What Ottawa is Talking About News

WOITA 130524

🏙️ Ville de Gatineau

•  Seven candiates are running for mayor of Gatineau, to serve out the rest of the term abdicated by former mayor France Bélisle. Nominations closed last Friday for a byelection on June 9. Running are Rémi Bergeron (independent), Stéphane Bisson (independent), Yves Ducharme (independent), Daniel Feeny (independent), Olive Kamanyana (independent), Maude Marquis-Bissonnette (Action Gatineau), and Mathieu Saint-Jean (independent). (Isabel Harder at CBC)
•  Robot garbage trucks will start picking up the majority of Gatineau’s trash at the end of the month. Only the arm that picks up the cans is a robot, human beings will still drive the vehicle. For now. Residents must ensure that their garbage receptacles are compatible and are not locked. The robot/human hybrid trucks are expected to save money because only one paycheck is required. (Isabel Harder at CBC)
•  Gatineau Police say use of force was necessary when arresting a Black man who borrowed his dad’s car. The man, who was entering the BMW in his driveway, was arrested for ‘obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty’ after the officer thought the man was ‘suspicious’. Gatineau police say they have looked into the incident and say there is no evidence the officer breached professional conduct however, the Service has submitted the obstruction case against the driver for prosecution. (Arthur White-Crummey at CBC)

🥔 Lowertown

•  The Lowertown Community Association does not want a monument recognizing the Irish Famine in Macdonald Gardens Park. The Global Irish Famine Way - Ottawa Committee  wants to create the monument to remember those who fled famine in Ireland during the 1840s to make a new life in Ottawa. Over 100,000 Irish people came to Canada during those years. The Lowertown Community Association says they are not against a monument but the park is the wrong location. (Guy Quenneville at CBC)

💰 Downtown

•  Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says that he never lobbied the Federal government to increase the number of days public employees need to be in the office. He only said ‘we need to have a plan for downtown Ottawa that brings as many people to the core as possible’.  (Ian Bailey in the Globe & Mail)

🛻 Convoy Update

•  Convoy organizer Pat King’s trial begins today. Arrested Feb 18, 2022, the day the crowds were rousted by a combined police services, King has been charged with mischief, counselling others to commit mischief, disobeying a court order, and obstructing police. (Laura Osman in the Canadian Press)

💥 University of Ottawa

•  The student group camped at the University of Ottawa says the administration will be meeting them today. One of the demands of Integrity Not Spite Against Falastin is that the University divest of any investments in Israel, listing Airbus, Scotiabank, Blackrock Inc., Estee Lauder and Cisco Systems Inc. as examples. (William Eltherington at CTV)