Nearly 100 vehicles towed from downtown vehicle control zone since Wednesday: Bylaw
Ottawa Bylaw says its officers have handed out more than 300 parking tickets and towed almost 100 vehicles from the vehicle control zone in downtown Ottawa since it came into effect Wednesday.
Ottawa police say residents and visitors will continue to see an enhanced police presence in downtown Ottawa today, as the cleanup begins from Canada's 155th birthday party.
Tens of thousands of people packed the parliamentary precinct, LeBreton Flats, the ByWard Market and other areas of Ottawa on Canada Day, while anti-government protesters held a march through the Centretown neighbourhood.
"Given what we know and what we are faced with, we have taken an enhanced and extended posture that starts well before the 1st of July and extends well past to ensure we properly protect our city," interim Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell said earlier this week.
Officers from Ottawa police, the OPP, RCMP and other municipal police forces will be stationed across the downtown area to monitor for any protests and to keep residents and visitors safe.
A motor vehicle control zone remains in effect this weekend in an area stretching from Sussex Drive/Colonel By Drive in the east to Booth Street in the west and Wellington Street in the north to Laurier Avenue in the south, along with the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway between Wellington Street and Parkdale Avenue.
The roads are not closed, but any motor vehicles taking part in any demonstration, event, protest or rally will not be permitted.
There is no on-street parking or stopping on the roads in the control zone, and any motorists failing to follow the rules may be ticketed and towed.
Between 8 a.m. on Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Ottawa Bylaw said 327 parking tickets had been issued and 91 vehicles had been towed. Ottawa Bylaw also issued three tickets for unauthorized fireworks on Canada Day.
"We have developed options for multiple scenarios," Bell said about policing the capital over Canada Day.
PARAMEDIC CALLS 'WELL BELOW NORMAL'
Ottawa paramedics say they responded to a lower than normal number of calls on Canada Day compared to typical in-person celebrations.
A spokesperson tells CTV News Ottawa that paramedics responded to 31 calls across all Canada Day sites on Friday, but only transported five people to hospital. None of the issues was considered serious.
CONFEDERATION LINE
It was the first Canada Day with in-person events for Ottawa's Confederation Line since its launch in 2019, and officials say the system handled the crowds.
"OC Transpo was successfully able to move tens of thousands of residents and visitors across the city," Director of Transit Service Delivery and Rail Operators Troy Charter said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.
"Fifteen O-Train Line 1 trains ran during peak volumes to accommodate customers and move people efficiently through the system."
OC Transpo closed the Pimisi Station for a short period on Friday to assist with crowd management, Charter said.
OC Transpo issued a couple of messages on Twitter Friday asking riders not to hold open the door.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, pleads guilty in sports betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud Wednesday in a sports betting case where prosecutors allege he stole US$16 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.