Deachman: Put Ottawa back on the map, prime minister
If, as expected, the government decides to reduce the size of its workforce, it needs to do that responsibly and with compassion and consideration, not just for the workers who will be without a job and their families, but also for the overall health of the city that will, by these losses, sacrifice some of its vitality. The federal government needs to help make workers and Ottawa whole again.
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It makes sense, then, that the president of the Treasury Board, responsible for managing the public service, should almost by default always be an area MP: someone who understands that the public service and the Ottawa area are inextricably enmeshed. By my count there have only been four locals to hold the position since it was created almost 60 years ago: Bob de Cotret, Marcel Massé, John Baird and Mona Fortier. It's time for another. Make it happen, Prime Minister.
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At the same time, the federal government has its thumbs in numerous other local pies. Notably, it oversees the National Capital Commission, where important decisions regarding the region's future are made or carried out. Consider, for example, the fates of 24 Sussex Drive and Wellington Street in front of the Parliament Buildings, or the development of LeBreton Flats and the building of a sixth bridge spanning the Ottawa River. Actions by the NCC on these projects aren't abstract. They significantly affect Ottawans' day-to-day lives. Yet there hasn't been an Ottawa-area MP responsible for overseeing the NCC since Stephen Harper gave the portfolio to John Baird. That also needs to change.
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Additionally, while the mayors of Ottawa and Gatineau each have a seat at the NCC's board table, neither has a vote in the agency's edicts regarding Ottawa and Gatineau's urban planning. The NCC has made major strides in recent years to become less of a star chamber. Giving the region's mayors a greater say in its vision for the area would be a welcome change.
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It's too easy to get mired in Ottawa's symbolic significance as the nation's capital, proclaiming that it should reflect Canada's values and identity without saying what that means. But this city should reflect real, day-to-day principles of generosity and compassion. The number of homeless or impoverished people living in the shadow of the Peace Tower is unacceptable. The growing challenges the city faces in terms of housing, transit and infrastructure need federal assistance.
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Toronto Sun
3 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
China takes out newspaper ads issuing warnings to Canada on Taiwan
The ads, purchased in the Ottawa-based newspaper The Hill Times, consist of op-ed columns written by Chinese Ambassador Wang Di Flags of China (top) and Taiwan (GettyImages) OTTAWA — Taiwan's ambassador to Canada has dismissed a series of full-page newspaper ads taken out by the Chinese Embassy as little more than sabre-rattling over the communist regime's claims over the east-Asian nation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The ads were published in The Hill Times — a twice-weekly Ottawa-based newspaper covering the goings-on at Parliament Hill — and clearly draw a bold, red line under China's position on Taiwan, continuing China's tendency towards hard-handed 'wolf-warrior' diplomacy. 'If their position is already the norm of world politics, if they consider the 'One China Principle' as universal and accepted by most countries, why on Earth do they need to use this to promulgate it?' Taiwanese Ambassador Harry Tseng told the Toronto Sun. 'Obviously they are perhaps doubtful of what they claim — that the 'One China Principle' is a universal principle that every country should abide by.' Taiwan's history is complex, beginning when Chiang Kai-shek and his republican government fled the mainland to Taiwan in 1949 at the end of the Chinese civil war. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In 1971, UN Resolution 2758 recognized the People's Republic of China as the 'only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations,' a move that saw Taiwan kicked out of the UN and its ancillary organizations. Harry Tseng, Taiwan's ambassador to Canada, in his Ottawa office on Friday, Nov. 15 2024. Photo by Bryan Passifiume / Toronto Sun/Postmedia Network In the decades since, Taiwan emerged as a democratic and free nation, a world leader in high technology and chip making. But despite holding democratic elections and issuing its own currency and passports, Taiwan exists in a diplomatic no-man's land — with any nation hoping for diplomatic relationship with the PRC forced to not recognize Taiwanese sovereignty and accept Beijing's assertion the they are the only 'China' in the region. The first ad appeared in the July 2nd edition of the Hill Times with the headline 'The One-China Principle is indisputable, and the victory of WWII must not be tampered with.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The ad, essentially a paid-for op-ed by China's ambassador to Canada — Wang Di — describes Taiwan as an immutable part of China, promising attempts by 'Taiwan separatists' to halt an eventual reunification are bound to fail. 'Complete reunification is a shared aspiration of the Chinese nation,' Wang wrote in the letter. 'It is an inevitable trend and what the greater national interests entail. No one and no force can ever stop it.' Ad published in the Hill Times by China's ambassador to Canada Wang Di Photo by screenshot While Wang maintains reunification will be peaceful, he warned the world not to stand in China's way. 'We will absolutely never allow Taiwan to be separated from China,' the letter continued. 