New year, new rules: Two Ottawa bylaws come into effect in January 2024
New regulations on public donation boxes and a switch to the province's towing framework will come into effect in Ottawa in the New Year.
New regulatory framework for towing industry
A motorcycle is loaded onto a truck in downtown Ottawa's vehicle control zone Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Jeremie Charron/CTV News Ottawa)Starting Jan. 1, Ottawa, along with all other Ontario municipalities, will switch to a provincial regulatory framework for the towing and storage sector.
This includes all tow service operators, tow truck drivers and vehicle storage facility operators, as well as their enforcement.
In response to growing violence, corruption and criminal activity in the towing industry, the province established the provincial oversight regime.
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Ottawa residents can still contact 3-1-1 to determine if their vehicle has been towed for a parking infraction by the City or an authorized Private Parking Enforcement Agency.
All complaints about towing or storage services should be directed to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. The Ministry of Transportation will share information about the complaint process on their website.
A report with further information on the transition to provincial governance of the towing sector is scheduled at the city's Emergency Preparedness and Protection Committee in February 2024.
Clothing Donation By-Law in effect Jan. 31
The city of Ottawa is considering new rules for clothing donation boxes. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)A bylaw regulating clothing donation boxes passed by council in September introduces a permit system with a fee, in response to unmaintained and unattended boxes across the city.
The Clothing Donation Box Bylaw will come into effect Jan. 31 with regulations for location, signage and maintenance of the boxes and a new annual permit fee of $500.
There will also be an annual fee of $150 per box located across the city.
The city estimates there are approximately 200 to 300 outdoor clothing donation boxes located on private property and at six city of Ottawa facilities.
Between 2019 and 2023, the city received 285 service requests for clothing donation boxes, with the majority focusing on property standards and the "over-accumulation of donated items," a staff report said.
Under the bylaw, the clothing donation boxes must display the name, telephone number and email address of the box owner and the valid charity registration number or not-for-profit corporation number.
With files from CTV News Ottawa's Josh Pringle
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberal MP says she's leaving politics over disrespectful dialogue, threats, misogyny
Liberal MP Pam Damoff says she won't run again in the next federal election, saying she has experienced misogyny, disrespectful dialogue in politics and threats to her life.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Ont. woman who faked pregnancy to defraud doulas arrested again on similar charges
Victims of a Brantford, Ont., woman who was sentenced to house arrest earlier this year for defrauding and deceiving doulas say they’re not surprised she’s been apprehended again on similar charges.
Eating disorders among youth skyrocketed during pandemic and so did associated costs, report finds
The number of young people experiencing eating disorders surged during the height of the pandemic as the social and economic costs skyrocketed too, a new pan-Canadian report has found.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.