @Charlie_Senack

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WEATHER

Friday: 3 🌡️ 1 | 🌧️🌨️

Saturday: 9 🌡️ 2 | 🌧️

Sunday: 13 🌡️ 1 | 🌤️

Monday: 13 🌡️ 6 | 🌧️

OTTAWA NUMBERS

💪 169: The number of additional municipalities which have now been given strong mayor powers by the province. “By extending strong mayor powers to these additional municipalities, we are providing mayors every tool at our disposal to empower them to get homes and infrastructure built faster," said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in a statement. [CBC]

🏦 1 in 4: The number of Canadian bank managers who require French training. [CBC]

⛽️ $1.26: The average price for a litre of gas in Ottawa. It has many Quebec residents crossing the border to fill up their tanks. In Gatineau, gas is just under $1.39 a litre, a $0.13 difference. [CTV]

👮‍♂️ 52: The number of tickets Ottawa Police distributed after an unauthorized and unorganized car meet. On April 4, law enforcement focused on areas such as West Hunt Club Road and parts of Riverside South and Barrhaven. [CTV]‘

🥶 13.4 C: The low temperature on Wednesday. It was the coldest April 9 in Ottawa history. [CTV]

TRANSPORTATION

OC Transpo misses reliability targets again

No reliability: It’s no secret OC Transpo isn’t always on time. Many report the buses not showing up at all. And commuters are angry, while ridership targets are not where they should be. Fare prices keep going up. And later this month, there will be a slight reduction in service when “New Ways to Bus” is launched on April 27. 

At a transit commission meeting on Thursday, OC Transpo General manager René Amilcar said OC Transpo’s average service delivery was 96.9 per cent in March — below the target set of 99.5 per cent.

• “For the bus side, when we deliver a 96, 97, even 98 per cent of the service, is bad,” said Amilcar, according to CTV. “It’s very bad. That’s why when we compare with best transit around the world, we need to deliver what we planned 99.5 per cent.”

So what’s the cause? One per cent of trips were cancelled due to a lack of available vehicles, while 0.9 per cent of cancellations were due to on-street adjustments for construction and detours. Another 0.7 per cent of trips were cancelled because there were not enough drivers.

If you’re a commuter on Route 11, you might have experienced the most burden. A total of 501 trips were cancelled in March. Route 6 saw 480 trips cancelled, and there were 413 times Route 8 did not run. The city said those routes run on streets with the most congestion. 

The buses are aging: So far this year OC Transpo had to retire 18 buses it thought would only last until the end of the year. Out of the old diesel buses, over half are past their 15-year life expectancy. And by this time next year, all articulated buses will be past that useful lifecycle as well, reported the Ottawa Citizen. 

• “The 78 double-decker buses will be the only high-capacity buses below retirement age,” said Rami El Feghali, director for transit bus operations. 

The aging fleet means more maintenance. That leads to more money and more resources at the OC Transpo garage on St. Laurent Boulevard. This winter caused havoc on operations because of on-street defects and corrosion damage to the structure and wiring systems 

• “Not only do we find an increase in the quantity of defects during maintenance inspections, but the defects that are found also increase in severity, which drives both the time and parts needed to put buses back into service,” said El Feghali. 

More buses are coming: In 2026, 80 new e-buses will join the fleet. If the targets can be met, OC Transpo wants to have 114 e-buses in service by early 2026 and 354 e-buses by the end of 2027.

You can soon ride for free: After “New Ways to Bus” is launched later this April, OC Transpo will provide a free weekend of transit to allow residents to explore the O-Train and buses. But we will need to wait to learn about the date. 

On X, Capital Ward Coun. Shawn Menard applauded the initiative. Menard has been a supporter of free transit in the city. 

• “After all the city has been through, some have been hesitant to try transit in Ottawa. I’ve been encouraging incentives. OC Transpo has responded and will offer a free weekend in the near future to encourage people to try the new Line 2 and Line 4, Line 1 and buses,” Menard wrote.

SPONSORED BY BETTER HOMES OTTAWA

Make your home more efficient with the Better Homes Loan

Looking to improve your home’s comfort and energy efficiency? The Better Homes Ottawa Loan Program makes it easier—and more affordable—than ever.

