Somerset West health centre transitioning to HART hub
The Somerset West Health Community Centre will transition from a drug consumption site into a Homelessness Addiction Recovery Treatment Hub. This is part of the Ontario government's new rule to close all drug consumption sites within 200-metre proximity of schools and child-care centres.
Artists spotlight housing insecurity in ground-breaking SAW exhibition
Ottawa local gallery, SAW's Give Me Shelter exhibit highlighted the ongoing homeless and housing insecurity issues in the country and internationally. While it was a successful exhibit, participants and officials alike say more needs to be done still.
‘They’re saving money on the bill:’ How Canada’s GST break has taken a bite out of tips
Jeff Rheaume works the Monday night shift on Feb. 3 at his restaurant, The Broadway Bar & Grill Ottawa. [Photo by Mia Parker/Capital Current]
Tariffs could worsen Ontario rental market, expert says
Carleton University student Grace Rhodes hasn’t bought new clothes in two years. “I definitely don’t do stuff because I don’t have the money,” said Rhodes, who rents a home with five other students. Rhodes said the “crazy” state of the rental market makes it hard to afford student life and has already quashed her hopes of home ownership. “Absolutely not...
The price drop: Cheaper alcohol boosting family-owned convenience stores
Meet and Yashaswy Patel, two brothers living in Ottawa, have owned a convenience store called Our Neighbourhood Store for the past six months where the Patels know all about fluctuating prices for groceries, snacks and now alcohol. The presence of alcoholic beverages for sale in convenience stores started last fall when the province of Ontario increased the market for selling...
Fare increases and empty seats: OC Transpo has yet to regain pre-pandemic ridership
Low ridership is a multi-pronged issue for Ottawa. For some residents, lack of reliability is the main deterrent for their participation. For public workers, remote work options mean there is no reason to take transit. For some Ottawa residents like Max Patton, a part-time line cook, declining service quality and increasing fares have been enough to make him abandon OC...
Ottawa to press ahead with study of anti-renoviction bylaw
Ottawa city council approved a motion to research the implementation of a potential renoviction bylaw on Jan. 22. 2025.
GST tax breaks aren’t earning great reviews from some Ottawa businesses and consumers
Small businesses are not sure they will see positive impacts from the federal government's GST/HST cuts during the holiday season.
Fate of downtown apartment building on hold as Ottawa council considers fate of tenants
Ottawa City Council has delayed a decision on a proposed development at 219-223 Bank St. and 178 Nepean St., requesting that the developer, Smart Living Properties, address concerns about the displacement of tenants. The council called for a “right to return” agreement, ensuring tenants would be allowed to return to the new units at below-market rates. The issue was raised...
Ottawa EV drivers navigate shift to battery-powered vehicles as charging infrastructure slowly improves
Ottawa is getting greener by shifting to no fuel emission vehicles. EV drivers say the battery range on their electric vehicles can be worrisome.
Ottawa cyclists fear for bike network after passage of ‘Reducing Gridlock’ bill
Cyclists worry that Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s recently-passed Bill 212 will hinder the ability to get more Ottawa residents out for a ride.
State of Indigenous languages worse than it appears, but hope is not lost, expert says
Data from Statistics Canada paints a bleak picture of Indigenous languages in Canada but a linguistics professor says the picture is even worse than it appears, due to the self-reporting nature of the Census.
Tenants at Bank and Lisgar fear for their future as ‘demoviction’ date approaches
Time is running out for the tenants at Bank and Lisgar Sts., who face a February 2025 deadline to leave their homes, which will be demolished and replaced by a midrise apartment building.
City of Ottawa’s new focus on person-centred, long-term care a welcome shift
Francis Dixon says the City of Ottawa’s shift toward person-centred care has enhanced his sense of independence and dignity at Carleton Lodge, a long-term care home by the Rideau River — one of four run by the city. “I can wake up when my body allows, and the staff genuinely care about my needs,” the 87-year-old retired clergyman told Capital...
So far, so good: Person-centred care pilot program in Ottawa long-term care deemed success
Person-centred care is an integrated health-services approach that relies on a variety of factors to strengthen resident comfort and safety.
