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CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Here's what roads and bridges will be closed for the Ottawa Ironman event
Road closures for the Ironman Canada-Ottawa triathlon on Aug. 3, 2025. (City of Ottawa/supplied) Elite athletes will be taking over city streets this Sunday for the first-ever Ironman Canada Triathlon held in Ottawa. The triathlon begins with a 3.8-kilometre two-loop swim in the Ottawa River before athletes embark on a 180-kilometre bike ride along National Capital Commission (NCC) and city roads. Finally, a marathon run will start and finish at Parliament Hill. Participants have 17 hours to complete the event. The City of Ottawa says several roads and bridges will be closed as early as 3 a.m. Sunday to prepare for and hold the event. 'Roads will be reopened to traffic once participants complete that section of the course. Some roads may be closed until approximately 1 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4,' the City of Ottawa says. Three closures will last longer. The Alexandra Bridge will be closed from 9:30 a.m. on Friday, until noon on Monday, Sussex Drive will be closed between Murray Street and St. Patrick Street from 5 a.m. on Sunday until 6 p.m. on Monday, and Mackenzie Avenue will be closed from 6 a.m. on Sunday until 7 a.m. on Monday. A full look at the course, including a map of rolling road closures, is available online. Major roads impacted by the event include: Kichi Zībī Mīkan Island Park Drive Carling Avenue Wellington Street Colonel By Drive Mackenzie Avenue Sussex Drive Rockcliffe Driveway Queen Elizabeth Driveway Prince of Wales Drive National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway Arboretum Roadway Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway Bridges impacted by the event include: Alexandra Bridge Champlain Bridge Chaudière Bridge Portage Bridge Pretoria Bridge OC Transpo routes that use these roads will be detoured during the event. Check OC Transpo's alerts page for the latest information on race day to plan your trip. The Ironman Village, where athletes and spectators can gather, will be in Confederation Park in downtown Ottawa. The Ironman Canada-Ottawa triathlon is part of the VinFast Ironman North America Series and will offer qualifying slots to the 2026 VinFast Ironman World Championship.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Here are what roads and bridges will be closed for the Ottawa Ironman event
Road closures for the Ironman Canada-Ottawa triathlon on Aug. 3, 2025. (City of Ottawa/supplied) Elite athletes will be taking over city streets this Sunday for the first-ever Ironman Canada Triathlon held in Ottawa. The triathlon begins with a 3.8-kilometre two-loop swim in the Ottawa River before athletes embark on a 180-kilometre bike ride along National Capital Commission (NCC) and city roads. Finally, a marathon run will start and finish at Parliament Hill. Participants have 17 hours to complete the event. The City of Ottawa says several roads and bridges will be closed as early as 3 a.m. Sunday to prepare for and hold the event. 'Roads will be reopened to traffic once participants complete that section of the course. Some roads may be closed until approximately 1 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 4,' the City of Ottawa says. Three closures will last longer. The Alexandra Bridge will be closed from 9:30 a.m. on Friday, until noon on Monday, Sussex Drive will be closed between Murray Street and St. Patrick Street from 5 a.m. on Sunday until 6 p.m. on Monday, and Mackenzie Avenue will be closed from 6 a.m. on Sunday until 7 a.m. on Monday. A full look at the course, including a map of rolling road closures, is available online. Major roads impacted by the event include: Kichi Zībī Mīkan Island Park Drive Carling Avenue Wellington Street Colonel By Drive Mackenzie Avenue Sussex Drive Rockcliffe Driveway Queen Elizabeth Driveway Prince of Wales Drive National Capital Commission Scenic Driveway Arboretum Roadway Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway Bridges impacted by the event include: Alexandra Bridge Champlain Bridge Chaudière Bridge Portage Bridge Pretoria Bridge OC Transpo routes that use these roads will be detoured during the event. Check OC Transpo's alerts page for the latest information on race day to plan your trip. The Ironman Village, where athletes and spectators can gather, will be in Confederation Park in downtown Ottawa. The Ironman Canada-Ottawa triathlon is part of the VinFast Ironman North America Series and will offer qualifying slots to the 2026 VinFast Ironman World Championship.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Federal government posts $6.5 billion deficit in April, May
The federal government posted a $6.5 billion deficit in the first two months of the fiscal year. The Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa is seen past construction cranes, ahead of Parliament's Monday return on Sunday, May 25, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang The federal government posted a $6.5 billion deficit in the first two months of the fiscal year. The result for the April-to-May period compared with a $3.8 billion deficit for the same stretch last year. Revenues increased $26 million, virtually unchanged from the prior year, as increases in customs import duties and pollution pricing proceeds to be returned to Canadians were largely offset by a decrease in revenues from corporate income and goods and services taxes. The Finance Department says program expenses excluding net actuarial losses rose $2.9 billion, or four per cent. Public debt charges increased $400 million, or 3.8 per cent, due to an increase in the stock of marketable bonds and higher consumer price index adjustments on real return bonds. Net actuarial losses fell $600 million, or 46.8 per cent. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2025. The Canadian Press
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Poilievre, Conservative MPs criticize Crown ahead of Freedom Convoy leaders' sentencing
