Premier Ford says restoring hydro is the 'number one issue' following the storm
Premier Doug Ford says the top priority is to restore power across the region after Saturday's severe storm damaged hydro infrastructure and properties.
More than 200,000 homes and businesses remain without power in Ottawa and eastern Ontario two days after the storm. Hydro One says more than 800 hydro poles have been damaged by the storm, while Hydro Ottawa says 200 poles were damaged in the capital.
"We're on standby, we're ready to move in there with any resources that (the Ottawa mayor) may need," Ford said during an interview with Newstalk 580 CFRA's The Morning Rush with Bill Carroll on Monday.
"The number one issue right now is getting the hydro up and going to residents and make sure the hydro is up and going to businesses."
Ford has spoken with Mayor Jim Watson and officials with Hydro Ottawa and Hydro One to discuss the situation in the Ottawa area and whether any resources from the province are needed.
Hydro crews from the Toronto area and Kingston are being deployed to Ottawa to assist crews with repairing the damage.
"As soon as we can free up some crews, we'll move them into the heaviest hit areas," Ford said. "We're giving it everything we have, we have all the resources out there working as hard as possible."
Liberal leader Steven Del Duca got a first-hand look at the storm damage in eastern Ontario. Liberal candidate for Glengarry–Prescott–Russell Amanda Simard joined Del Duca for a tour of Sarsfield, Hammond and Clarence-Rockland, including a stop at Paroisse Saint-Hugues in Sarsfield, where the church’s steeple was toppled by the storm Saturday.
"I suspended my campaign schedule for today in order to get out here and meet the responders and bring attention to what’s happening," Del Duca said. "Leaders have a duty to show up in difficult times. It says a lot about Doug Ford that he’d rather be campaigning in his Toronto riding today, rather than bringing attention and government resources here to get communities back on their feet."
Ford is campaigning in Etobicoke North. Del Duca criticized Ford's decision not to come to eastern Ontario.
"It’s the same weak and irresponsible behaviour we saw from him when Ottawa was under the siege of the occupation, when he went snowmobiling at his cottage rather than show up for Ontario’s second largest city. All he’s ever good for are some phony words read from a teleprompter," the Liberal leader said.
Clarence-Rockland declared a state of emergency Saturday night. The city has set up an emergency shelter at the Clarence Creek Arena. A hotline for residents to report issues caused by the storm will be back online, starting at 9 a.m. You can call 613-446-6022 and immediately dialing “0” to speak to an employee.
The storm on Saturday ravaged much of southern and eastern Ontario and killed at least eight people. Trees and hydro poles were felled and hundreds of thousands of people lost power.
"Ontario Liberals will be there to help with a plan to protect our communities from the impacts of the climate emergency and its extreme weather events, which are growing more and more frequent as a consequence of our changing climate,” Del Duca said.
Watson said on Twitter he had also spoken with Del Duca and NDP leader Andrea Horwath following the storm.
"Thanks @JimWatsonOttawa for sharing what folks in your community need as they face flooding, loss of power and other critical issues following #Onstorm," Horwath said on Twitter.
Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh campaigned in Horwath's bus in Kingston, Ajax and Scarborough Monday. Horwath is isolating after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.
Green Party leader Mike Schreiner called for immediate emergency support for damaged communities in the aftermath of Saturday’s storm.
“The impacts of Saturday’s storm are severe and far reaching, especially for eastern Ontario,” Schreiner said. “We need to get support to these hard-hit communities immediately. That is why Ontario Greens are calling to make sure immediate emergency support for storm-damaged communities is available as needed.”
Ontario Greens are promising to create a $2-billion per year Climate Adaptation Fund to support municipalities with green and resilient infrastructure to better withstand the impacts of climate change.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.