Five stories to watch in Ottawa this week
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Last week for most mask mandates in Ontario, the latest week in Ukraine, and the highlight of Valentine’s Day.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at five stories to watch this week.
keep mask task
Ottawa’s largest school board will discuss the future of face masks in schools this week.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced that the provincial mask order to limit the spread of COVID-19 will end on March 21 in most settings, including schools (in healthcare settings and public transportation). will be kept for another month).
However, the trustees of the Ottawa-Carleton District Board of Education will meet Monday to determine if they can carry out their mandate.
Following the province’s announcement, several OCDSB trustees called for a special meeting. One trustee said board staff are looking into whether the board has the authority to enact its own mask mandate after the province expires.
Other Ontario school boards are also in discussions against the provincial government, although Ford said school board trustees are not medical experts like the province’s chief health officer.
The OCDSB meeting is on Monday at 7pm and will be broadcast live here.
Closed in March
Students across the city are not attending school this week due to the March break.
COVID-19 requirements for capacity restrictions and proof of vaccination requirements have been lifted, but mask requirements remain in effect this week.
Last year, March Break was delayed until April due to COVID-19. Vaccination is not widespread, and the province has just recovered from a winter wave of COVID-19 caused by the Alpha variant.
This year, 88 per cent of Ottawa residents have received at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, including half of children aged 5 to 11. Across the province, 86 per cent of Ontarians are fully vaccinated.
Hospitalizations are falling. They were slightly higher than they were this time last year, but last year the trend had started to rise with the arrival of the Delta variant, which peaked in late April.
CTVNewsOttawa.ca takes a look at some cost-effective March Break events here and takes a look at some unique places to stay.
Entrance to the exhibition hall of the Canadian Museum of Nature. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)
ukraine war
The Russian military invasion of Ukraine continues, and Ottawa residents continue to show their support for the Ukrainian people.
Many businesses in the city are holding events to raise money for humanitarian work.
Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian officials on Sunday were optimistic about progress in Ukrainian war talks, suggesting a positive outcome could be possible within days.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksi Reznikov (left), Ukrainian People’s Servant Leader David Arakamia (second from left), and Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the President of Ukraine Mikhailo Podoljak (left) 3), Leonid Slutsky, Russian State Duma Committee for International Affairs, fourth from right, Vladimir Medinsky, assistant to the Russian president and head of the Russian delegation, after Fomin Third from right, Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, second from right, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko, in Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park, north of Brest, Belarus, near the Polish-Belarusian border, on March 3, 2022 Russia-Ukraine talks. (Maxim Guchek/BelTA Pool Photo via AP)
natural gas price
While natural gas prices have retreated from their all-time highs earlier in the week, the price shock has yet to subside.
Prices fell on Friday and Saturday before recovering on Sunday. Natural gas price expert Dan McTeague suggested current prices should hold until Wednesday.
Regular gasoline at many stations in Ottawa was around $1.70 a liter, a record before stations began selling gasoline for $1.80 or more last week.
Gas prices have prompted Uber to charge fuel surcharges on ride-sharing services and put financial strain on businesses and nonprofits that rely on transportation.
Natural gas prices in Ottawa, March 7, 2022. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)
Valentine’s Day Part Deux
If you missed Valentine’s Day on February 14 (or if that’s just your excuse) because the “Freedom Convoy” took over downtown Ottawa, you’ll have a chance to redo it on Monday.
The City of Ottawa has passed a motion in parliament to declare March 14 a redo for Valentine’s Day due to prolonged protests and the impact of the occupation’s public health measures aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19. Many businesses closed during the occupation.
While the city’s heart may be in the right place, it’s unclear how many people will be celebrating Valentine’s Day a month from now. Florists told CTV News Ottawa, for example, that they haven’t seen a surge in demand, and many of the city’s top chocolatiers are busy making and promoting their Easter offerings.
Still, some restaurateurs say they’ll offer special meals to any couple who want a second or first chance to celebrate love.
A stock photo of a Valentine’s Day card is shown. (Getty Images)
Events in Ottawa this week
on Monday
#OttawaLove Event, 55 ByWard Market Square, All Day
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Special Meeting, 7 p.m.
Ottawa Senators vs. Arizona Coyotes, 7:30 p.m. (SN, NHLN, TSN 1200)
catNational Arts Center, 8 PM
Tuesday
catNational Arts Center, 8 PM
Wednesday
Ottawa Senators vs. Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:30 p.m. (SN, TSN 1200)
catNational Arts Center, 8 PM
Thursday
St. Patrick’s Day
Friday
Ottawa Senators vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m. (TSN 5, TSN 1200)
Saturday
Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m. (CITY, SNE, TSN 1200)
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