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GOOD TUESDAY MORNING, OTTAWA

We read a new survey in the Toronto Star this morning that says Canadians are 'comfortable with easing restrictions'.

Besides being counterintuitive, the survey admits that it cannot list a margin of error because it's an Internet poll, making the results worthless.

But the question keeps coming up: can we go outside if we follow some as yet-to-be-determined rules?

The City Of Ottawa is asking that question. They are taking suggestions from the public here about how to safely re-open the world.

From our perch, we support the following:

1. Closing main streets to cars and opening them up to pedestrians and bikes

2. Letting people sit or lie on the grass in City parks, as long as they are far apart from other people. Let people play with their dogs. 

3. Re-open all trails and walkways.

Polar vortex notwithstanding, the weather is getting warmer and it'll be harder to stick to the rules when some rules seem unreasonable.

We'll see you tomorrow — Martha and Darren

STATS

Weather: Mainly sunny, high of 11°. But beware the polar vortex

Number: 1,700. Number of cars from Ottawa turned away by Gatineau police over the weekend [CFRA]

Ottawan of the Day: JJ Clarke. The CTV Ottawa weatherman and former Hometown Cafe host retires after 34 years with the channel [CJOH]

Quote: If it fits, [the customer] goes to the cash. If it doesn't fit, we take it back and put the [clothing] in confinement 24 hours," Champagne said. "The next day we will put it back on the floor” – Pierre Champagne, co-owner of Sport Expert in Gatineau, describing what happens after a customer is handed their clothing on a pole.  [CBC]

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

There have been 1,504 confirmed cases of COVID‌-19 in Ottawa and 127 deaths.

Spartan Bioscience says they will fix their rapid COVID-19 tests by summer [CBC]

City looking to loosen park restrictions [Ottawa Citizen]

Quebec police link 5G cell phone tower fires with Coronavirus conspiracy [National Post]

First Nunavut case turns out to be false positive [National Post]

Two residents at Plantagenet long-term care home die [CFRA]

Four staff members test positive at Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus. [CFRA]

?️ the ottawan Guide to Navigating Coronavirus in Ottawa

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IN OTHER NEWS

ByWard and Parkdale markets starting curbside pickup
Both markets have discovered the Internet [Ottawa Citizen]

Man arrested for driving with machete dangling from window
He was also charged with failing to stop at a stop sign [Ottawa Citizen]

What your LRT station says about you
U of O students have created an easy chart  [The Fulcrun]

National Ballet School faces mass layoffs
The school is not eligible for wage subsidy programmes as it is considered an educational institution [National Post]

Loblaws owner (also Real Canadian Superstore, NoFrills) reports quarterly profit
Last year at the same time, they showed a loss [Ottawa Matters]

Chateau Laurier considers June re-opening
One of the changes: Housekeepers are not allowed to enter the room if the room is occupied.  [CFRA]

GET ORGANIZED FOR MOTHER’S DAY (MAY 10)

 

Support #local613  Mark your calendar for Saturday, when the Mamma Mia Online Market from the Square Lemon returns for an extremely last-minute Mother’s Day gift ideas (or a shopping trip for you) from 10:30am. In addition to buying treasures from local makers, starting at 11am you’ll be able to ask vendors questions via Zoom. [Mama Mia]

? Glamorous breakfast Corner Peach restaurant’s Mother’s Day Brunch Box contains these incredible goodies for $75. If your mum’s ideal Mother’s Day includes bagels, lox, cream cheese, olives and capers, and a bottle of dry Prosecco, as well as a nice bouquet of tulips, this one’s for you. Pick up only [Corner Peach]

? On a budget Bunches of tulips from Blumen Studio [Blumen Studio]

? Minimal upkeep Yes, it’s true: Ottawa mums can enjoy two perennially stylish, indigenous, cactus plants in their gardens. Our own mum has no idea how the Prickly-Pear (Opuntia) cactus arrived in a quiet, sunny corner of her garden, which is situated just a few metres from the mighty Ottawa River. The cactus just hunkers down under the winter snow and wakes up again each spring. The Pin Cushion (Escobaria) cactus also grows here. [Etsy] [Stittsville’s Make it Green]

Cut us and we bleed Ottawa. Reply back to us with your comments or suggestions. We read every single email. hello@theottawan.com