'All necessary measures in response to the provocations and coercion of the 'Taiwan independence' forces are acts of justice to safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity and to thwart attempts to divide the country. No external interference will be allowed in this process.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A second ad, published on July 16, reads more like the usual public relations one would expect from a foreign embassy — with Wang celebrating a recent open house and last month's Ottawa dragon boat festival. Recommended video Ambassador Tseng mused with amusement that his Chinese counterpart must have had extra money to spend on advertising. 'I see no positive effect at all for publishing this,' he said with a smile. 'It's all the same; it's been the same for years.' Ties between China and Canada have grown frosty over the years, particularly following the December 2018 abduction of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig — retaliation for Canada's lawful detainment of Chinese executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition request. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In recent years, China's stepped up cyberattacks and interference campaigns against Taiwan, with 2.4 million Chinese attacks on Taiwanese networks in 2024. China is also responsible for sabotaging Taiwanese undersea cables in the disputed Taiwan strait, with four cut cables reported so far this year. Canada's has long been a target of Chinese meddling, including intimidation of Canadian politicians like MPs Michael Chong and Kevin Vuong, and implicated by Canadian intelligence services of interfering in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. China also operated a series of clandestine police detachments within Canada, targeting both Chinese nationals and Canadian citizens for investigation and intimidation campaigns. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Alan Kessel, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and a former Canadian diplomat, said the ads were an attempt by Beijing to control the narrative. 'One message implies closer ties, while the other draws a red line around Taiwan, signalling the price of engagement,' he told the Sun, describing the ads as a coordinated attempt to influence Canada's public and political discourse. 'It's all about shaping Canada's policy with respect to Taiwan — one ad projects warmth and a desire to improve relations, while the other is just rigid, ideological red lines over Taiwan, implying that engagement with Canada comes with conditions.' With Prime Minister Mark Carney replacing predecessor Justin Trudeau, Kessel said Canada needs to pursue a China policy grounded in Canadian values, and not dictated by foreign authoritarian sensitivities. 'That means rejecting coercion, resisting influence operations and affirming that our decisions on Taiwan or any other issue are not shaped in Beijing, but Ottawa.' bpassifiume@ X: @bryanpassifiume Read More Sports Columnists Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA
Toronto Sun
7 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
MAGA-affiliated musician Sean Feucht performs in Alfred after Gatineau concert is cancelled
The NCC had cancelled a permit for a concert at Jacques-Cartier Park due to "public safety concerns." Paula Tran Published Jul 26, 2025 • Last updated 22 hours ago • 3 minute read A photo of Sean Feucht before his performance at a Montreal church on Friday night. Photo by ALLEN MCINNIS / POSTMEDIA A MAGA-affiliated musician held a concert in a township just outside Ottawa on Saturday just a few days after the National Capital Commission cancelled a scheduled performance in Gatineau. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account In a social media post on Saturday morning, Sean Feucht said he would be performing in an open field on the 'corner of Peladeau Road and Highway 17' in Alfred, Ont., a township 70 kilometres east of Ottawa. The performance was part of the Let Us Worship movement, where Feucht falsely claimed that Christians are being persecuted in Canada. The NCC had cancelled Feucht's permit at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau on Saturday due to what it called 'public safety concerns.' 'The NCC decided not to issue an event permit following consultation with the Gatineau Police and due to concerns about public safety and security,' Valérie Dufour, senior manager of strategic communications for the NCC, said in an emailed statement. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Officials in other Canadian cities had also cancelled scheduled Feucht concerts, including Halifax, Charlottetown and Quebec City. The City of Montreal fined a local church for hosting Feucht on Friday evening, saying the church had not obtained a permit to organize the concert. The city also said the event contradicted Montreal's values of inclusion, solidarity and respect. Const. Brianna Babin of the Ontario Provincial Police's East Division told the Ottawa Citizen that officers were aware of the concert at Alfred and were monitoring it. She added that officers were also talking to Cedar Shade Campground and the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet about the event. The campground told the Citizen it wasn't affiliated with Feucht's concert. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's been very good for open communication in that regard, so we know what's happening. We have officers that are boots on the ground, like our road officers are doing patrols in the area,' Babin said. 'The thing is, with any type of big event like this …. for a big show, a big event, they would normally hire the OPP to come do traffic control, crowd control, security, that type of stuff. This is not the case for this one. It's not a paid duty (assignment), so it's just our road officers being aware and patrolling the area. 'The campground has hired their own security for the event. Should anything transpire, the OPP is aware of it and the surrounding detachment areas as well. We're all in the loop.' Babin said she couldn't give an estimate of how many people attended the concert as of 3:50 p.m. on Saturday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I touched base with the sergeant around one o'clock, and he had let me know that the stage was set up, but there was nobody there at that time. Nothing had started filling up,' Babin said. 