However, Theresa Tam said that 2030 elimination is within reach.

“I really think we can do it if we all tried really hard together,” she told about 100 advocates and other spectators gathered on Parliament Hill for the raising of the flag bearing the symbolic red ribbon.

Last summer, the UNAIDS organization released a report detailing a vision to end AIDS by 2030. The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day, ‘Let Communities Lead’, is a centrepiece of the proposed goal.

To reach the UNAIDS proposed 2030 target, Canada must improve the diagnosis rate of people with HIV-AIDS, said Khalid Salam, executive director of the AIDS Committee of Ottawa. More than 63,000 people in Canada are living with HIV and an estimated 11 per cent of people with the virus are undiagnosed.

Salam outlined multiple solutions to continue working to eradicate AIDS, which include tackling social determinants of health such as the housing crisis, food insecurity and unemployment. These policy changes must be accompanied by destigmatization and increasing access to medication, treatments and testing, he said.

Letting communities “continue” to lead is critical, said Patrick O’Byrne, a nurse practitioner at an Ottawa Public Health clinic. “Communities have always been at the forefront”, he explained. 

“They started the fight against stigma. They demanded that governments start research and provide treatment. They invented harm reduction,” he said.

In terms of meeting UNAIDS 2030 goal, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said that the city of Ottawa is here to provide support.

“We’re certainly here to listen and understand what we might be able to do to help,” he said. “We work with community groups like the AIDS Committee to make sure that we’re doing everything we can.”

The annual World AIDS Day ceremony, organized by the AIDS Committee of Ottawa, consisted of a mixture of performances and presentations to mark the day and the beginning of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week. 

“World AIDS Day first and foremost, is about honouring the millions of lives who have lost over the last four decades and standing in solidarity with people living with HIV AIDS,” said Salam. “It is also a time for reflection on what we have achieved with regards to the local, national and global response to HIV AIDS, and a time to recommit to what we must still achieve to eradicate HIV AIDS.”

The flag raising ceremony not only raises awareness about AIDS, but also showcases community solidarity with those living with HIV-AIDS. Margaret Kisikaw Piyesis, the CEO of CAAN, said that annual day is a show of support for the end of stigmatization, ignorance and discrimination of those with HIV-AIDS.

Raphael Herbert, a representative from ViiV healthcare, which focuses on HIV-AIDS, agrees. “If we want to really eradicate HIV from the planet, it is not alone that we will be able to do this, but in collaboration and in partnership.”

“We are at a heightened risk of developing mental health injuries,” said David André, president of Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters’ Association, Local 162. “We believe investment in the form of mental health specialists will pay for itself.”

As a public delegate at Friday’s emergency preparedness and protective services committee, André spoke on behalf of 960 full-time firefighters for the city. He said his association would like Ottawa Fire Services to have a dedicated mental health specialist who could work on prevention by offering resiliency training.

“If the chief says, ‘You know what, we really need this investment,’ then I would be inclined to support it.”

Coun. Riley Brockington

A new hire would help relieve the burden on the training division, made up of 12 individuals, which is “under more pressure every year to deliver more, with the same number of staff,” André said.

In response to Andre’s account, Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill said at the end of the meeting that he plans to put forward a motion to city council to hire a devoted mental health specialist for the fire department.

Committee chair Coun. Riley Brockington, who represents River ward, said he wants to hear more from Ottawa fire, specifically the chief, on the current situation before he would support the motion. “If the chief says, ‘You know what, we really need this investment,’ then I would be inclined to support it,” he said.

The committee heard from three public delegates and city staff before approving its portion of the city’s 2024 draft budget. The committee is currently looking at a $259.4 million budget for 2024, representing a $12.7 million increase from this year. City council will vote to approve the budget on Dec. 6.

The largest planned budget increase overseen by the committee is directed at Ottawa fire, which is setting aside $2.2 million for a new fire station for Kanata North and South March and $4 million for equipment renewal, including a transition to battery-powered equipment where possible.

The city’s paramedic services will get the second largest piece of the pie. It will receive $2.4 million to hire new paramedics and $503,000 for equipment and vehicles, including greener emergency response vehicles.

Though he supported the budget, Brockington didn’t pass up a chance to ask the head of the paramedics about offload time.

The service’s offload delay at local hospitals got worse this year compared to 2022, Chief Pierre Poirier told the committee. “Overall, it’s been a difficult year for us,” the chief said. “Our call volume is up. Our responses are up.”

The city plans to hire 23 new paramedics for each of the next three years. According to Brockington, this is not sufficient to bring down response times, due to paramedics being “stacked up at hospitals” waiting to offload their patients to hospital staff.

