PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS

HELLO THURSDAY

There are people out there that think the COVID-19 app produced by the Ontario and Federal governments is lacking personal privacy. The Premier of Quebec is one of them.

He obviously doesn't know how it works. We've been running the cartoon version explaining it for months now but maybe we'll try with words.

When you download the app, it sends out random nonsense words on Bluetooth. '78sdsd', '&*&ds', 'Sens win Cup', etc. Other people around you are also sending out the random nonsense words. Your phone and those around you listen and save the words it hears. Locations and times are not saved and Bluetooth only works on very short distances.

If someone is tested positive for COVID-19, a message is sent to all the phones to check if they received any of the words they sent. If there is a match, you are told to get checked because you were near somebody who tested positive. Nobody has any idea who they are.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada reviewed the app and said that the Privacy Act didn't apply because nothing private was collected. The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario has also approved of the system.

There are enough conspiracy theories going on in the world. Don't let this be one of them.

 

We'll see you tomorrow – Martha and Darren

#STATS

Weather: ?️ 70% chance of showers. High of 18° 

Number: 750. The number of online teachers required for online learning by the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. Only 300 teachers have applied.  [CBC]

Ottawan of the Day:  Jon Dunkerley. The Paratriathele is fighting for his place in the next Paralympics despite COVID-19 restrictions.  [Ottawa Sportpage]

Quote: I started sleeping with the lights on because of the roaches. I started seeing a counsellor because I was suicidal but I can't find anywhere else that I can afford on ODSP – Housing advocate Darin Loewy of Ottawa ACORN, who wanted City Council to pass a new law that would make landlords responsible for keeping rental units free of pests. Council did pass the measure, to take effect next year. [Ottawa Matters]

#CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

For up-to-date info, view the Ottawa Public Health COVID-19 dashboard

 There have been 2871 confirmed cases of COVID‌-19, an increase of 16 since yesterday, and 266 deaths in Ottawa, no new reports.

⭕ Security guard at hotel housing people from Nunavut tests positive for COVID-19. The Nunavut government is paying for the hotel to house its residents in Ottawa to help ensure Nunavut stays COVID-19 free. [CBC]

⭕ Masks are now mandatory in the common areas of apartments and condos. This loophole was closed by City Council yesterday. [CBC]

⭕ Schools in neighbourhoods deemed to have high incidences of COVID-19 will have classes reduced to 15 students each. Alta Vista and Overbrook schools may be the first affected. [CBC]

+ Related Federal Government offering $2 billion to Provinces to reopen schools


? The Canada COVID Alert App

Be alerted if you have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Ontario only, sorry Gatineau. 

How It Works  [Apple App Store] [Google Play App Store]

Support the ottawan

Help support your daily morning newsletter by purchasing a comfy and stylish the ottawan t-shirt. Available in Black, Heather, Green, and Navy.

BUY

#WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

▪️The paycheck of councillor Rick Chiarelli will be sent to community organisations that support victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Chiarelli was fined nine months of his councillor pay after he was found to have asked innappropriate questions to female job applicants. [CBC]

▪️Uber finally accepting rides in Gatineau. Wait – couldn't we already catch an Uber in Gatineau? Yes, but now the Quebec goverment has legalised ride-sharing in a taxi deregulation law.  [CBC]

▪️House in Orléans goes on market for $849,000, sells for $1.1 million  [Ottawa Citizen]

▪️Former Ottawa 67s player says he was sucker punched for saying he'd vote Republican. Logan Couture, captain of the San Diego Sharks, tweeted about an incident in Toronto where he said he was voting for the Republican Party and mentioned Donald Trump and received a punch for his efforts. Courture is not an American citizen and cannot vote in US elections. [CTV]

▪️After Ottawa Police investigated a Mountie shooting a man in Nunavut and reporting no criminal activity happened, the Nunavut government is looking to form a civilian police review panel to replace police investigating themselves. The government is annoyed that the Ottawa Police review resulted in no information being released other than clearing the Mountie. [Nelson Star]

#THE INSIDER

? Our favourite Etsy sellers

We’ve been spending a lot of time of Etsy recently. We think it’s something to do with the freakishly cool air; it’s making us think of fall, which in turn makes us think of cocooning in our homes. To do that effectively we like to surround ourselves with Canadian made homewares, fashion, and art. These Etsy shops sell things that satisfy those desires.

▫️ Carto Creative out of St Catharines, Ontario, specializes in über local graphic maps. We’ve spotted Vanier, Kanata, New Edinburgh, and Stittsville on the list so far. You can choose the size and colour of your map (from a list of 70 shades). Prices start at $7.82 for a post card size. They’re currently offering free shipping. We think these would make fabulous Christmas gifts. There: we said the C-word. [Carto]

▫️ Eyeglass chains, whether delicate or chunky, are still enjoying a moment. Ottawa Etsy seller Kalx Designs makes a wide selection using materials like leather cord, tortoiseshell chain, and metal ribbon. Prices start at $19.21 for a parachute cord chain. [Kalx]

▫️ Sadie and June Bug embroider hearts and words on vintage maps. The Ottawa-based Etsy seller also supplies a small range of frames if you don’t want to shop for one yourself. $32 (without frame). [Sadie & June Bug]

▫️ Cartology also features in the set of wooden drink coasters by Ottawa Etsy shop Wooden Earth Maps. When put together, the set of six coasters create a map of downtown Ottawa. $25 [Wooden Earth Maps]

THE OTTAWAN

? Want to read our newsletter archive? Click here.

?️ Is there something that we should know? Email hello@theottawan.com. We read every single comment.

⏭️ Did you enjoy this edition of the ottawan? Spread the love and forward it to a friend.