Construction season officially begins and the Canada Day lineup is unveiled: Five stories to watch this week
The wait continues for a new owner for the Ottawa Senators, construction season begins in Ottawa and the lineup is unveiled for Canada Day celebrations.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at five stories to watch in Ottawa this week.
Ottawa Senators sale watch
Ottawa Senators fans continue to wait for word on who will be the new owner of the NHL club.
Two weeks after the final bids were due to be submitted to New York-based Galatioto Sports Partners, there is still no word on who will own the club.
Four groups submitted bids to buy the club, with at least one offer of $1-billion, multiple reports said.
Three of the bids came from Toronto-area businessmen: Michael Andlauer, Jeffrey and Michael Kimel, and Steve Apostolopoulos. Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Neko Sparks also submitted a bid.
Postmedia reported this weekend that the four potential bidders met with Anna and Olivia Melnyk, the daughters of late owner Eugene Melnyk,
Sources told Postmedia that was a signal that the New York-based banker overseeing the sale had moved the sale process to the final stages.
The Ottawa Senators announced in November the club was up for sale, with a condition of any sale that the club remains in the capital.
The Ottawa Senators logo on the Canadian Tire Centre is seen in this undated image. (CTV News Ottawa)
Construction season begins in Ottawa
The running joke is there are two seasons in Ottawa – winter and construction. Well, construction season will officially get underway in the capital this week.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and several councillors will kick off the 2023 construction season on Monday on Slater Street.
One of the major projects this year is the rehabilitation of the underground infrastructure along Albert Street, Queen Street, Slater Street and Bronson Avenue. This year's work includes the minor widening of Bronson, between Laurier Avenue and Slater Street, to allow for a wider sidewalk, new watermain and surface work.
The 2023 city of Ottawa budget included $245.9 million for design and construction of integrated sewer and road projects, $136 million to renew roads, $7.7 million to renew sidewalks, $21 million for the widening of the Airport Parkway's southbound ramp at Walkley Road and money for guiderail renewal.
Construction will also continue on Stage 2 Light Rail Transit extensions.
Monday officially marks the start of construction season in the capital and more roads will likely begin to close as improvements and rehabilitation goes underway. Ottawa, Ont. May 16, 2022. (Tyler Fleming / CTV News Ottawa)
Ottawa public school board tables 2023-24 budget
Ottawa's public school board will introduce its 2023-24 school year budget this week, as the board faces a multi-million budget deficit.
Last week, Trustees with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board were told the board is facing a $19.9 million budget deficit for the next school year due to rising operating costs, the discontinuation of COVID-19 funding from the Ontario government and increasing costs for replacing absent teachers.
Trustees have already approved a plan to cut 23 discretionary staff positions to save more than $2 million.
Staff have said the reserve funds have been "depleted" and the board does not have the accumulated funds in reserve to continue running deficit budgets. For the 2022-23 school year, the board is using $9 million in surplus cash for operating budgets.
The 2023-24 OCDSB budget will be tabled Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
An advisory council is discussing stopping the playing of the national anthem at OCDSB schools (Colton Praill/CTV News Ottawa)
Canada Day lineup
Canadian Heritage will unveil the lineup for Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa this week.
"Canada Day is an opportunity to connect and create memorable moments with your community," Canadian Heritage says on its website.
Last year, Canada Day celebrations moved from Parliament Hill to LeBreton Flats due to construction on Centre Block.
The full Canada Day lineup will be unveiled on Wednesday.
Canada Day celebrations will also be held in Barrhaven, Kanata, Stittsville and Orleans.
Thousands of people pack Wellington Street in front of Parliament Hill for Canada Day festivities. (Jeremie Charron/CTV News Ottawa)
The 2023 CHEO Telethon
The 2023 CHEO Telethon is set for Sunday, June 4 on CTV Ottawa.
The CHEO Telethon is a time to honour brave children, youth, families and the teams that care for them.
Tune in to CTV News Ottawa from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. to see how your support makes a difference at the children's hospital. Donations are matched by generous sponsors.
Last year, the CHEO Telethon raised a record $11.8 million.
The 38th CHEO Telethon on CTV Ottawa.
EVENTS IN OTTAWA THIS WEEK
Monday
Ottawa Police Services Board meeting – 4 p.m.
Tuesday
Joint Planning and Housing and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meeting – 9:30 a.m.
Ottawa Carleton District School Board meeting – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Ottawa Carleton District School Board budget meeting – 7 p.m.
Thursday
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee meeting – 10 a.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.