Sens sell to new owner

Good morning!

Goodness, I forgot what young dogs were like. The good news is, I’m going to have enormous shoulders when this is all done — Astrid, it turns out, is a puller — but even better, the cats have started to accept, but not love, the fact she’s a member of the household now.

Now we just have to remember not to leave any butter lying around…

A quick note to City Hall Insiders, due to an unfortunate series of circumstances, this week’s Insider had to be pushed back until next week. Apologies for the lack of notice!

Today we’ve got the news you’ve all been waiting for, the Sens have finally sold! Plus, what’s next for the city’s plans to cut back on waste. It’s a compromise, but is it compromised?

Let’s get to it.

— Robert Hiltz, managing editor

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Weather Report

Wednesday: 19 🌡️ 13 | ⛈️

Thursday: 21 🌡️ 13 | 🌦

Friday: 21 🌡️ 13 | 🌧

SENATORS

Ottawa Senators make tentative deal with part-Canadiens owner Michal Andlauer

What happened: It’s (mostly) over. The Ottawa Senators announced it accepted an offer from a group headed by Michael Andlauer to buy a 90 percent stake of the franchise. The seven-month search for a buyer for the team in the wake of Eugene Melnyk’s passing has come to a (near) close. The deal is worth $950 million US, the Ottawa Sun reported.

• Anna and Olivia Melnyk, Eugene’s daughters, will retain a 10 percent stake in the team.

“Subject to approval by both the National Hockey League and finalization of the sale process, Andlauer will assume control of the organization's operations,” the team said.

Who he is: Andlauer owns a minority stake of the Montreal Canadiens, and is full owner of the OHL Bulldogs, formerly of Hamilton soon to be in Brantford, CTV reported. He’s been a member of the NHL board of governors as part of his role with the Habs, so has plenty of connections as the league, which should make finalizing of the deal more likely. Andlauer is based in Toronto.

• “My family and I are very excited to be a part of the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club. I believe that the Senators' fanbase is one of the most passionate in the league and I'm excited to take the franchise's success both on and off the ice to the next level,” he said in a statement.

Ottawa partners: Andlauer’s group includes several local names, including Farm Boy partner Jeff York, and the Malhotra family who own Claridge Homes, according to CTV. As part of the sale, the group agreed to keep the team in the city.

• Dig deeper: A look at the ownership history of the Ottawa Senators [CTV]

League record: The selling price for the Sens is the highest-ever an NHL team has sold for, CTV reported. At the start of the process, the team was only — “only” — valued at about $655 million, Sportico reported at the time.

• "We had a great conversation and what he said that really appealed to me is that he said he's a hockey fan and his dream is to win the Stanley Cup as the owner of the Ottawa Senators. I get chills just saying that now because I think that would be so great for our city," Sutcliffe said after meeting with Andlauer during an earlier phase of the sale process, according to CTV.

OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🚨 $400,000: The value of stolen vehicles recovered by police after a months-long investigation. Two people were arrested and nine vehicles were recovered. [CTV]

💰 $500 million: The ubiquitous Instant Pot has gone bankrupt, with its parent company having this much in liabilities. The appliance, designed by an Ottawa man, was bought by a private equity firm which took out a $450-million loan in 2021, and promptly paid shareholders $245 million of that in a dividend ($100 million of which it had to reinvest in the company). [Wall Street Journal/DebtWire]

🔥 47,000: The area, in square kilometres, that has burned so far this year in wildfires, which the federal government said is the worst fire season of the 21st century. [Global]

📊 70%: The percentage of public service workers who are dissatisfied with the federal government’s return-to-office plan. [CTV]

🩺 60: A pop-up clinic looking for signs of skin cancer found this many possible cases of the disease. [CTV]

OUTSIDE DOWNTOWN

🏘️ Nepean, Ottawa, and Kanata, are the three most affordable large communities to buy a home in the province. [Zolo]

🪡 Niio Perkins, a Mohawk designer, is making incredible beadwork jewellery and clothing in Cornwall. [CTV]

💰 A new bill in Quebec would mean tenants could no longer transfer their leases to new people. The minister said it shouldn’t be up to tenants to choose how much rent increases. [CBC]

🤿 Divers and other volunteers are cleaning up the bottom of Lake Ontario along the Kingston shoreline, pulling waste from truck tires to pop cans from the water. [CTV]

🐈 One of the town councillors in Kemptville wants to outlaw outdoor cats, because of damage to gardens. If the motion passes, cats would be treated like dogs, picked up and taken to the pound. [CBC]

TRASH

Mayor proposes compromise letting wasters off the hook

What happened: After a last-minute compromise proposal pushed by the mayor to bring in a garbage bag tag system, a new compromise is headed to city hall today. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe tweeted the new system, if passed, would impose a three-bag limit on curbside garbage.

• The mayor also clarified that “bag” meant “container,” so a single garbage can with three smaller bags would be considered a “bag” in both the newly proposed system, and the failed tag system.