This City of Ottawa program offers fixed, zero and low-interest loans of up to $125,000 to help homeowners tackle energy-efficient upgrades that really make a difference. Think:

• Heat pumps for high-efficiency heating and cooling year-round

• Air sealing to eliminate drafts and reduce energy bills

• Energy-efficient windows that prevent up to 30% of heat loss

• Modern exterior doors that seal in warmth and style

Whether you’re looking to lower your utility costs or boost your home’s long-term value, these upgrades are a smart investment.

To date, more than 280 households have taken part, reducing their energy use by 35% and greenhouse gas emissions by over 40%.

Visit betterhomesottawa.ca to learn more and see if you qualify.

THE AGENDA

👮‍♂️ Ottawa Police say a man was injured in Bells Corners Wednesday afternoon after shots rang out in the 100 block of Bexley Place. The unidentified victim was transported to hospital with what the Ottawa Paramedic Service described as non-life-threatening injuries. [Ottawa Citizen]

🤧 Measles is hitting the headlines again, this time with exposure risk in Kingston and Belleville. The local health unit says anyone who visited a high school, restaurant, medical clinic and on a Via Rail train earlier this month is at risk. Ontario is currently in a measles outbreak. Over 800 cases have been reported. [CBC] 

🚎 After the deadly Westboro bus crash in 2019, there were calls to place safety stripping on a passenger shelter at OC Transpo's Lincoln Fields bus station. The work was supposed to be completed by the end of 2022, but was only installed earlier this week. [CBC]

📢 Last fall city staff were directed at looking into the possibility of creating a bubble bylaw that would prohibit protesting outside certain settings such as schools, synagogues, and daycares. Now staff are saying if such a bylaw is enacted, they should expect legal challenges. The City of Calgary, which has a similar law, is currently dealing with court challenges. [CBC]  

🏫 Ottawa’s French public school board, the Conseil des écoles publiques de l’est de l’Ontario (CEPEO), has announced the name of its newest school in Barrhaven. It will be known as École élémentaire publique Des Visionnaires, which means “the visionaries” in French. “The name reflects a school that is resolutely facing the future, anchored in the community, and engaged in forming responsible and innovative citizens,” the CEPEO said in a news release. [CTV]

🌉 It’s good news for walkers and bikers. The Chief William Commanda Bridge is reopening today after being closed for the winter. Capital Ward Coun. Shawn Menard has also confirmed The Rideau River pedestrian and cycling bridge connecting Carleton University and Vincent Massey Park will also open to the public. Menard said there is still hope the crossing will stay open year-round in the future, and noted some construction issues have been identified. [CTV]

🚘 If you park in one of five municipal parking lots in Ottawa, expect to pay more. The City of Ottawa has increased the daily maximum rate which jumps between six and 17 per cent. This includes the two garages in the ByWard Market and at City Hall. [CTV] 

😔 Another international tragedy has hit close to home. Sheila Berroa, who lived in Ottawa, is one of the victims of a roof collapse at an iconic nightclub in the Dominican Republic. Berroa worked as the general manager at the Planet Fitness on Merivale Road and was a student at Algonquin College. [CTV]

🛌 The number of homeless people in Ottawa has grown to 3,000 this year, says the Ottawa Mission. Peter Tilley, CEO of the organization, said more than 500 of those people are living on the streets. To put it into numbers, before the pandemic, the Mission made over 495,000 meals. This year, it is on track to serve about 1.3 million meals. [CHCH/Canadain Press]

FEDERAL ELECTION

Meet the federal election candidates running in Ottawa Centre

The upcoming federal election is becoming a more competitive race than initially expected. 

Polls this months ago showed the Conservatives on track to win a majority government. But now, with Mark Carney as the Liberal Party leader, the tides are turning, and the race is neck-in-neck. 

This could impact results in Ottawa Centre, where incumbent MP Yasir Naqvi is seeking a third term. His primary challenger is NDP candidate Joel Harden, who previously served the riding provincially as MPP.

Historically, the urban Ottawa riding has switched between the Liberals and NDP. Former Liberal MP Catherine McKenna won it over from incumbent NDP MP Paul Dewar in 2015. The only time the Conservatives won Ottawa Centre was in a 1978 by-election, but they lost it a year later. 

