‘Overdue’ Ontario minimum wage increase keeping workers treading water, employees, experts say
While Ontario has raised the minimum wage rate again, it's really only keeping low-income workers up with inflation and not helping them move forward, experts say.
New $25M housing bond campaign in Ottawa turns neighbours into investors
A new bond will allow residents to invest in two local non-profits to preserve affordable housing.
Ottawa temporarily cuts developer fees as part of the city’s housing accelerator plan
Ottawa is temporarily cutting Community Benefit Charges (CBCs) for developers, lowering fees from four per cent to two per cent of land value in a move to stimulate housing construction.
Some Ottawa Metro stores reduce daily student discount to once a week as food insecurity rises
Some Metro grocery stores in Ottawa are cutting a daily discount for students to once a week as the affordability crisis continues to grow in the capital.
OC Transpo crackdown on fare evasion draws ire of free-transit advocates
An Ottawa advocate for free transit says an OC Transpo crackdown on riders who evade paying their bus or LRT fare is unfairly punishing low-income people who can’t afford to use the city’s troubled transit system. In a report presented recently to the transit committee, OC Transpo detailed the levels of fare evasion in the city and its approach to...
NCC envisions 9,000 homes as Tunney’s Pasture aims to cut federal office space
On a bright winter day, the wind howls across Tunney’s Pasture, the federal government campus envisioned seven decades ago as a way to move federal government buildings some distance from the downtown of the National Capital. In Tunney’s Pasture, the roads are narrow and the campus buildings are far apart. Government employees huddle for a smoke against buildings, while others...
Trade war tactics: Outdoor markets highlight value of buying local
Ottawa Street Markets founder shares why buying Canadian is important during the U.S.- Canada trade war.
Repair Café showcases circular economy’s role in fighting U.S. trade war
Advocacy groups are urging residents and Ottawa city hall to focus on strengthening the local circular economy — including the voluntary repair and recycling service provided by the Ottawa Tool Library — as part of the community response to the on-going U.S. trade war with Canada. The U.S. has imposed tariffs on many Canadian exports, including vehicles, steel and aluminum,...
One in four struggle to afford food: How Ottawa’s Parkdale Food Centre is managing demand
The Parkdale Food Centre is barely able to keep up with the demand as amid rising food prices.
More government funding needed for Ottawa food banks, advocates say
Advocates say current levels of funding for food banks and services are no longer enough to address food insecurity in Ottawa.
Some Ottawa restaurants say tax holiday made little difference to their business
While data suggests Ontario’s restaurant industry experienced an increase in dining over the recently implemented tax holiday, some Ottawa restaurant workers say they did not really notice any impact.
Ottawa councillors deny developer request to add units to keep agreed amenity space in high rise
Ottawa’s housing committee turned down a developer’s request to add five more units to a pair of student high rises in the ByWard Market, citing concerns about “quality of life” for residents due to reduced amenity spaces.