Several Conservative MPs and leader Pierre Poilievre are criticizing the Crown's approach to prosecuting two key organizers of the Freedom Convoy protests, with the party's deputy leader calling it an act of "political vengeance." Tamara Lich and Chris Barber were convicted of mischief in April for their roles in organizing the demonstration, which blockaded streets around Parliament Hill in Ottawa for more than three weeks in early 2022. Barber was also convicted of counselling others to disobey a court order. They were found not guilty of several charges, including counselling others to commit mischief. A sentencing hearing for Barber and Lich is scheduled to take place in Ottawa on Wednesday. Lich has posted on social media that the Crown is seeking a sentence of seven years for her and eight years for Barber. She posted a screen shot of part of the Crown's submission to the judge, which called their actions "the worst case of mischief" and argued that the right to political expression has never existed without limitations. The Canadian Press has not independently verified the screen shot. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre posted on X on Monday to question the Crown's approach. "Let's get this straight: while rampant violent offenders are released hours after their most recent charges and antisemitic rioters vandalize businesses, terrorize daycares and block traffic without consequences, the Crown wants seven years prison time for the charge of mischief for Lich and Barber," he said. "How is this justice?" In her own social media post, deputy Conservative leader Melissa Lantsman said that if "the Crown suddenly wants to apply the law — equal application of law would be a good start — but this is political vengeance not actual justice and it's why trust in our institutions is dwindling." Ontario Conservative MP Andrew Lawton called the proposed sentencing range "excessive and vindictive." "The Crown is seeking a seven-year sentence (eight for Chris) for a three-week peaceful protest almost 3½ years ago. All while violent offenders are given slaps on the wrist," Lawton said. Saskatchewan MP Jeremy Patzer described the proposed sentence as seven to eight years "for holding the line and causing Justin Trudeau a political emergency." He compared it to a case in which a man was given a conditional discharge for trying to buy sex from someone he believed was 15 years old. "It is pretty clear what the Liberals' priorities are. Conservatives are the only ones proposing to fix our laws so that the real criminals end up behind bars," Patzer said. A spokesperson from Poilievre's office said in a statement that MPs "are raising concerns because the sentencing sought by the Crown in this particular case appears completely disproportionate, particularly when compared to violent criminals who have gotten away with a mere slap on the wrist." The Conservatives ran on a tough-on-crime platform in the April election. Poilievre promised "jail not bail" for repeat offenders and pledged to legislate life sentences for some human trafficking and drug offences — promises that constitutional experts said would almost certainly be struck down by the courts. Monday's social media posts came after a number of prominent right-wing social media influencers and personalities called out Poilievre and his MPs over their alleged lack of support for Lich and Barber. 'Dangerous' for MPs to weigh in on prosecution, expert says Lich and Barber have been greeted by vocal supporters at each of their court appearances and Lich's post had thousands of likes and comments on Monday. Michael Spratt, an Ottawa-based defence lawyer, called the MPs' decision to weigh in on the proposed sentencing "craven politics." "It is very dangerous for politicians to be weighing in on matters before the court," he said. Spratt said there is a long-standing convention that politicians must not impose their views on the judicial system in Canada. But sometimes politicians step over that line. In 2021, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that it was "beyond comprehension" that the suspect in a homicide case involving the death of a Toronto police officer had been granted bail. The accused was found not guilty in 2024. Spratt said politicians who were critical of the justice system at the time ended up looking foolish when the facts of the case came out. WATCH | Freedom Convoy organizer Pat King gets 3-month conditional sentence: Politicians who choose to leverage high-profile cases to "advance a political narrative" ultimately end up devaluing the work of the courts, Spratt said. The spokesperson for Poilievre's office said MPs are exercising their freedom to "raise concerns about disproportionate sentencing in the justice system." "It's the job of the Opposition to raise questions about consistency and proportionality in the criminal justice system, including sentencing law and policy, illuminated by specific cases," the spokesperson said. Spratt said the Conservative criticism undersells the nature of the offences; although the charge is "mischief," this isn't an instance like a child misbehaving, Spratt argued. The case involves two organizers of a demonstration that cost millions of dollars in damage and caused "real harm" to thousands of downtown Ottawa residents, he said. In delivering the guilty verdicts, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey said Lich and Barber routinely encouraged people to join or remain at the protest, even though they knew the effect it was having on people and businesses downtown. Thousands of protesters, vehicles and big rig trucks converged on downtown Ottawa in early 2022 in opposition to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, vaccine mandates and the government of then prime minister Justin Trudeau. The demonstrators refused to leave the downtown, with many honking their truck horns at all hours even after a court injunction ordered them to stop. Residents in the area complained of being harassed and said the smell of diesel fumes was overwhelming. Poilievre was supportive of the protesters during the demonstration. He brought coffee and doughnuts to some of the truckers and called them "honest, hardworking, decent people" in a February 2022 video taken outside Parliament. Some of the people involved in the protest said they wanted to overthrow the government. Poilievre said at the time that the truckers should not be disparaged as a group for the views of certain individuals. The protest was eventually broken up by a massive police operation after the Trudeau government invoked the Emergencies Act for the first time in the country's history. A federal public inquiry was held to examine the use of the law, which gave government, police and financial institutions extraordinary powers to quell the protest. The commission released a report one year after the protests that said the federal government was justified in using the law. Spratt said outside comments are not likely to change the judge's opinion on a possible sentence for Lich and Barber. "This judge in particular is not going to make a decision one way or the other because Pierre Poilievre decided that he'd hop on social media and express his opinion."
