Province to open new 'regional office' in Ottawa
Premier Doug Ford announced the province will be opening a new regional office dedicated to Ottawa on Monday.
- Sign up now for our daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
In a press conference with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, the Premier says the new office will "support better services for the people of Ottawa" and "support greater engagement" with the province and the city.
"Today’s announcement is further evidence that our government takes Ottawa’s position as our second-largest city and a service and economic hub for eastern Ontario seriously,” Premier Doug Ford said in a statement.
"This new office will be critical in delivering on the new deal while identifying opportunities to grow Ottawa and eastern Ontario’s economy and supporting the hardworking people of this region. It will also be an important link between the province and the federal government."
The office will be located in Constitution Square on Albert Street in downtown Ottawa, but it's unclear whether it will be open to the public. The province says the office will open starting today.
This is Ford's third visit to Ottawa in five weeks.
The office will be led by former Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate for Kanata – Carleton Sean Webster, who has experience in the Canadian pharmaceutical and energy sectors.
Sutcliffe says its the first time the province has opened a regional office in the city.
"I think it demonstrates the Premier's commitment to Ottawa, we've never had anything like this," Sutcliffe said at Monday's press conference.
"Having another point of contact where we can be working closely on issues that pertain to Ottawa … I think is a very good step forward."
Ford said the new office will help to implement a deal the Ontario government made with the city this spring, where the province will be injecting $543 million of funding, which includes uploading Highway 174 to the province, building a new interchange at Highway 416 and a new police operations centre in the ByWard Market.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford take part in a press conference at Ottawa City Hall on Monday, April 29, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
"Recently, the province recognized some of our unique needs and provided some much-needed funding to help Ottawa tackle these challenges," Sutcliffe said in a statement. "Having a regional Provincial office in Ottawa will ensure that our local needs are supported and our concerns are effectively communicated to Queen’s Park."
Ottawa is Ontario's second largest local municipality and the largest in eastern Ontario. There is currently no sitting MPP for Ottawa in Ford's cabinet.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Group tied to Islamic State plotted fatal Ontario restaurant shooting: Crown
A gunman who is accused of killing a young Ontario man and shooting four of his family members at their small Mississauga restaurant in 2021 was allegedly part of a trio who had pledged allegiance to the listed terrorist group Islamic State, a Crown attorney said in an opening statement in the Brampton murder trial this week.
Board orders deportation for trucker in horrific Humboldt Broncos crash
The truck driver who caused the horrific bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team has been ordered to be deported.
Trudeau responds to American senators calling on Canada to increase defence spending
Stopping short of offering the assurance U.S. senators are seeking, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is aware there's more work to do in order to see Canada meet NATO's defence spending target.
Italian teenage computer wizard set to become the first saint of the millennial generation
Pope Francis paved the way for the canonization of the first saint of the millennial generation on Thursday, attributing a second miracle to a 15-year-old Italian computer whiz who died of leukemia in 2006.
Top Russian military officials are being arrested. Why is it happening?
It began last month with the arrest of a Russian deputy defense minister. Then the head of the ministry’s personnel directorate was hauled into court. This week, two more senior military officials were detained. All face charges of corruption, which they have denied.
'A really bad car crash': Why health experts are raising concerns over surging syphilis cases
A sexually transmitted infection (STI) that was once thought to be a thing of the past is now a public health priority for North American doctors.
Morgan Spurlock, Oscar-nominated director of 'Super Size Me,' dies at 53
Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, an Oscar-nominee who made food and American diets his life's work, famously eating only at McDonald's for a month to illustrate the dangers of a fast-food diet, has died. He was 53.
Suspect sought in suspicious death in northern Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police in Cochrane are asking for the public’s help in locating a man they want to speak with in connection with a suspicious death.
Milk sold in Canadian grocery stores tested for avian influenza; results released
As avian flu spreads south of the border, Canadian officials are now testing samples of milk sold in grocery stores across the country.