Canada Day police presence ends downtown and Tamara Lich appears for a bail hearing: Five stories to watch this week
Canada Day police presence ends downtown and Tamara Lich appears for a bail hearing: Five stories to watch this week
Two police officers monitor Wellington Street as people arrive in downtown Ottawa on Canada Day. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)
It's the final week of testimony at the LRT inquiry, Tamara Lich appears in court for a bail hearing and Bluesfest returns to LeBreton Flats.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at five stories to watch in Ottawa this week.
Canada Day post-mortem
The post-mortem on the police response to Canada Day festivities and protests will begin on Monday, as the motor vehicle control zone ends and the police presence returns to normal.
Ottawa police have provided few details over the weekend on the police operation to keep downtown Ottawa safe during the first in-person Canada Day event in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tens of thousands of people attended Canada Day festivities in the downtown core and at LeBreton Flats, while hundreds of people took part in a demonstration against COVID-19 vaccines and mandates on Friday afternoon.
Ottawa Bylaw said Sunday afternoon that since 8 a.m. Wednesday, 513 parking tickets had been issued in the motor vehicle control zone, and 121 vehicles had been towed.
Police reported four people were arrested at the National War Memorial following an incident Thursday evening, one person was arrested on Thursday for breaching bail conditions and there was an arrest when a man allegedly brandished a knife on an RCMP officer.
"I thought things went really, really well. Few arrests, obviously, over the course of the days, lots of parking tickets and tow aways, but people understood we're going to be serious," Mayor Jim Watson told CTV News Ottawa Saturday afternoon. "We don't want to have a repeat of what happened a few months ago and I thank the people of Ottawa for being good hosts."
Ottawa police received assistance from the RCMP, OPP and municipal police forces for the weekend operation.
Thousands of people pack Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill for Canada Day festivities. (Jeremie Charron/CTV News Ottawa)
Final week of testimony at the Ottawa LRT inquiry
It's the final week of testimony at the public inquiry into Stage 1 of Ottawa's light rail transit system.
City Manager Steve Kanellakos will testify on Monday, followed by Director of Transit Services Delivery and Rail Operations Troy Charter on Tuesday and officials from Rideau Transit Group/Rideau Transit Maintenance on Thursday.
The inquiry, led by Justice William Hourigan, is looking into the procurement, design, construction, contract and launch of the $2.1 billion light rail transit system
Last week, Mayor Jim Watson and former OC Transpo general manager John Manconi were grilled over messages between senior staff and the Mayor's Office through WhatsApp. The messages included staff in the mayor's office asking for daily updates on how testing was going.
A report with recommendations is scheduled to be delivered to the Ontario government by the end of August. The commissioner can request an extension until November 30.
Bail hearing for Tamara Lich
"Freedom Convoy" protest organizer Tamara Lich is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for a bail hearing, after she was arrested in Alberta for allegedly breaching bail conditions.
Lich has remained in custody over the Canada Day long weekend after her arrest last week.
Lich was first arrested last February in Ottawa. She is charged with mischief, counselling to commit intimidation, obstructing police, and counselling to obstruct police.
Ottawa City Council
Ottawa City Council and the planning committee will hold meetings this week, before a seven-week break from council and committee meetings at Ottawa City Hall.
Council will meet on Wednesday, with the agenda including approving $60 million in additional funding for Stage 2 of the LRT project, approval of the Climate Change Master Plan for the City of Ottawa, and motions from Coun. Shawn Menard to review the idling bylaw and Coun. Catherine McKenney calling for the city to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. .
The planning committee will meet on Thursday.
Council traditionally has a break from meetings over the summer, in part to allow councillors and staff to take vacation. This year's summer break will also provide time for councillors seeking re-election and candidates to ramp up their municipal election campaigns.
City of Ottawa building is seen in this undated photo. (Jim O'Grady/CTV News Ottawa)
Bluesfest returns
RBC Ottawa Bluesfest kicks off on Thursday, as the popular summer music festival returns after a two-year hiatus.
