Ottawa's mayor says it would be a 'huge help' if residents work from home on Tuesday
Ottawa's mayor says it would be a 'huge help' if residents work from home on Tuesday
Mayor Jim Watson is asking Ottawa residents to work from home on Tuesday as the cleanup continues from Saturday's devastating storm.
More than 110,000 homes and businesses remain without power across Ottawa. The city says three dozen roads remain closed due to debris and downed power lines, and lights remain out at several intersections.
"It would be a huge help if you are able to stay at home and stay out of the way of those essential workers as they get their job done," Watson told reporters Monday afternoon.
Ottawa police have asked people to avoid travel if possible this weekend due to the debris and downed wires.
Ottawa's Public Works General Manager Alain Gonthier says several hundred traffic signals were knocked out of service by the storm.
"Our traffic and roads crews are still in the process of repairing signs, light posts, traffic signals – many of which have been damaged or are still without power," Gonthier said.
Watson says fewer people on the roads will help the cleanup efforts.
"We've learned to work from home if we can, and that's probably the best advice I can give you for the next day or two until we get things stabilized, particularly the traffic lights," Watson told Newstalk 580 CFRA's the Morning Rush with Bill Carroll Monday morning.
"At the end of the day, we have to make sure that people are safe. Our transit system got back up and running relatively quickly."
The Ottawa Carleton District School Board and Ottawa Catholic School Board have announced all elementary and secondary schools will be closed on Tuesday and there will be no virtual learning. Schools are expected to reopen on Wednesday.
Algonquin College says all classes and services – virtual and in-person - are cancelled on Tuesday at the Ottawa campus.
"All employees at the Ottawa campus who are not directly involved with restoring operations, or have not been directly advised by their manager to attend work on campus, should remain at home on Tuesday," Algonquin College said Monday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Soldier protesting COVID-19 mandates completes march in Ottawa ahead of Canada Day
Canadian Forces veteran James Topp marched through Ottawa on Thursday on the final leg of his cross-country march, and was joined by Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre for part of the walk.

Approximately 675K eligible to vote in Conservative leadership race: party
The Conservative Party of Canada says approximately 675,000 members will be eligible to vote in this year's leadership race.
Omicron cousin BA.5 predicted to cause nearly 70 per cent of COVID-19 cases by Canada Day
Researchers examining the threat of emerging COVID-19 strains predict Omicron BA.5 will account for nearly 70 per cent of cases in much of the country by Canada Day.
Supreme Court says expanded rape shield laws are constitutional
The Supreme Court of Canada says the expanded rules to further prevent a sexual assault complainant's past from being used against them in a trial are 'constitutional in their entirety.'
Stocks are down, but here's why experts say you shouldn't panic
As stocks continue to slump, it can be easy to let your emotions take over if you've got money invested in the market. But experts agree that there's no need to panic if you're invested in the right type of portfolio with the right level of risk.
Health Canada says baby formula shipments coming, but supply to remain limited during summer
More than a month after Canada reported a shortage of baby formula for allergic infants, Health Canada says supplies will continue to be limited during the summer even with new shipments on the horizon.
Importing dogs from more than 100 countries to be banned in Canada
Animal rescue groups are criticizing a new policy by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that will ban the import of dogs from more than 100 countries.
WATCH | Physician expects new COVID-19 variants every few months: 'Whole world is a petri dish'
An emergency room physician in Toronto is warning that COVID-19 variants will continue to 'mutate endlessly' as the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are poised to become the dominant strains of the virus.
Quebec group goes to court over Governor General's lack of French
A group of Quebecers is going to court to argue that Mary Simon's appointment as governor general should be invalidated because she isn't fluent in French.