The public service strike could cause major disruptions

Good morning,

Thank you to so many of you for your warm wishes about Lady Bird and her health. I haven’t had a chance to reply, but I sincerely appreciate them all. She’s definitely ill, but she’s also still comfortable, happy, and fairly active. She dragged us on a long walk yesterday so she could splash around in the river at her favourite spot. She’s also being spoiled, which I don’t think she minds.

I’d like to thank the folks at Capital City Specialty Animal Hospital and the Nepean Animal Hospital for taking such great care of her. Even when it’s difficult, it’s comforting to know your dog is in good and caring hands.

Anyway, you’re not here for dog updates, you’re here for a newsletter.

Let’s get to it.

— Robert Hiltz, managing editor Ottawa Lookout

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Weather Report

Friday: +17 🌡️ +8 | 🌧

Saturday: +22 🌡️ +7 | 🌧

Sunday: +10 🌡️ +3 | 🌧

Monday: +8 🌡️ +3 | 🌧

PUBLIC SERVICE

Strike continues for city’s biggest employer, major disruptions expected

What happened: With a third of federal public servants on strike across the country, serious disruptions could begin as the job action continues. Applications of passports and employment insurance, as well as a halt to tax season are among the possible effects of the strike, CTV reported.

More than 24 departments are affected by the strike of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) workers. Of the 155,000 workers on strike, about 46,000 are still on the job because their work has been declared essential.

• If you’re looking for how the labour action may affect a particular department or service, the federal government has a website with that information.

What’s at stake: The two sides are back at the bargaining table. The union is seeking a 13.5 percent raise over three years, while the government has countered with a nine percent raise over three years. The government's remote work policies are also a significant point of contention between the two sides, particularly after last year’s back-to-the-office order by the government which recently went into full effect.

Picket lines: Most picket lines are focused downtown around Parliament and nearby government offices. Union workers are also picketing outside local Liberal MP offices on both sides of the Ottawa River, according to CBC.

Traffic issues: Most picket lines outside government offices haven’t greatly affected the city itself. Police said three areas have seen extra congestion: Montreal Road, Centrum Boulevard, and Tunney’s Pasture, CBC reported.

• At Tunney’s Pasture, the picket line is around the LRT station, but the union explicitly said it was not closed off to the public and transit riders are free to enter and exit the station.

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

💰 $127,350: The salary you’d need to buy a home in the city at the average price of about $700,000. It’s gone up from a year ago because of high inflation. In 2022, you’d only need a salary of $121,700 to buy a similar home. [CTV]

🏟️ 7 acres: The approximate amount of land for a proposed LeBreton arena for the Sens, and the number the NCC said was negotiable with whoever the new owners are. [Ottawa Citizen]

SPRING

Ottawa River to peak soon below record levels

What happened: Waters from the Ottawa River will continue to rise to “major flood” levels, but will stay below historic highs, CityNews reported. Streets, lawns, and houses in flood zones are expected to be flooded.

• Britannia, Constance Bay, Cumberland Village, Rockland and Hawkesbury will all see waters rise between 15 to 45 centimetres in the next few days. You can check the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board’s website for up-to-date flooding forecasts.

Helping out: In West Carleton, volunteers are needed to help fill sandbags, transport them, and deploy them to areas where they are needed most. They’re also looking for volunteers to bring food to those working in the community. You can sign up to volunteer here.

In Quebec: Eastern Gatineau residents along the river have been putting up sandbags, hoping to hold back the rising waters, CTV reported. The city expects about 1,050 properties to be affected by the flooding.

Looking east: Further downriver in Cumberland, residents are optimistic. With several floods in recent years, they’re better prepared for rising water, CTV reported. Some residents are putting up sandbag walls three or four feet high.

THE AGENDA

⚖️ An OPP officer in Leeds County, still on the force, faces 11 assault-related charges. The officer, Jason Redmond, was recently convicted for sexual assault. [Ottawa Citizen]

🏥 The problem with Ontario’s health system isn’t a lack of infrastructure, it’s a lack of money to keep operating rooms and other facilities running beyond limited hours. [Ottawa Citizen]

💪 The old Canadian Tire at Carling and Clyde will become a massive new gym and social club by Altea Active. [CTV]

🚔 Police believe a machete attack in Les Cèdres, Que. and a double homicide in East Hawkesbury are related. Police have arrested a man in his 20s. [CBC]

🏟️ The sale of the Senators is dragging on longer than expected, which has also put the NCC’s plans for a LeBreton arena into a holding pattern. [Ottawa Citizen]