Some downtown Ottawa convenience store owners say it’s not worth the risk to sell alcohol
Weeks after the Ontario government allowed convenience stores to sell beer, wine, and coolers, many store owners in Ottawa are taking a cautious approach, saying they have concerns about the impact on safety and the potential for increased shoplifting.
Ottawa students, teachers see positive impact of new cellphone rules
Many Ottawa teachers and students say the new phone rules in classes is making a positive difference this school year.
Sparks Street BIA set for huge expansion among Centretown businesses
Ottawa's Sparks Street BIA is about to grow far beyond its namesake, following approval from City Council.
“It’s worrying:” Unemployment rate for young immigrants more than doubles in past year
It took eight months for Abyssinnia Abebe to find a job. Abebe, from Ethiopia originally, is now a permanent resident in Canada. Even with that status, the 20 year old immigrant university student, says she applied to more than 150 jobs within that eight-month period. The struggle to find a job is not a unique problem. Unemployment among immigrants aged...
Climbing rents in Ontario have tenants feeling stuck
With the cost of rent increasing in an already competitive market, tenants face mounting hurdles to secure shelter that fits their needs and budgets. According to Capital Current’s data analysis from Statistics Canada’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), rent prices in Ontario rose by 7.1 per cent in August 2024, compared to the same time last year. The increase for all...
Words matter: Seeking asylum in Canada is not illegal
Earlier in June, U.S. President Joe Biden announced measures on migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border that allow authorities to deport or turn them back to Mexico without having the chance to claim asylum. One of Donald Trump’s main campaign agendas is to deport millions of undocumented migrants and prevent others from crossing borders. In recent years, tensions over Quebec’s Roxham Road...
In wake of changes to alcohol market, Ottawa brewers urge province to consider dedicated shelves for their beer, incentives and tax cuts
In the wake of the LCBO strike settlement, Ottawa breweries say they welcome Ontario’s plan to allow grocery and convenience stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails, saying it is an encouraging, but long orverdue move for the local market. But without financial incentives for small breweries, dedicated shelves for local products in sales outlets and a re-evaluation of...
Convenience store owner praises liberalizing alcohol market in Ontario
When Premier Doug Ford announced plans to allow Ontario convenience stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails, Biruk G. Medhin received the news with enthusiasm and optimism. For 30 years, Medhin has run the A&M Confectionary in Ottawa’s Heron Park neighbourhood. He told Capital Current he had worked closely with community members in the past to sign a petition...
Neo-Nazi organization run by Canadian teens promotes racial violence, watchdog group says
In a recent report, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network is drawing attention to a small, but growing neo-Nazi group in Canada that has emerged onto social media platforms and is apparently run by teenagers. The group is an offshoot of an organization founded in the U.S. in 2013 as the Atomwaffen Division. There are now active cells in Canada, the United...
Down on the farm: Despite serious concerns, Canadian agriculture remains surprisingly hopeful, survey shows
A new Angus Reid poll finds while farmers and the agriculture community have concerns about the sector, there is hope too.
Safe injection site reopens in Sandy Hill after five-month hiatus
The Sandy Hill Community Health Centre’s safe injection site reopened on July 15 after closing in February.The opening day saw about 50 per cent capacity while word about the reopening gets around, but staff expects to see an increase in the next few weeks.
On strike: CAS Ottawa workers say their job action is a last ditch effort to maintain services and staff
The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CAS) workers continued their strike into Tuesday.CAS is part of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). They are asking the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to agree to not make any more layoffs and for better wages.
UPDATE: Ottawa police say they are ready for extremist Diagolon group’s so-called Road Rage Terror Tour event in Ottawa
Community Solidarity Ottawa (CSO) is warning locals about a far-right extremist Diagolon event planned for Saturday July 6 in Ottawa. The event is led by Jeremy “Raging Dissident” Mackenzie and is Diagolon’s first stop on their national tour, titled “The Rage Tour.”
New survey shows Doug Ford’s approval down as rumours of early election swirl
New data from the Angus Reid Institute shows a three-point decrease in Ontario premier Doug Ford’s approval rating, now sitting at 31 per cent, the lowest among the premiers along with New Brunswick's Blaine Higgs.
Diminishing support: Public support for pro-Palestinian encampments wanes the longer they last, survey shows
A new survey of Canadians and Americans shows that support for student encampments diminishes over time.
