Ottawa police facing lawsuit over wiretapping Somali officers and family

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Good morning,

As a restaurant fan and a Lord of the Rings fan, today’s top photo of hobbits having a meal in Ottawa brings me nothing but joy (especially because the restaurant they visited is very good). I had the pleasure of seeing Sean Astin, who played Samwise Gamgee a few years ago at Comicon, and I’ve never seen an actor so full of joy to be at one of these events. A great actor and a great guy.

No other hobbits in today’s newsletter, just the biggest stories of the day.

Let’s dive in. 

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign up for free.

WEATHER REPORT

Monday: 21 🌡️ 6 | 🌤

Tuesday: 22 🌡️ 9 | ☀️

Wednesday: 26 🌡️ 13 | 🌤

PUBLIC SAFETY

Ottawa police facing lawsuit over wiretapping Somali officers and family

What happened: Ottawa police are facing questions due to a $2.5 million lawsuit filed by five Somali officers. In it, the lawsuit alleges that the officers and their families were wiretapped and surveilled for months, and the force will not disclose why, according to the CBC. 

Breaking it down: The officers, Liban Farah, Mohamed Islam, Abdullahi Ahmed, Ahmedkador Ali and Feisal Bila Houssein, allege that they faced retaliation within the force for their anti-racism efforts, including work on how the police improve relations with racialized communities. The officers say the investigation had caused them harm and made them a target within the force. 

The lawsuit claims that the plaintiffs “have reason to believe that the affidavits the OPS submitted in support of the authorizations failed to disclose to the issuing judges the surrounding context that necessarily informs the as-yet-unknown basis for believing that interception of their private communications was justified.”

• Officers Farah and Islam have connections to gang-affiliated individuals, but this was disclosed to the force, and they had no relationship with them, according to the Ottawa Citizen. 

Zoom out: Ottawa police have had to deal with issues of racism in the past. According to the Citizen, a racist meme was circulated in 2020 targeting racialized men in the force. One of the officers now suing the police was featured in the image. In a report released in 2022, it was disclosed that in 2020, police used force much more against Black and Middle Eastern people than against white people. Black residents were 4.8 times more likely to have force used against them, while Middle Eastern residents were 2.4 times more likely to have had force used against them.  

The allegations have not yet been proven in court. The wiretap materials are sealed, which means that the individuals in the lawsuit don’t know what reason was given for the judge to approve it.

SPONSORED BY PERTH TOURISM

Perth Night Market Returns This Weekend!

Don't miss the Perth Night Market this weekend on Saturday, September 14, 2024! Starting at 5 p.m., this free event features over 90 talented artisans, crafters, and makers from Lanark County, Ottawa Valley, and beyond. Enjoy a vibrant array of entertainment, including live music and magic acts, showcasing local talent.

Wander through Perth's picturesque heritage streets with shops open late just for you. Delight in delicious food and drinks under the stars at our wonderful restaurants and pubs, or savour takeout in the beautiful Stewart Park along the Tay River.

A convenient shuttle service from 2:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. will provide easy access from various parking lots on the outskirts of Perth to the event area.

Experience the enchantment of Perth’s streets at night. For more details and updates, visit Perth.ca/Nightmarket.

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🌧️ 405 millimetres: The amount of rain since June, up from 264 millimetres last year during the same period. This is causing havoc for farmers in the Ottawa Valley. [CBC]

🚌 20: The number of bus drivers that Ottawa’s two English school boards are short this school year. This impacts 80 runs. The good news is that 14 drivers are in training. You can find cancelled runs here. [Ottawa Citizen] 

🏠1,100: The number of home sales in Ottawa in August. That’s up by 10% from last year in August. [Ottawa Business Journal]

📈 1,500: The number of patients that the Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program expects to see this year, up from 1,200 last year. [CBC]

SERVICES

Breaking down the new garbage rules

It will soon be a new day for garbage collection in Ottawa. Starting on Sept. 30, the city will shift to a new collection process. We’re breaking it down here so you have all the information you need.

The details: Households will have a three-item curbside limit, that will be picked up every two weeks. This could include a garbage bag, 140-litre container (like a garbage can) or a big bulky item. This is down from the current six-item limit, according to CTV. This will be phased in over three months, so people have time to adjust. 

• In October, all six items will still be picked up. In November, one item will not be picked up. Non-compliance tags will be added, and in December, items above the limit will be left behind. Anyone breaking the limit too many times may face an escalation with a Solid Waste Inspector. 

Yes, but: You can purchase a yellow bag for any items that are over the limit, though the item must fit within that bag. Four bags cost $17.60 and can be purchased at these locations. And don’t try to get rid of bulky items; they won’t be accepted. 

The good news: There is no change to the green, blue and black bins, and there is no limit on recycling or organic waste

Why the changes: The changes were done to extend the life expectency of the city’s Trail Road landfill. Had the city continued with the status quo, the landfill would only have lasted another 14 years, according to CBC. The city’s new Solid Waste Master Plan, which includes these changes, means that the landfill will last until 2049. 