🪵 A decade after it closed, the Commonwealth Plywood Company celebrated the reopening of its sawmill. It brings about 70 jobs back to the area. [CTV]

🔥 Ottawa Police want to identify the man who put out a fire, possibly an arson, in a downtown apartment lobby during the convoy. [CTV]

🚨 A former massage therapist at Spa Nordik has been charged with sexually assaulting a client. The spa said he was fired as soon as a complaint was filed. [CTV]

🚂 The city will be shutting down the LRT in early June for significant maintenance to the tunnel and tracks across the system. More details on closures will be made closer to the dates. [CTV]

EVENTS

What to do this weekend

Arts

🎭 Med Show, Romeo and Juliet, Friday and Saturday: An annual fundraiser for New Day Youth And Adult Services, put on by uOttawa medical students. This year’s show is a medical reimaging of the Shakespearean classic, written and performed by the students, with a live band. At the Centrepointe Meridian Theatre, 101 Centrepointe Dr. Tickets $33.

Sports

🥊 Fight for Youth II, Friday 7 pm: A night to raise money for the Big Brother Big Sisters of Ottawa put on by the Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts. AtInfinity Convention Centre, 2901 Gibford Dr. Tickets $44.

🥅 R.I.S.E. Hockey Summit on Diversity and Belonging, Saturday 9 am: A summit looking deep into changing the culture around hockey. With a keynote speech from NHL VP Kim Davis, panel discussions, workshops and more. At Ice House, 1125 Colonel By Dr. Tickets $55.

🏒 Sens Alumni vs TOH Docs Charity Hockey Game, Sunday 1:30 pm: Watch former Sens face off against staff from the Ottawa Hospital in support of Sindy Hooper and her Make Every Moment Count crew, to raise money for pancreatic cancer research. At the Bell Sensplex, 1565 Maple Grove Rd. Tickets $27 (Only a few remain!)

Food/Drink

🥃 Rotary Club of Nepean-Kanata 3rd Annual Fine Whisky Tasting, Saturday 8 pm: A night supporting the Bells Corners Community Garden, a guided tasting of four Scotches, with plenty of information on how it’s all made. At the Kanata Royal Canadian Legion, 70 Hines Rd. Tickets $79 (few remain).

Market

♻️ Eco Market 2023 an Earth Day Celebration, Saturday 9 am: A market with more than 25 local green vendors. Unique items, great food, games and more at the family-friendly event. A portion of the proceeds go to Nature Conservancy Canada. Free admission.

Film

🍄 'DOSED: The Trip of a Lifetime' + Q&A, Sunday 2:30 pm: A showing of the documentary Dosed, about the medical use of magic mushrooms, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A after the film. At the Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank St. Tickets start at $16.

City stuff

⚠️ Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off, Sunday 8 am-4 pm: The first hazardous waste event of the year is here. Bring your paint cans and other items not for disposal in regular garbage (except electronic items, those are recycled elsewhere) to the city baseball stadium at 300 Coventry Rd. It’s free. 

CAPITAL EATS

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.

🍜 Our food editor stumbled into a brand new ramen restaurant, and you won’t want to miss this downtown spot and its delicious house-made broth.

🇬🇷 (Insiders) If you’re looking for a Greek dining experience for the whole family, this restaurant has something good for everyone.

🫒 (Insiders) But if your tastes are a little more traditional and refined, this Greek restaurant might be more up your alley.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Ottawa 67’s head coach Dave Cameron was named OHL coach of the year. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Ovarian Cancer Canada, Bloomex and Things Engraved have teamed up to raise money ahead of Mother’s Day with special gifts. [Facebook]

• This summer, two of the three campgrounds in Gatineau Park will be closed, at Lac Philippe and Lac Taylor. [CBC]

• Urban art, like this watercolour of a church on Elgin, is always lovely to see. [Reddit]

• Animators from across town were honoured last night at Animation Show-N-Tell Ottawa. [Apt613]

• The floodgates are open! (Literally!) [Reddit]

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

PHOTO OF THE DAY

We couldn’t get to this one while the ice was still around (what a quick change!) but it’s such a great photo we had to run it. Irenka Farmilo sends this one of sunset over the ice breaking up along the Ottawa River.

Do you have a photo you’d like to share with the Lookout community? Send it in!

OTTAWA GAMES

Congrats to Adam, Gord, Rohit, Joyce, JoAnne, and many others of you who knew that Monday’s quiz question for which area hospital has the best record for hitting its cancer surgery wait times is the Queensway Carleton.

Think you have what it takes to solve this week’s Ottawa Wordle? Play now.

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