The problem: About three quarters (72 percent) of Ottawa homes only put out two bags of garbage, CBC reported. The tag system was aimed at reducing the waste of the minority of homes who throw out more trash.

• “To go from that to having a firm limit of three items, I think is progress. Maybe it's not as much progress as some people want, and I respect that. And maybe it goes further than some people want, and I respect that too,” Sutcliffe told CBC.

Our thoughts: The new compromise will mean little change for most homes, and is unlikely to have a serious effect on the life span of the Trail Road dump, which is nearing the end of its life. This was the sort of proposal that raised residents’ ire early, but would have quickly faded once they realized it wasn’t a real problem for them.

• If this council can’t make tough decisions just after an election, how are they going to do difficult things as the next election gets closer?

Recycling changes

What happened: Starting next month, a three-year phase in period will begin as Ottawa, and all cities in Ontario, transition to a “producer-pays” recycling system, the Ottawa Citizen reported. There will be no change to the recycling process when it comes into effect on July 1.

What’s next: To start, plastic and other waste producers will pay the city to pick up recycling. Eventually, there will be a provincial system that will take over entirely. The final details of that system have not been worked out.

• Dig deeper: Ontario is overhauling its blue box program — and critics say it will be a disaster [Toronto Star]

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

Ever wanted a really great view of downtown? Now’s your chance, this three-bedroom luxury condo in Sandy Hill with views toward Parliament is up for sale. Perched atop Le Germain Hotel, it has a high end kitchen with European appliances, and offers a unique location for your next home.

Of course it doesn’t come cheap. See how much at the listing.

THE AGENDA

📖 The Ottawa Public Library is considering hiring more security guards for branches across the city as incidents of violence against staff and substance and alcohol use in branches increases. [CTV]

📚 The library has sent a new standards for intellectual rights, resisting calls to remove books some people find objectionable. The library’s policy is now to host any book or piece of information as long as it is legal. [Ottawa Citizen]

😷 The Ottawa Hospital officially removed mask mandates in common areas in its facilities. It brings its policies in line with many other hospitals in the region. [CBC]

🚕 The city is looking to offer up to $5,000 to those who have accessible taxi plates to get more accessible cabs on the road. Right now there are only about 80 of the cabs, despite there being 191 plates issued. [CTV]

🚭 Ottawa Public Health wants the federal government to mandate graphic warning labels on cannabis products to bring the packaging in line with tobacco products. [CBC]

🔥 A fire ban in the city has been lifted, as enough rain has fallen to lower the risk of wildfires in Ottawa. You still need a permit to have an open-air fire. [CTV]

🚨 Police said the shooting last weekend in the ByWard Market was targeted, and innocent bystanders were among the wounded. Two people were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries, another with serious injuries, and a fourth with minor injuries. They have no suspects at this time. [CTV]

🚂 OC Transpo has begun testing the Stage 2 line to the airport. In a video posted to Twitter, one of the refurbished diesel trains that ran on the original O-Train line can be seen entering the station. [Twitter]

☎️ Revenu Québec has received an increasing number of tips from residents snitching on those they believe live in the province, but claim to live elsewhere for tax purposes. [CBC]

🚓 The Ottawa Police Service said the process for a new ByWard Market police station is under way. [CTV]

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• After seven years of “creating happiness” the owners of Skating in the Forest are looking to sell the attraction to the right person. [CBC]

• Looking to up your gardening game? We’ve got you covered with the best resources this city has to offer.

• Elizabeth Payne and Bruce Deachman of the Ottawa Citizen both won awards from the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario for their health reporting. Congrats! [Ottawa Citizen]

• That’s it, that’s all. Nordstrom has officially closed up shop in Canada. [CBC]

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

CAPITAL EATS

Raising the ramen bar

Capital Eats is written by our food editor Ralf Joneikies.

On the heels of Ramen Isshin and Jinsei, two of the city’s best ramen restaurants, comes a new player on Elgin Street, and this is no small deal. The new restaurant marks the start of a challenge for others to up their game and I expect their inevitable success will soon lead to more locations.

There’s a high level of care to not just the design of their shops but to the delivery of great food.

Appetizers include standards such as kimchi and gyoza in both pork and vegetarian versions. The kimchi has sufficient fire and freshness to keep you challenged and as a rather nice twist, comes topped with sesame seeds.

Read the rest of the article.

SPORTS

🏈 The Redblacks hope to bring a brand of “nasty” football when they face the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday. [Ottawa Sun]

🏒 Have you seen this? Have you heard about this? The Ottawa Senators were sold! [Ottawa Sun]

OTTAWA GAMES

Congrats to Adam, Mary-Martha, Gord, Bonnie, Pat, Chantal, Deborah, Ron, and Diane, who all knew 25 people were given tickets for distracted driving on the 401.

Do you know where today’s Ottawa Guesser is? The first five people to respond get their names mentioned in the newsletter.

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