During the recent federal Liberal leadership race, Carney — who’s running in the Ottawa riding of Nepean — won his most support in the electoral district of Ottawa Centre, with 2,270 votes. A day later, he was seen eating at Wellington West’s John’s Diner with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. 

I sat down with the four main candidates in Ottawa Centre for the Kitchissippi Times. 

You can read our interviews here

EVENTS

Ottawa Rock N' Gem Show | EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive | Apr. 10-13 | Tickets $3

Boogát | National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin St | April 11 | Tickets are $20

Ottawa Cottage Life & Backyard Show | EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Dr | April 11-13 | Get tickets here

Ottawa Record Fair | Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, 355 Cooper St, 10 am | April 12 | Tickets are $5-$10

Traditional Irish Music Workshops | Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts, 310 Saint Patrick St | Apr. 12, 10:00 am | Tickets $28

Ugadi Cultural Festival | Earl Of March Secondary School, 4 The Parkway, Ottawa | Apr. 12, 3:30 pm | Tickets from $27

Tail Feather Cabaret | LIVE! on Elgin,220 Elgin St #2 | April 12. 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm - Doors at 7:00 pm| General Admission is $30.09 

Eid Art Workshop: A Celebration of Colour & Creativity | Café Safi, 101 Champagne Ave S | Apr. 13, 10:00 am | Tickets $87

Lisa B. Band at LIVE! on Elgin | 220 Elgin St | April 13 | Tickets are $20

Life Drawing | Art House 555 Somerset St. W | April 15, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Tickets are $22.60

Cello Reimagined: A Candlelight Concert with Raphael Weinroth-Browne | Speakeasy Tapas Lounge, 55 York St | Apr 17 at 7:00 pm | tickets start at $27.96 

Comedy at Kichesippi | Kichesippi Beer Co, 2265 Robertson Rd | April 17 from 8:00 pm - 10 pm | General Admission is $11.98

MOUTON NOIR - Renzel Dashington -Ottawa | Laugh Lounge, 61 York St | April 20, 7:15 pm - 10:00 pm | Ticket $25.29 

Family Paint Day (6+ yrs.) at the Osgoode ON Legion_SPRING DEER  | 3284 Sunstrum St, 3284 Sunstrum St | April 27, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm | tickets are $42.38 

Moss Art Workshop | Parking Indigo Ottawa - St. Margaret's Anglican Church 206 Montréal Rd | April 30, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm | General Admission $54.58 

Spring Watercolour Workshop: European Decorative Style with Yulia Lisitsyna | Wallack's Art Supplies and Framing, 305 Bank St | May 8, 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm | General admission - Supplies Provided $38.61

Want to see your event here? You can purchase them through our self-service portal here.

FOOD AND DRINK

Chances R you’ve been here

Written by Ralf Joneikies.

Established in 1976, Chances R has had the benefit of time and good management to build a loyal clientele.

Open seven days a week, walk in any time and you’re likely to find large numbers of people enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner. Naturally I wondered what made this place so popular.

For some perhaps it’s a trip down memory lane with the late 80s early 90s decor or the simple “something for everyone” menu that makes it easy to please both older and younger family members.

Read more here

Want to discover new places to eat, from a trusted source that will share honest reviews of Ottawa’s best restaurants, without clickbait content? Subscribe to our food newsletter Capital Eats instantly to get the reviews sent right to your inbox.

OTTAWA WORDLE

Think you can guess today’s Ottawa Wordle? Play it here.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• This Kempville woman is celebrating her 107th birthday. [CTV]

• "Building Climate Resilience with Software and Data": A free participant-led event, Friday May 23 at Carleton University. Join us. [Sponsored]

• The. Ottawa Food Bank is hosting a spring food drive on Saturday. [CTV]

• A giant new park is opening near Ottawa with a glowing cave and magical treetop tents. [Narcity]

• Take a look back to 2015 when Sens mile opened to celebrate the team entering the playoffs. [CTV]

• This new ramen shop in Kanata will wow your tastebuds! [Capital Eats]

• Did you know there is a little bit of Spain in Prescott at Little Barcelona? [Capital Eats]

STORIES THIS WEEK