Homeowners lose thousands to absent contractor and speeding driver blames the car: Top five stories this week
Ottawa homeowners lose thousands to an absent contractor and a driver blames the car for travelling 120 km/h over the speed limit.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at the top five stories on our website this week.
Ottawa homeowners lose thousands to absent contractor
A number of Ottawa homeowners want swift action after they allege a man they hired to perform major heating and cooling work took their money months ago without completing or – in some cases – even starting the jobs.
"He did half the job, left in the middle of it, installed a hot water heater that was not to code and stopped working after a couple of days," Dan Cockerham said.
Cockerham hired Mahmoud El Sharafah and his company Comfort Level One Heating and Cooling earlier this year. He says after months of excuses, he's going through small claims court to try to get money back.
This week, Cockerham met up with strangers he met online who had similar experiences at the Ottawa police station. They had filed reports but wanted to go in person to try to speed up the response.
Ottawa police won't comment on this specific case, but say they investigate complaints as they come in.
Strangers who hired the same man for work they say wasn't completed met for the first time this week at the Ottawa Police station. (Katie Griffin/CTV Ottawa)
Ottawa mayor wouldn't speak to Parliament security service during convoy: official
The acting director of the Parliamentary Protective Service says Mayor Jim Watson's office would not return a call during the height of the "Freedom Convoy" last winter.
Larry Brookson told Members of Parliament and Senators that he attempted to reach out to Watson and City Manager Steve Kanellakos during the protests that occupied streets around the Parliamentary Precinct for three weeks.
But he said he received responses from both of their offices that they weren't available to talk.
Brookson added that the mayor's office did not communicate with the protective service, which is responsible for security on Parliament Hill, about a failed deal between the city and convoy organizers to bring the protest to a negotiated end during its height.
Both Watson's office and Kanellakos told CTV News Ottawa they were going to appear before the committee this fall.
Mayoral candidate proposes $9-an-hour parking in downtown Ottawa
Parking rates, more transparency at city hall, making Ottawa a "music city" and economic development plans highlighted the week in the race for Ottawa mayor.
Candidates Catherine McKenney, Mark Sutcliffe, Bob Chiarelli, Mike Maguire and others released new parts of their platform during the week.
McKenney promised to bring more transparency to Ottawa City Hall and "end the influence of money" in city politics, and outlined an economic platform that included extending small business tax credits and attracting a major employer to Ottawa. Sutcliffe outlined a plan to make Ottawa a "music city", including reviewing bylaws to help support musicians and create a music office.
The issue of parking rates came up during the eco-debate on Wednesday, as candidates were asked about a possible congestion charge to reduce vehicle traffic into the downtown core.
Candidate Brandon Bay said if elected mayor, he would increase parking fees to "discourage driving and to use that money to help maintain roads better and pay for transit."
"With the numbers I've worked out, if we increase parking rates from an average of $3.12 an hour to about $9 an hour, and include some in-station retail and vending machines, we can cover about 75 per cent of all transit fares and get rides down to about $1 a piece."
McKenney told the debate that, "the best way to provide congestion charging, I believe, is to increase parking rates in your downtown."
In a statement on Twitter Friday afternoon, McKenney said their transportation plan for the 2022 election campaign "does not include an increase in parking fees."
On Tuesday, Sutcliffe issued a call for civility on the campaign trail, saying community members and elected officials who have been attacking him are contributing to a "toxic environment" at city hall.
Human remains found at Vanier apartment building
Ottawa police are investigating the discovery of human remains at an apartment building in Vanier.
Construction workers at a three-storey building on Deschamps Avenue discovered the remains at the site on Wednesday.
"Digging at the location uncovered what are believed to be human remains," police said in a statement.
Police said on Thursday the Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation, including forensic identification processes.
Ottawa police remained at a Vanier apartment building on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after construction workers discovered apparent human remains. (Jeremie Charron/CTV News Ottawa)
'Car is too fast': Driver blames vehicle for going 200 km/h
A driver facing a stunt driving charge told officers it was the car's fault, according to police.
An Ontario Provincial Police officer stopped a driver on Loyalist Parkway in Prince Edward County on Sept. 24 allegedly going 200 km/h.
The speed limit is 80 km/h.
"Their excuse? The car is too fast," OPP said of the 41-year-old from Brighton who was stopped.
The driver is facing a charge of stunt driving, which includes an automatic 14-day vehicle impoundment and the driver's license suspended for 30 days.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.