Some of the effect a federal strike might have on you

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Good morning!

Well, that was a record day. With a high temperature of 30.2 C, Ottawa broke the all-time record for the hottest April 13 since records began in 1872, according to weather historian Rolf Campbell. It’s also the earliest 30+ C day on record. An incredible change from a week ago. Such a change that Ottawa Fire Services have issued an open-air fire ban throughout the city even with a permit, CityNews reported.

You better enjoy the weather while it lasts, though. Forecasts have the early heat wave breaking over the weekend, with temperatures dropping back down to 13 C on Monday.

Why don’t we get to the newsletter.

— Robert Hiltz, managing editor

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Weather Report

Friday: +20 🌡️ +7 | ☀️

Saturday: +22 🌡️ +11 | ☀️

Sunday: +20 🌡️ +11 | 🌤

Monday: +13 🌡️ +4 | 🌧

PUBLIC SERVICE

Biggest federal public service union votes to approve strike mandate

What happened: The biggest public sector union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), voted in favour of a strike mandate, CTV reported. Their 120,000 members voted “overwhelmingly” to approve the mandate, though PSAC did not release the full numbers

• In addition to Canada Revenue Agency employees, who approved a mandate last week, 155,000 public service members will be in a legal strike position today.

At the table: PSAC and the Treasury Board, the federal department that handles the negotiations, will be at the bargaining table until today. PSAC has not set a date for a possible strike, while they work to get a deal at the table.

At stake: The main point of contention is over wages. The workers are looking for a 13.5 percent raise over three years, while the government has offered an 8.25 percent increase over four years, according to CTV.

• The union said most of its members make between $40,000 and $65,000 per year, CBC reported.

Effects: The biggest effect at this time of year could be by the strike of CRA workers as the tax deadline approaches. Processing tax and benefit returns, especially paper ones, could be delayed, and call centre waits will likely increase. Benefit payments would be given priority to keep them moving through any disruption. Passport processing could also be affected.

• Veterans’ benefits would continue to be distributed, but the department will have difficulty processing new applications.

Not all workers can strike. The Coast Guard, RCMP officers, border guards, and other services deemed essential would continue. Administrative tasks, public communications, and other non-core functions could be disrupted.

• CTV has compiled a list of what federal services will and won’t be disrupted in the event of a strike, which you can find here.

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🪙 4.5%: The Bank of Canada held its interest rate steady at this level after months of steadily raising rates. The bank is pausing its rate hikes as inflation appears to be cooling. [CBC]

💰 $2,090: The average rent for an apartment in the city last month, down very slightly from $2,093 the month before. The city has the 15th-highest rent in the country. [CTV]

⚖️ 340,625: The number of parking tickets bylaw officers issued last year, up significantly from 262,089 in 2021. The 2022 level came close to the pre-pandemic 362,753 the city issued in 2019. [CTV]

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TRANSIT

City staff refuse to answer detailed LRT questions without council vote

What happened: The downtown stretch of the LRT will be closed for two consecutive weekends while the private contractor who operates the line inspects the tunnel. Service will be halted in the central section of the line from April 29 and 30, and May 6 and 7, the city said in a memo.

Routine? Transit manager Renée Amilcar said in the memo the maintenance was “regular maintenance,” but the transit commission was told the waterproofing in the tunnel was compromised and water was leaking into the tunnel, CBC reported.

• “Some of the tunnel sections have seen water leaks above the expected levels, especially around Rideau station and extending toward the east,” Rideau Transit Group (RTG) CEO Nicholas Truchon told the commission. (RTG is the private consortium that built and operates the LRT system.)

The tunnel has been leaky since the LRT first opened, with RTG’s efforts to stop leaks by injecting grout into problem areas have not worked, and instead has had the water leak from other locations.

The smell: During the upcoming shutdown, RTG will look to “assess the scope of required repairs to prevent water infiltration in sections of the tunnel.” The eastern end of the tunnel, in particular, is notorious for smelling of sewage, which the city and the train operator have often blamed on stagnant water in the tunnel, CTV reported.

• The inspection will be done before the actual maintenance, which is set to begin in June.

The hope is that a short-term fix can be applied during the inspection shutdown and a long-term fix during the June maintenance period. It’s not clear whether a permanent fix is possible, CBC reported.

Effects: Bus service will run between Hurdman and Lyon stations during the closures. Trains will be running from Tunney’s Pasture and Parliament in the west end, and Hurdman and Blair stations in the east, the memo said. The city will provide more detailed schedule information closer to the closures.

You can read the full city memo here.

