Ottawa-Gatineau border reopens and a new visitor to Bearhaven: Top five stories this week
Travel restrictions end at the Ottawa-Gatineau crossings, a G2 driver receives an expensive lesson on the rules of the road and a bear is an uninvited guest to a Barrhaven back yard.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at the five most viewed stories on our website this week.
Ottawa-Gatineau border checkpoints ended Wednesday
Non-essential travel restrictions ended at the Ontario-Quebec boundary on Wednesday, allowing Ottawa and Gatineau residents to freely cross the Ottawa River without going through police checkpoints.
The Ontario government implemented travel restrictions on April 19 in a bid to limit the spread of COVID-19. The Quebec government also implemented rotating checkpoints at the border crossings.
Ontario's order preventing non-essential travel into the province expired at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The Quebec government announced it would also reopen its border to Ontarians who wish to travel.
Mayor Jim Watson said this week the police checkpoints cost the Ottawa Police Service $800,000.
A driver shows identification to an Ottawa police officer as a checkpoint as vehicles enter the province from Quebec Monday April 19, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Eastern Ontario's top doctor wants Ontario to wait 21 days before entering Step 2
Eastern Ontario's medical officer of health called on the Ontario government to stick to the three-week timeline in the Roadmap to Reopen plan before easing more restrictions.
Dr. Paul Roumeliotis told CTV News at Five Thursday evening that the 21 days between stages would allow more time for people to receive a first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
This week, Premier Doug Ford said he would meet with health officials to discuss whether Ontario can make an earlier move into Step 2, which would allow indoor gatherings and shopping malls to reopen.
Late Thursday, chief medical officer of health Dr. Williams said he would only consider speeding up Step 2 by "a day or two."
"There's an end to the journey in sight," Williams said. "Let's make sure we get there safely, rather than doing something careless or reckless along the way."
Gatineau and the Outaouais moved into the yellow zone on Monday, allowing indoor gatherings and bars, breweries and taverns to reopen.
A patron drinks a beverage at a patio in the ByWard Market in Ottawa, as patios open in Ontario's first phase of re-opening amidst the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, on Saturday, June 12, 2021. (Justin Tang/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Ottawa man had more than one million child pornography files
An Ottawa man was sentenced to more than five years in prison after one of the largest seizures of child pornography images in Canadian history.
Tristan Alexandre Perrier, 68, pleaded guilty to making, possessing and distributing child pornography.
The RCMP say he had more than one million child sexual exploitation files in his possession.
Two speeding tickets in 59 minutes for Ottawa G2 driver
An 18-year-old Ottawa driver had an expensive start to the weekend, after receiving two speeding tickets on Ottawa roads in less than an hour.
Ottawa Police say an officer stopped the G2 driver going 112 km/h in an 80 km/h zone on Blackburn Bypass Friday morning.
Police say the same driver was stopped 59 minutes later going 117 km/h on the Airport Parkway. The speed limit is 70 km/h on the Airport Parkway.
Black bear safely relocated to White Lake after making visit to Barrhaven back yard
Bears were unexpected visitors in two Ottawa neighbourhoods this week.
Sunday morning, a black bear was spotted out for a stroll in a field in the area of Fernbank Road and Terry Fox Drive.
Monday morning, a black bear settled into a resident's backyard in the area of Earl Mulligan Drive in Barrhaven.
National Capital Commission Conservation Officers safely got the bear out of the tree and relocated it to a wooded area near White Lake.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.