Pro-Palestinian, pro-Israeli protesters rally as city raises Star of David flag
Pro-Palestinian and Pro-Israel rallies attend the raising of the Israeli flag at Ottawa City Hall on Israel's Independence Day.
No quick fix: Invasive species, fires and a warming climate hamper trees’ ability to capture carbon
Over the last decade, governments in Canada have announced various efforts to boost and conserve these vital forest populations. However, nvasive species, forest fires, and extreme weather are interfering with trees’ ability to sequester carbon dioxide.
As LSAT becomes more accessible; some hope legal profession will too
As the LSAT becomes more accessible, there's hopeful anticipation for increased inclusivity within the legal profession.
Advocates urge uOttawa to find new home for campus daycare
UOttawa is about to demolish a building that houses the campus daycare centre. Advocates are frustrated that they can't convince the university to save the centre.
Impact of toxic politics may deter women from running for office, say experts
Concerns surrounding diversity in elections are rising because of psychological harassment and toxicity rising in municipal governments.
Concern about security and organized crime as vehicle thefts soar in Ottawa
Capital Current analyzes the concerning rise in car thefts in the city, as well as the measures the police force are taking.
Enforcement overhaul: Ottawa Police Board members set to study how to recognize systemic racism and more
Members of the Ottawa Police Service Board are set to undergo new provincial training on topics like multiculturalism and systemic racism.
Researchers say more regulation would help make technology accessible for seniors
Digitizing essential services creates a digital divide and that puts illiterate people in a disadvantageous situation.
Canada seeing a competitive job market even STEM grads can’t escape
Recent grads in engineering and STEM are facing a competitive and evolving job market.
CUSA fights visa cap, while minister insists international students mustn’t end up ‘slinging pizzas’
The battle lines are drawn over the recently announced cap on International student visas.
Raising the Roof supporters sleep in cars, buy toques to ease homelessness
Toque Tuesday (Feb. 6) was a night for supporters of Raising the Roof, a national charity aimed at easing the homelessness, to experience what life is like on the streets.
Some immigration consultants for international students say federal cap on visas necessary to bring order to system
While students and learning institutions are concerned about the visa cap, one industry feels it is necessary to combat serious issues.
Ottawa Humane Society sounds alarm over proliferation of abandoned puppies
With the end of the pandemic, people are not buying dogs from breeders and puppies have now been crowding animal shelters in recent months.
Zero-waste basketball day gets campus recycling race started at Carleton
This year, Carleton and uOttawa will compete in the national capital to divert waste from the landfill.
Protesters rally for trans youth as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith visits Ottawa
Hundreds packed Parliament Hill on Monday to protest the arrival of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in town, after she announced proposed restrictions on transgender youth. Smith was in Ottawa to mark the opening of a provincial office in the city that will be used to make Alberta’s case to the federal government and to participate in at an event near...
Senior’s struggle to get a paper phone bill points to barriers for illiterate Canadians
Telecom companies lack protocols for dealing with illiterate seniors, leaving them vulnerable and exposed to abuse.
Rise in workplace injuries indicates trouble for healthcare workers in Ontario, WSIB data finds
An analysis of data from the Ontario Workplace Safety Insurance Board obtained through a freedom-of-information request indicates trouble for healthcare workplace safety as the number of accepted workplace compensation claims for healthcare workers jumped more than 60 per cent between 2020 and 2022. This is the most significant increase among all occupations that made claims during the same period.
Expanding services across the city may help ease ByWard Market’s overdose crisis, advocates say
Advocates for local addiction programs have raised concerns that clustered shelters and social services in ByWard Market may pose more harm than good for those living with substance use disorders. Alongside these concerns, they call for the city to spread these facilities more across the municipality to address the current overdose crisis better.
To buy or not to buy: Young Canadians face tough choices on home ownership
Today, many factors determine a young person’s likelihood of purchasing a house in the future. They’re facing more difficulties in being able to afford a down payment, resulting in fewer young people thinking they will one day become homeowners.
The student dilemma: Pay more and live close to campus or pay less and commute
As rents continue to climb in Ottawa, many students are struggling to find a compromise between living close to school and finding a unit that's affordable. But with so many students competing for rentals, that balancing act is getting harder.