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.
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.
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
4th Indian national arrested, charged with murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Homicide investigators in B.C. say murder charges have been laid against a fourth Indian national in connection to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Surrey gurdwara last year.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Man ticketed after allegedly trespassing again at Drake's Bridle Path mansion to get his bike
A man who tried to access Drake’s Bridle Path mansion earlier this week returned to the property Saturday and was apprehended again for allegedly trespassing, Toronto police say.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Biden calls Trump 'unhinged,' says 'something snapped' in former president after he lost 2020 U.S. election
U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday called Donald Trump “clearly unhinged” and claimed that “something snapped” in the former president after he lost the 2020 election.
Wildfire that forced evacuation of Fort Nelson, B.C., caused by tree falling on wires, mayor says
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Switzerland's Nemo wins 68th Eurovision Song Contest
Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with 'The Code,' an operatic ode to the singer’s journey toward embracing their nongender identity.
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.