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Monday, February 14, 2022

The Ottawan

 

BE OUR VALENTINE, OTTAWA  

In today's State of Emergency Jenga, New Edinburgh resident Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to enact the Federal Emergencies Act, joining the Provincial State of Emergency from Friday, and the City's State of of Emergency from the week before.

All these awesome powers now bestowed upon the executives of the City, Province, and Country are in aim on making some member, any member, of law enforcement issue a $160 parking ticket to trucks blocking downtown streets. 

A dog-walking group off Riverside Drive took matters in their own hands yesterday, putting the lie to the Ottawa Police and City of Ottawa that nothing can be done.

Twenty-five convoy supporting vehicles left their staging depot on Coventry Road to reinforce the downtown blockade. Ten dog-walking women stepped in front of them, trapping the convoy from 10 am to arround 6 pm. Hundreds more counter-protestors joined them.

The counter-protest eventually allowed the vehicles to leave, under police escort, if they left behind the jerry cans of fuel and removed their signs. Here's the lead driver scraping off his window sticker.

As for Ottawa's civic leaders, they fared less well:

Saturday evening, Mayor Jim Watson told the Trucker Protest that they could stay and that he would meet with them, as long as they move their trucks from residential areas.

Watson made the deal with Tamara Lich, spokeswoman for the Freedom Convoy, who immediately tweeted that there was no such deal, then later tweeted that there was a deal. The deadline has now passed and the trucks have not moved.

Gloucester-South Nepean Ward councillor and Ottawa Police Services board member Carol Anne Meehan sent out this weird message yesterday asking people to direct their anger at the Prime Minister. 

The Federal Government, of course, has no jurisdiction over policing and the Ottawa Police Board is the only body legally responsible for directing the Ottawa Police (See section 31).

The Toronto Star reported that the Ottawa Police have no plan on how to use the extra 1,800 officers requested.  But all is well, as the Mayor and the Police Board both offered their full confidence on the police response last Friday.

On Friday, the Trucker protest brought in a gigantic video screen for that evening's dance party. The DJ hasn't been there all week – he played last weekend, went home, and was allowed to bring his gear back this weekend.

On Saturday, the noise injunction was ignored as trucks honked continuously.

A tent used by the Trucker protest got caught by a gust of wind and was blown over onto the Parliamentary precinct. Parliamentary Protective Service officers know who they are working for, and helpfully returned it.

Sunday, the New York Times wondered where all the police were in Ottawa. Jim Elves, a senior officer with Ottawa Police may have provided an answer. He pleaded with the public to ‘not take it out on Frontline troops – they are doing as instructed’. 

The crowdfunding site that the Trucker protest had been using after GoFundMe, GiveSendGo, was hacked yesterday, with the hackers releasing thousands of names of donors. Obviously there is a bit of a legal hassle about publishing names from hacked info – like there is any law enforcement anymore – but there are going to be a lot of sleepless nights for some well-heeled people.

FInally, comedian Brittlestar has released a suggested video for Ottawa Tourism. He asks, ‘Tired of the rule of law and concern for others in society? Why not visit … Ottawa?

We'll see you tomorrow – Martha and Darren


♥️ Is there something that Ottawa should know about? Email to us at hello@theottawan.com. We read every single comment.

STATS

Weather: ☀️ Sunny. High of -14°, low of -19°. 

Number: 8. The number of Ottawa eateries included on Open Tables’s 100 Most Romantic Restaurants in Canada list. They are AtelierNorth + NavyAiana Restaurant CollectiveArloBar LupulusFaunaNeXT, and Riviera[CTV] [100 Most Romantic Restaurants]

Gatinois of the Day:  Mindflip. The rapper from Gatineau has released a new single, ‘Mind Control”, produced by now Montreal-based Soké, who has worked with Dua Lipa, Sean Paul and Nicky Jam.  [Shifter] [Mind Control]

Quote: ‘Those cheap abominations called comic valentines by which mean and cruel people vent their envy and spleen’ – Strong words from the Ottawa Citizen in 1872, deploring the rise of cheap cards rather than ‘love lettering as in the days of yore’. [CityNews]

Sports: NHL  Ottawa Senators 4 – Washington 1, last night. Must have been fun for everyone to play during Superbowl Sunday.
 