THE AGENDA

🏨 City council voted against giving a $3.6-million tax break to an airport hotel, 18-7. The hotel owners had reduced their ask for public money from $13 million. [CTV]

🚨 In Manotick, a 61-year-old woman was killed and another 66-year-old was seriously injured by a driver at Bridge Street and Long Island Road. Seniors who live in the area held a protest last fall because of the high volume of traffic through the area. [CTV/Ottawa Citizen]

🔌 Residents in the Glabar Park neighbourhood want to know why theirs is always one of the last to get the power back on during outages. [CBC]

🚓 SUVs are the main target of car thieves in the city this year. An average of three or four vehicles are stolen per night, with only 20 to 30 percent ever recovered. [CTV]

🚦 The city has installed traffic lights along the closed section of Wellington Street. While there is no official reopening date, the street could be back in use in three or four weeks… [CTV]

🏛️ …Coun. Tim Tierney said the NCC were an “unelected bunch of crazy people,” and the federal commission made reopening the street difficult. The east-end councillor is still upset at the NCC for not playing ball with a city plan to extend Brian Coburn Boulevard. [CTV]

🌊 The people of West Carleton are preparing for spring flooding along the Ottawa River. Many are still working on repairs to damage caused by the 2019 floods. [CBC]

🧊 The Rideau Canal wasn’t usable this year. Could it be refrigerated enough, while also warming nearby buildings? One engineer thinks it’s possible. [CBC]

🏥 The former head nurse at the Ottawa Heart Institute, Mary Kathryn Powers, died over the weekend at the age of 87.

EVENTS

Your weekend guide

Arts

🎨 Norman Takeuchi — A Panel, Sunday 2:30 pm: A live discussion on the work of Ottawa’s Norman Takeuchi, including the artist. With work on display from 1961 to 2022, the panel will discuss his work and how it has evolved over the years. At the Ottawa Art Gallery, 50 Mackenzie King Bridge. Free admission.

Outdoors

🏕️ Ottawa Outdoor + Adventure Travel Show, Saturday and Sunday: If you're an outdoor enthusiast, come to the annual show at the Nepean Sportsplex. Truly something for everybody and a great way to start the summer! A huge show with over 70 exhibitors and presenters. Free admission, free parking.*

Music

⚡️ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert, until Saturday: A performance of John Williams score from the first Harry Potter film, performed live by the National Arts Centre Orchestra while the movie plays. At the NAC, 1 Elgin St. Tickets start at $40.

🎻 Mass in the Time of War and Mass in F Major, Saturday 7:30 pm: The Rideau Chorale will be playing these two Masses by Haydn and Mozart, led by guest music director Kevin Reves, and accompanied by the organ of Matthew Larkin. At Southminster United Church 15 Aylmer Ave. Tickets start at $20.

🔮 Crystal Journey In Ottawa, Saturday 7:30 pm: Experience a fascinating musical adventure. David Hickey plays planet gongs, santoors and quartz crystal bowls in an improvised set. At the Saint Paul University Amphitheatre, 223 Main St. Tickets start at $32.

Food

🍕 Brewer Pop-up Fire Box Pizza, today 3-7 pm: Dominion City Brewing is hosting a pop-up pizza evening with outdoor games, beer and more. At Dominion City Brewing, 15-5510 Canotek Rd. Free admission.

🫔 Tamal Festival, Sunday noon: A food festival celebrating the tamales, of numerous regional varieties under one roof. At the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park. Free admission. 

Market

👗 613Flea, Saturday 10 am: One of the city’s biggest flea markets, with 150 vendors offering everything from vintage clothing, to records, to handmade jewellery and more. At the Aberdeen Pavilion in Lansdowne Park. Admission is free.

Film

📽️ Irish Film Festival of Ottawa 2023, Friday to Sunday: A family-friendly event with Irish films across genres, including the Oscar-nominated The Quiet Girl. At the Arts Court, 2 Daily Ave. Tickets start at $12.

Other

💻 Governing High-Impact AI Systems: Understanding Canada’s Proposed AI Bill, Saturday 2 pm: An all-day conference on the progress of artificial intelligence, and how a proposed federal bill might regulate the sector. At the Minto Centre, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr. Free registration.

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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 pizza safari has returned, and this week all Capital Eats subscribers got Insider access to the latest food news.

🫓 One of the joys of the safari is the impulse to stop in at so many different places can reveal delights you might not have found anywhere. Like this pizza place that serves up authentic east coast donairs.

🍕 This brand-new location focuses on Mediterranean flavours and shows real promise with its pies.

🔥 If you’re looking for great pizza, at a great price, this restaurant and its wood oven will offer everything you want.

🍷 Looking for a compliment to all this pizza? Give this Italian Chianti a try.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• The Humane Society will no longer charge fees to people surrendering their pets. [CityNews]

• Researchers are looking for the public’s help to track how birds are affected by climate change. [CBC]

• The weather may scream summer, but the stairs are still closed for winter at many parks, like this one at Strathcona Park. [Reddit]

• Kinton Ramen will be opening a location on Elgin this spring. [Reddit]

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

TOP PHOTO

Here are a pair of photos from readers Peggy Lee and Christine Simard. Hard to believe this was just last week!

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

OTTAWA GAMES

Congrats to Dennis, Jane, Jill, Bob, Jean, and Joyce who all knew this week’s Ottawa Guesser was of Johnston’s Corners, at the corner of Albion and Rideau roads.

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

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