'Now I know the concert just started at three, so I don't know the numbers … If there's no reason for us to be inside there, then we wouldn't even know.' Feucht, an American Christian nationalist, has previously opposed abortion rights, COVID-19 public-health restrictions and the LGBTQ2S+ community. He calls himself a speaker, author, missionary, artist and activist. He unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the United States Congress in California in 2020 and has held prayer concerts against COVID-19 restrictions. His political views has grabbed the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, and Feucht was invited to the White House for a faith briefing in December 2019, one week before Trump was first impeached by the House of Representatives for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Feucht is a Trump supporter, most recently calling on fans to pray after the president was diagnosed with a chronic venous insufficiency, a condition in which an individual's leg veins don't allow blood to flow back towards the heart. This can cause blood to collect in the legs. With files from The Canadian Press. Join us! The Ottawa Citizen is hosting an exclusive food and beverage tasting event where you can try bites from some of the city's best restaurants and sample beverages from breweries and wineries. Meet the chefs and try their signature dishes with members of the Citizen news team. Learn more about Ottawa Citizen Best Restaurants and buy a ticket here . Read More Sports Columnists Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA
CBC
19 hours ago
- CBC
AC shouldn't be first line of defence in maximum temperature law, experts say
Air conditioners in every apartment shouldn't be the first line of defence against extreme heat, experts say, because there's not enough labour to install them in every building quickly, and there's an environmental cost to relying on them. Amid a heat wave in early July, Catherine McKenney, the NDP's housing critic and representative for Ottawa Centre, said they plan to bring a motion to Queen's Park this fall that would cap apartment temperatures at 26 C. "It's not only a question of should we do this — it's a question of can we do this?" said Jeffrey Siegel, a professor of civil engineering at University of Toronto whose work focuses on ventilation and sustainable buildings. As extreme heat events become more common due to climate change, some kind of maximum temperature regulation for rental properties is important to keep people safe, he agreed, but a requirement to install air conditioning in all regulated buildings would face practical hurdles. "One of the best things that we could do is avoid the need for air conditioning by retrofitting our buildings to make them so the maximum temperature is less of an issue," he said. Practical hurdles A shortage of skilled workers would slow the implementation of McKenney's proposed law, Siegel said. "I do this for a living, right? And I can't find a good HVAC contractor," he said. Even if there were enough workers, all those additional AC units could overload the grid, he added. But there are ways to cool an apartment by several degrees without AC, said Marianne Touchie, the Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Urban Housing and associate professor at the University of Toronto. Experts don't just measure the temperature of a space, they find its "thermal comfort" level, which is calculated by considering temperature, humidity, wind speed and solar radiation (whether or not you're in direct sun or shade). An apartment could technically be 28 degrees, but might feel like 26 degrees if it's in the shade, windows are closed and a fan is running, Touchie said, explaining that focusing exclusively on the temperature is "overly simplistic." Touchie's work focuses on retrofitting old buildings to find ways to "get a lot more out of them." Retrofit strategies to cool a space include: Adding overhangs, external shades or special coatings to windows to reduce solar radiation. Installing ceiling fans to promote air flow. Planting trees to provide shade. Replacing windows with styles that can open further for better cooling at night. Government stepping in Duncan Phillips, a retired air flow expert with the Guelph-based company RWDI, said even more strategies are available to developers working on new builds, which aren't restricted by existing infrastructure. "If we just spend a little bit more time in design and a little bit more effort during construction, we would save a fortune when it comes to actually occupying the building later on," Phillips said, as occupants wouldn't be paying to run the AC as often. "But if your job as a developer is just simply to get the thing built and flip it, you're unlikely to want to put a lot of effort into design and construction," he added, suggesting that the government provide incentives to developers to build with thermal efficiency in mind. Touchie also believes the government should introduce passive cooling regulations for buildings. "I think there needs to be some sort of legislation [that] you need to have these effective passive elements in your building as part of a retrofit before you're going the mechanical cooling route," Touchie said. It's essential, she said, because over-reliance on AC could worsen climate change. "We're using so much more energy to provide that mechanical cooling," she said. Siegel agreed, noting that when electricity demand reaches peak, "we have to turn on our dirtiest power plants or most expensive power plants." While passive cooling regulations would be more complex than requiring AC installation, they would be more effective in the long term, Touchie said. "If we really want to do this right, it requires a more nuanced approach."