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CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

Information is as of this morning. Changes are relative to yesterday.
 

ONTARIO

hospitalizationschangein icuchange
1,368? -171394? -8
caseschangedeaths
1,074,485?1,76512,101? 8
  
? Eligible people vaccinated with one dose (5+)88.7% 
? Eligible people vaccinated with two doses (5+)84.4%


Ontario COVID Page    Ontario Vaccine Rates 

QUEBEC

hospitalizationschangein icuchange
2,095?14136? -4
caseschangedeaths
900,273?1,43113,710 ? 17
? Eligible people vaccinated with one dose (5+)91.2%
? Eligible people vaccinated with two doses (5+)85.8%


Quebec COVID Page     Quebec Vaccine Rates



OTTAWA

hospitalizationschangein icuchange
29? -24? 0
cases changedeaths
60,718?138

736 ? 4

? Eligible people vaccinated with one dose (5+)

911,635 (92%)
? Eligible people vaccinated with two doses (5+)865,807 (87%)
? Eligible people vaccinated with three doses (18+)529,737 (63%)


Ottawa Public Health     Ottawa Vaccination Rates.    Ottawa Wastewater 
 

OUTAOUAIS 

Outaouais Health has not updated their information for today. This information is a repeat from yesterday.

hospitalizationschangein icuchange
62? 47? -1
caseschangedeaths
34,305?98281 ? 0
  


As of February 8, 2022 Updated Weekly

? Eligible people vaccinated with one dose (12+) 89%
? Eligible people vaccinated with two doses (12+)86.4%


Outaouais Public Health    Quebec Vaccination Rates
 

EASTERN ONTARIO HEALTH UNIT

The Health Unit is changing the way they report. In the meantime, they are reporting only selected information. 

hospitalizationschangein icuchange
18? -24? 0
active caseschangedeaths
-? -174 ? 0


Eastern Ontario Health Unit.   Daily Stats  

 

COVID-19 NEWS

⭕ Ontario will reduce some COVID-19 restrictions.

Starting Thursday: 

  • Capacity limits at places requiring vaccine passports like restaurants, gyms, cinemas, and theatres will be lifted
  • Social gatherings are now 50 people inside, 100 people outside
  • Organized events are 50 people inside, no limit outside
  • Sports arenas and concerts are now 50 per cent capacity
  • Nightclubs, restaurants with dancing, and sex-clubs are still limited to 25 per cent capacity

March 1:

  • All capacity limits will be lifted
  • Vaccine certificates will no longer be mandatory, although individual businesses may opt to require them

Mask mandates will continue as in effect today.

[Ottawa Citizen] [Province of Ontario]
 

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WHAT OTTAWA IS TALKING ABOUT

▪️A pedestrian was killed by a train in Barrhaven at a ground-level crossing on Jockvale. Creating an underpass was discussed in 2019 but rejected by locals as too expensive at $6 million. City Council later approved the design of the underpass but never built it. [Barrhaven Independent]

▪️The City has advised against sledding on all municipal property due to icinessThe City says sled will go too fast and you'll have a decreased ability to stop. It will let us know when it's less icey. [City of Ottawa]

+Related This same cold snap means that the Rideau Canal Skateway has reopened.

▪️The O-Train was stopped on Saturday between uOttawa and Tremblay stations due to a broken wire. The wire helps hold the the apparatus above the trains which supplies power.  [CBC]

▪️Historian Andrew King is creating 30 paintings in 30 days. Bids start at $100 each, with proceeds to the Ottawa Humane Society. [CBC] [The Paintings]


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