He said it’s up to Ontario’s Ministry of Health to increase resources in emergency rooms and hospitals so that paramedics can have a faster turnaround. “I’ve been on council for nine years,” Brockington said, adding “offloading delays has always been an issue.”

He attributed the crux of the issue to the province-wide challenge of having a population that is both increasing and aging. “It’s like a double whammy for us here.”

Starting Friday, the association – which has teamed up with Muslim student associations at Algonquin College and University of Ottawa – is hosting four weekend programs throughout December that deal with Muslim identity.

The first event is called “You as a Muslim in the West.” Tickets for the in-person lecture, which will be held Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. at Algonquin College, have already sold out, but organizers say the program will also be available online.

Friday’s lecture explores the experiences and challenges of Muslims in Western societies and how they can thrive while maintaining their Muslim identity. Speaker Abu Umar Abdul Azeez, an international speaker and scholar, will speak about Muslim identity. 

Ali Abdur Raheem, a fourth-year electrical engineering student, said he is not a club member, but he usually participates in its events. He said he benefits from the support the club provides to Muslim students. 

“The safe prayer room at Paterson Hall is one such support,” he said. “We also come together for Jummah (Friday) prayers every week at Norm Fenn Gym.” 

Abdur Raheem said he will attend Friday’s lecture online and added that he and Muslim students come together in the prayer room five times a day, pray and chat with each other. He said that events like “You as a Muslim in the West,” as well as the various other supports offered by the Muslim association on campus, are essential to maintaining a strong sense of identity.

Club member Mariem, who did not want her last name published, said she plans to attend Friday’s lecture. “As an international student, events featuring Muslim academics and speakers raise my awareness of the challenges I face as a Muslim,” said Mariem, who is studying psychology at Carleton University.

Mariem, who also volunteers at some club events, said the club supports the community by providing a safe space. “The association regularly posts on social media, and if you follow its Instagram account, you will be aware of many events related to the Muslim community. We also regularly put up announcement posters on the notice board opposite the prayer room,” she said.

Carleton’s Muslim student association aims to represent Muslim students within the Carleton community, promote civic engagement and organize events and services, according to Ruqiya Ahmed, a spokesperson for the club. It serves the Muslim student community at Carleton by organizing book clubs, travel programs, regular prayer meetings and other forms of support. 

“Support is a key part of community, and we aim to provide it for one another to balance our social and work life,” Ahmed said. “Working with sincere intentions enables us to have what we believe to be blessed and fulfilling experiences.”

Ahmed said she encourages all students who are interested in the upcoming events to register online.

The club is also organizing a bracelet-making workshop for Muslim women on Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. and a trip to Toronto later this month to attend the annual Reviving the Islamic Spirit convention. 

Mariem said these types of events, including the bracelet-making workshop, help her connect with other Muslim students and foster a community on campus. 

“I come together with students with whom I share the same emotions and thoughts,” she said. “This is the most effective way to protect my Muslim identity and I am proud of it.”

“The idea is that they can use their own money and they can purchase a piece to start their fine art collection or they can purchase a holiday gift for someone special,” said Kathy Brake, who is the gallery coordinator at the school.

The endeavour, called Kid’s Niche and intended for children under 12, is the latest addition to the school’s annual fundraising art sale which began Thursday night.

All pieces in the Kid’s Niche section of the sale range from $3 to $20. The art pieces include handmade Christmas ornaments, painted ceramic dishes and canvas paintings.

Brake said that the pieces are a mixture of donated works from local artists as well as donated pieces made by children who take classes at the school. The art made by these young students is identified with the label ‘Kids for Kids.’

The school’s administration officer Sheila Stark-Green said that not only is this an opportunity for children to buy and sell their art, but it encourages them to continue their artistic journey.

“We are trying to treat the children in the same professional manner and respect their art in the same way we would if they were adults,” she explained. “The Kid’s Niche was an idea that came from wanting to cultivate and nurture children in collecting and appreciating art.”

Stark-Green added that the initiative is an extension of what that the school already offers for kids, which include programs that run throughout the year.

“We have a large contingent of kids who take classes here and do our camps,” she said. “They’re not just learning the techniques, they’re learning the background. We felt this was an opportunity to help inspire them, to think about art as something they can acquire and continue to love.”

The Kids Niche is running alongside the annual art fundraiser that the school has put on for 39 years. The pieces in the general sale are all by members of the art school, and 65 per cent of the sale price goes back to the artist.

The other 35 per cent is retained by the school and is put towards bursary and outreach programs, Brake said.