CTV News
20-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Workplace assessment of RCMP watchdog found ‘clear call for change,' documents show
Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police march on Parliament Hill during the 47th Annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Service in Ottawa, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby OTTAWA — An independent assessment of the RCMP watchdog, prompted by an anonymous email from employees, uncovered concerns about favouritism, a lack of transparency, heavy workloads and 'a toxic environment.' The workplace assessment of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP found 'a clear call for change and action at the leadership level to restore credibility and trust within the organization.' The Canadian Press recently obtained a copy of the May 2024 assessment, almost six months after filing an Access to Information request with Public Safety Canada, which ordered the report. The Ottawa-based review commission is an independent agency created by Parliament to ensure public complaints about the conduct of RCMP members are examined fairly and impartially. Public Safety hired independent workplace investigator Robert Néron for the assessment after receiving an October 2023 email from review commission employees fearful of signing their names due to the watchdog's small size. In a June 2024 note to Public Safety summarizing his findings, Néron said the anonymous email had alleged the review commission was in total disarray because of a lack of leadership from the commission chairperson. Michelaine Lahaie was serving in the role at that time. Néron's summary, heavily redacted before release under the access law, rejected the pointed allegation against the chairperson — a conclusion he reached after interviewing commission employees, including Lahaie, and circulating a detailed questionnaire to staff. Néron found employees generally felt engaged with their work and that most believed leadership treated them fairly and provided constructive feedback. However, some staff expressed serious concerns. The report says a significant number felt overwhelmed by their workloads, causing stress and making them less satisfied with their jobs. It cites a 'notable communication gap' between the leadership and staff, with many employees saying organizational messaging was too infrequent and lacked clarity and consistency. The report says feedback from employees on methods of resolving conflict was mixed, 'with a distinct portion of the workforce feeling unsupported.' There were also multiple complaints of 'a toxic work environment' due to the behaviour and practices of leadership. 'The staff expresses a strong desire to address and resolve this toxic environment,' the report says. 'They seek an anonymous reporting system to report workplace misconduct, especially involving senior managers.' Employees also wanted additional support for mental health issues and a more compassionate means of accommodating staff needs. Many employees said supervisors and team managers should have more autonomy over decisions about investigative outcomes and allowing people to work remotely, the report adds. 'They believe some current leaders lack the necessary skills and hold positions due to favouritism.' The questionnaire, distributed to current and recently departed employees, revealed a consensus that the commission lacked vision, strategy and a cohesive plan for its future, the report says. 'Respondents feel there are no opportunities to discuss the broader mission or innovate.' The report makes several recommendations to improve employee well-being and promote stronger leadership at the commission. 'In our view, addressing these concerns is crucial to fostering a more inclusive, equitable and productive organizational culture,' Néron said in his letter last year to Public Safety. 'Employees' experiences demonstrate an urgent need for reforms in organizational management to address these issues.' Following completion of Néron's report, Public Safety took steps to help Lahaie communicate the findings to commission staff and implement the various recommendations, the records released under the access law show. Lahaie, a military veteran, was appointed chairperson of the complaints commission for a five-year term in 2019. Her tenure was later extended through early this year. The chairperson's job has been vacant since January and Lahaie is now vice-chairperson at Tribunals Ontario, a provincial government agency. Lahaie declined to comment on the workplace assessment, citing restrictions related to her new position. The review commission has put in place several initiatives to bolster employee well-being following the assessment, said Public Safety spokesperson Tim Warmington. The measures include better availability of wellness information on the organization's intranet and presentations to staff on stress resilience, conflict management and employee assistance, Warmington said in an emailed response to questions. The review commission's mandate is set to expand to cover the activities of the Canada Border Services Agency as well as the RCMP. Legislation establishing the Public Complaints and Review Commission received royal assent last year, though it is unclear when the new agency will be up and running. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
