WOITA 050424

5 April 2024

💰 Housing

•  City Council says that it will not spend Federal funds on supportive housing in neighbourhoods where residents fear the project will increase crime. River ward councillor Riley Brockington brought forward the ban proposal, requiring the City to study the ‘cumulative effect and community impact’ of housing homeless persons or people with addictions. Brockington said residents in his ward say crime has increased with the addition of a new Shepherds of Good Hope facility. The ban passed 17-7. (Sam Konnert at CBC)
  
  ➕ Related Premier Doug Ford presented Ottawa with a $37,502,947 cheque for making progress in home starts. The money, from the provincial Building Faster fund, was in recognition of 10,213 housing starts in Ottawa last year. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says the money will go to infrastructure and transit.
  
  ➕ Related An office building at 200 Elgin Street will be converted into residential apartments by its owner. The 1966 building has 11 floors.

🚨 Gatineau Camera Creep

•  A nineteen year-old man who placed a camera in the ceiling of his old elementary school, École l'Oiseau-Bleu, has been given an 18 month community service. Matthias Deschenes is banned from parks, schools, or employment where kids under 16 years of age would be, and must provide a DNA sample to police. (CBC)

⚖️ Eastway Tank Explosion

•  Eastway Tank, Pump and Meter Ltd and its owner Neil Greene have pleaded guilty to the explosion that killed six. Charged under Occupational Health and Safety Act, the company and Greene must pay $850K in fines and fees. The Office of the Fire Marshal found that the explosion was linked to accidentally mixing diesel and gasoline when calibrating equipment. (Andrew Duffy in the Ottawa Citizen)

👟 London Marathon

•  Some people are questioning the timing of Mayor Mark Sutcliffe’s Team Ottawa trip to London and his entry into the London Marathon. Sutcliffe says that the trip was organized by Ottawa Tourism and when he realized the overlapping dates, he bought his own entry to the Marathon since he'd already be there. Ottawa Tourism does not receive City of Ottawa funding. (Blair Crawford in the Ottawa Citizen)