Teresa Rozkiewicz, a third-year student at the art school and a volunteer at the sale, said that there seemed to be a lot of interest and excitement around the new initiative. 

“People seem really enthusiastic about it. There were three pieces from the Kids Niche that were already sold this morning,”  she said on Friday.

Brake emphasized that if the initiative is successful, the school will continue the idea next year and hopefully be able to move the Kids Niche display into its own room in the gallery. 

The art sale runs until Dec. 10 at the J.W Stellick gallery, which is located inside the Ottawa School of Art at 35 George St.

The Palestinian Youth Movement is crowdfunding costs to help bring people from as far away as Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, Mississauga, Toronto, as well as Quebec City and Montreal, to participate in the 1 p.m. demonstration on Saturday.

“We are traveling from all across Canada to demand an immediate lifting of Israel’s 17-year long siege on Gaza,” said Palestinian Youth Movement spokesperson Yara Shoufani in a text.

“A ‘pause’ is not enough,” she added, referring to the temporary break in fighting that came into effect on Friday. “Thousands of Palestinians have been killed, Gaza’s infrastructure destroyed, and 12,000 Palestinian prisoners are held as hostages in Israeli prisons.”

Oct. 7 marked one of the bloodiest days in Israel’s history with 1,200 Israelis killed and more than 200 taken hostage by Hamas.

In the ensuing weeks, authorities in Gaza say more than 12,000 Palestinians have been killed.

Additionally, the United Nations has reported that more than 1.6 million people have been displaced due to the conflict and thousands of others remain trapped under rubble.

On average in Gaza, a child is killed and two more are injured every ten minutes during this conflict, according to the UN.

Currently, the Red Cross is facilitating the release of hostages held by Hamas and Israel. Despite the current pause in fighting, people across Canada have been preparing for a national march in solidarity with Palestine.

Jo El-Dik, who is half-Palestinian, half-German, is travelling from Kitchener-Waterloo with the Palestinian Youth Movement for tomorrow’s demonstration. “It’s really important to have a large amount of people in Canada’s capital,” the 21-year-old said in an interview.

El-Dik said being part of a large demonstration is “good for the soul.”

“It resonates more and you can feel the impact,” they said. “When you are cold, tired and exhausted, being a part of a large crowd helps you keep up your energy.”

After Hamas’ attacks on Oct. 7, El-Dik said they faced a new reckoning with their Palestinian identity and family history.

“Everything I can do from where I am now is what I have to do,” El-Dik said. “If everyone felt that way and used their feelings in this way, we could make a huge difference.”

El-Dik and others travelling to Ottawa spent part of Friday making posters and signs in preparation for Saturday’s march. When asked why it was important to get involved, El-Dik said, “It doesn’t really feel like a choice, rather something I have to do.” 

In a statement sent by email to The Capital Chill, Ottawa police said they are “working closely with our police partners and the City of Ottawa and have the necessary resources in place” for Saturday’s march. Police advised the public to monitor its social media feeds to learn more about traffic disruptions.

“The main funding commitments of the economic statement didn’t consider disabled people at all,” said Carly Fox, communications and partnership director for The National Education Association of Disabled Students.

The group expected “expected disabilities to be more mainstreamed in the economic update,” said Fox, including more long-term funding commitments.

She said that disability is only mentioned four times in Tuesday’s statement and seven times in the accompanying annexes.

Fox also noted disabilities are “often included in EDI statements but not always meaningfully considered outright.” 

Canada’s Housing Action Plan chapter of the economic statement, for example, lists people with disabilities as a marginalized group benefiting from more affordable housing projects.

“Affordable housing does not equal accessible housing,” Fox pointed out. She said disabled people continue to face access barriers.

Fox said her organization was also disappointed in the amount of sustainable funding allocated to disability programs. The group had hoped for specific funding allocations for the Canadian Disability Benefit, intended to ensure people with disabilities meet their basic needs. 

Fox said the benefit was “top of mind” prior to the statement, so its exclusion was “pretty disappointing.”

Existing resources available to people with disabilities have been under strain for a while now with increasing demand for services, according to Bruce Hamm, director of Carleton University’s Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities. 

Funding “has been sustainable at incremental levels, but it is not rising at the same pace as the increased number of students needing it,” he said.

The lack of specific attention given to persons with disabilities in the economic statement seems to depart from the growing demand for these services, Fox suggested. “More and more people are identifying as disabled,” she said. 

Fox noted the economic statement had its advantages, such as disabled people benefitting from general cost-of-living supports.