Bluesfest runs from July 7 to 17 at LeBreton Flats.
Musical acts include Ottawa's Alanis Morisette, Sarah McLachlan, Jack Johnson, Luke Combs, Marshmello, Alexisonfire, Luke Bryan, Rage Against the Machine, Ja Rule and The National.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and senior RCMP officers are defending the national police force's years-long and previously undisclosed use of spyware—capable of remotely accessing cell phone and computer microphones, cameras and other data—as part of dozens of major investigations.
Saskatoon police say a woman who had been reported missing is facing charges in the United States related to unauthorized use of identification and in Canada related to parental abduction and public mischief.
Ontario's health minister said Monday that six hospitals had to close departments -- including ERs -- over the weekend, but argued that the situation wasn't unprecedented.
Sources close to the government's proposed $5.3 billion dental care program say the Liberals are planning a temporary solution that involves giving money directly to patients in order to keep their promise to the NDP while they work on a more permanent answer.
A suspect already in handcuffs has allegedly managed to overpower a Toronto police officer and steal their SUV, sending police on a wild early morning chase that ended with an attempted carjacking.
The deputy mayor of a southern Newfoundland town says his community is running out of food as it remains cut off from the rest of the island due to the worst forest fires the province has seen in more than 60 years.
Halifax has cancelled 75 bus trips due to a lack of transit staff, and the union representing the drivers says staffing levels will likely get worse before they get better.
A weather front sprawling out of Ontario and Quebec is leading a low pressure system across the Maritimes Monday through Tuesday. Rain, drizzle and fog are expected in the region with some areas experiencing heavy rain for a period of time.
Ontario hospitals are upholding their mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for employees as staff shortages mount to a 'crisis' with more emergency departments temporarily closing over the weekend.
Ontario's health minister said Monday that six hospitals had to close departments -- including ERs -- over the weekend, but argued that the situation wasn't unprecedented.
Quebec's chief coroner has ordered a public inquiry into the death of 26-year-old Abdulla Shaikh, who is suspected of killing the three men at random last week.
One day after Montreal Pride abruptly cancelled the parade just hours before it was set to begin, organizers didn't have much to say about how poorly they managed the festival's marquee event. And now there are concerns about how the embarrassing mistake could hurt the city's reputation.
Montreal police are investigating the suspicious death of a man whose body was found in a bin during recycling collection in the city's Hochelaga-Maisonneuve neighbourhood Monday morning.
A Manitoba woman who abused and killed her daughter in one of the province's most notorious crimes has been granted escorted temporary absences from prison.
Student housing is hard to come by in Waterloo and new spots are constantly being built to address the need, but it appears some new housing might not be ready in time for the start of the school year.
Brantford Police have issued an arrest warrant for a man and are asking the public for help identifying a second man following a police chase which resulted in multiple collisions and the two suspects evading arrest.
For the first full term since the onset of the pandemic students in Ontario schools will not be required to wear a face covering for the fall semester.
A Calgary man and woman face 33 charges for alleged drug possession in addition to alleged firearm possession that police say was for the purpose of trafficking drugs.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino and senior RCMP officers are defending the national police force's years-long and previously undisclosed use of spyware—capable of remotely accessing cell phone and computer microphones, cameras and other data—as part of dozens of major investigations.
Several belongings have been found, but there's still no sign of an American man who crossed the border to attend a music festival, officials said, announcing the suspension of search efforts.
A mom in Chilliwack, B.C., says she was terrified after her children were exposed to an unknown irritant at a local playground that caused their skin and eyes to burn.
Two police officers monitor Wellington Street as people arrive in downtown Ottawa on Canada Day. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)
Thousands of people pack Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill for Canada Day festivities. (Jeremie Charron/CTV News Ottawa) 
City of Ottawa building is seen in this undated photo. (Jim O'Grady/CTV News Ottawa)
Photo courtesy: IG @avolossov