NEW LOCAL JOBS

Check out the new open positions in Ottawa.

1. Public relations lead at Kinaxis

2. Engagement manager at Hootsuite

3. Manager, communications at National Research Council Canada

4. Senior manager sales compensation at Adobe

5. Manager, government affairs Canada at The Air Line Pilots Association, International 

Local jobs are selected by the Lookout team and are not paid ads, unless specifically noted. 

THE AGENDA

🎤 Mayor Mark Sutcliffe sat down for an interview with CTV this weekend. In it, he spoke against raising taxes (like other cities have done) to cover escalating costs, continuing to focus the blame on other levels of government. He acknowledged that if the other levels of government didn’t help, the city might be forced to raise property taxes or increase transit fares, amongst other policies. [CTV]

🧑‍💼 Today is day one of the federal government’s new three-day-a-week return to office (RTO) mandate. With many public servants only needing to report to the office two days a week, many workers are speaking out, especially about the challenges of the transit system, saying that it’s much faster to drive to work. Bad transit service was one reason cited by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) to oppose the new RTO mandate. Meanwhile, OC Transpo and Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) say they have no plans to increase bus service, despite the expected increase in travellers. [CTV, CBC]

📈 The OC Transpo budget may be in a deficit, but the city’s actual budget will be in a $10.4 million dollar surplus at the end of the year, primarily due to staffing vacancies and investment growth. Public Works had the largest deficit in the first six months of the year at $4.2 million. [CTV]

🏫 The ongoing saga over the delayed Stittsville high school will soon be over. Maplewood Secondary School is expected to open on Sept. 17, after it was not yet up to code when school began. [Ottawa Citizen]

📈 Like the rest of Canada, Gatineau saw an increase in the unemployment rate in August, up to 6.6%. [Ottawa Business Journal]

🏈 Last week I wrote the wrong winner in the Redblacks game. This week I’m being extra careful! The Redblacks beat the Argonauts 41-27, improving to 8-3-1 and have not lost a game at home this season, with a 6-0-1 record. [Yahoo Sports]

⚾️ Tough news for the Ottawa Titans. The team lost 8-7 loss against the Québec Capitales, ending their playoff run. Both teams had to deal with wild weather.

EVENTS

Ottawa Book Launch: Homing by Alice Irene Whittaker | Starling Restaurant and Bar | Sept. 9, 5 pm | Celebrate the publication of Alice’s debut novel | Free

2024 Cat Video Fest | ByTown Cinema | Sept. 10, 6:45 pm | Family-friendly cat videos, internet videos and all things cat-related | Tickets $15 

CityFolk | The Great Lawn, Lansdowne Park | Sept. 11-15, various times | Folk music from various performers | Tickets

Hintonburg Night Market | 1088 Somerset St. W | Sept. 12, 5 pm-10 pm | Grab some local food, check out art and enjoy some entertainment | Free

Bike Maintenance Workshop | Ottawa Tool Library | Sept. 12, 6 pm-8 pm | Learn how to assess your bike, tune it up and much more | Tickets $62

Summer Farewell Dinner | Location TBD | Sept. 13 | You’re paired up with someone to have dinner with, with a tapas-focused meal | Tickets $75

Orleans FibFest | 255 Centrum Blvd & Plaza | Sept. 13-15 | Ribs, poutine, beer, kids zone and free parking, what’s not to love? | Learn more

Sandy Hill Yard Sale | Multiple locations in Sandy Hill | Sept. 14, 9 am-2 pm | Homes across Sandy Hill are participating in garage sales | See the map

AutoEdge Car Show | 2185 Robertson Road, Nepean | Sept. 15, 12 pm-5 pm | Ultimate car show experience, the last of the season, includes food voucher | Tickets $12

Taste of Wellington | Wellington from Island Park Drive to Bayswater | Sept. 21, 10 am-4 pm | Food samples, sidewalk sales, live music, a fun time for the whole family | Free

IMAGE OF THE DAY

Here’s the photo I mentioned in the intro. They’re enjoying a meal at Le Poisson Bleu, a seafood restaurant in town that I visited last year. It is absolutely worth a visit, whether you’re a hobbit, elf or human.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• It’s not only people that are saved by fire departments. Ottawa firefighters were able to revive a dog after a fire last Thursday after it had no vital signs. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Subscribe to Log Off, a free newsletter to help you disconnect from the internet and reconnect with the real world. Subscribe instantly here. [Sponsored]

• It wasn’t just hobbits at Comicon this weekend. None other than the T-1000 himself, actor Robert Patrick, was also there. He was the liquid robot enemy in Terminator 2 and Special Agent John Doggett in the X-Files. [CTV]

• Ever wondered what it takes to get ready for flying? Pilots from the AERO Gatineau-Ottawa flying show share the details. [CTV]