The Black Friday market, which took place inside the C.D. Howe Building in downtown Ottawa on Friday, featured more than 20 Indigenous vendors from across the country. 

Charette, who sells beaded jewelry, originates from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory in Manitoulin Island. He said he has been bead-working with his sister since he was 13 years old. Together, they launched the David Whitedeer brand and sell their earrings in markets across the city.

He noted that the colours and designs he chooses for his work come from the inspiration of outfits he encountered in pow-wow dancing when he was a kid. Charette added that dancing is a lifestyle and is one that he embraces.

“You get trained for it during the wintertime, and then the summertime comes and there’s pow-wows back-to-back every weekend,” he said.

A few booths down was Marissa Dubé’s display. Dubé, who co-founded Indigenous Markets and is also a vendor, said she met her business partners at the Adaawe Indigenous Hub, an organization for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

 “We wanted to provide a higher-end experience for Indigenous Markets and be able to provide vendors with free opportunities,” she said. “We get sponsors to pay for the full event so that everyone does not pay for their tables.”

Through providing merchants with financially-accessible opportunities, Indigenous Markets is complementing its vision to “provide a unique retail experience that highlights Indigenous art, culture and traditions – while at the same time working towards our collective goal to Indigenize Colonial Spaces.”

Dubé highlighted Eiralize Dreams, her dream catcher and bracelet company. Self-taught and with familial links to both the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Algonquin and Kahnawake Mohawk territory, Dubé described the intricate webbing done on dream catchers.

“Traditionally, dream catchers were made to filter out the bad dreams. You would have them above your bed and the bad dreams will get lost in the webbing, which is why it’s so intricate,” she said. She added that the purpose of the feathers is so that good dreams and thoughts trickle down onto people as they sleep.

Tierney Kist heard about the event from a vendor she follows on Instagram, Quality Quills. Kist came out to the market to see what other Indigenous vendors would be selling. 

“I think it’s really nice to have something that showcases Indigenous peoples specifically,” she said. “They have so many beautiful things to offer and [it’s] really special that people are able to come and appreciate it in this kind of capacity.”

Kist said she is a huge fan of beaded earrings, so she was on the lookout for a pair for herself and also searching for a few gifts as the holiday season shopping begins.

Charette added he likes the environment of the market as “it brings people together” and allows artisans from different communities to come together. He added he hopes to be a part of Indigenous Markets for a long time.

An expert on oceans and fisheries slammed a recent Federal Court decision to overturn the Liberal government’s ban on single-use plastics, calling the move “terrible” for oceans and marine life.

While Canada plans to achieve net zero plastic waste by 2030, the possibility of this has just been pushed further away, according to Rashid Sumaila, an economist at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

“This does not help us meet that target,” he said. “It makes it more difficult.”

The Federal Court ruled on Nov. 16 that the listing of plastic manufactured items as toxic substances was both unreasonable and unconstitutional under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.

Justice Angela Furlanetto said in her decision that the “thousands” of goods in that category of plastics all have unique purposes and chemical compositions and there is no evidence showing that any of them pose a threat to human health or the environment.

“Our government intends to appeal the Federal Court’s decision and we are exploring all options to continue leading the fight against plastic pollution,” Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault and Justice Minister Arif Virani said in a joint statement Nov. 20.

Environment Canada did not respond to a request for comment.

With low recycling efforts, Sumaila said he worries the environment will be impacted as plastics such as straws are used and thrown away in landfills.

“It is terrible for the environment, the ocean and the animals that live in the ocean because plastic pollution is one of the big problems the oceans are facing,” he said.

Sumaila said some water animals, such as fish, see this microplastic in the ocean and mistake it for algae —a plant— and they eat it.

“These plastics can pollute the fish, and if we eat the same fish, we get polluted,” said Sumaila, who holds a Canada Research Chair in interdisciplinary oceans and fisheries economics.

He said the court may have thought its decision was best for Canadians, but for the environment, it is bad.

Concerned about her future and the environment, an undergraduate student at Carleton University said she is optimistic the federal government will put in place an adequate plan to fight climate change.

“Climate anxiety is something I think about,” said Sophia Foglia, a fourth-year journalism student.

Foglia said she is worried about the climate and tries not to work herself up. “I hope there is a sustainable plan for the future because climate change and its negative impact are real.”

The 21-year-old said she hopes the Canadian government finds a lasting solution to climate issues.

“With the overturn of the single-use plastic ban, I am terribly disturbed about the impact on our climate,” she said. “The floods, wildfires and erosion are all linked to climate change.”

The court’s decision was also slammed by leading environmental groups, including Greenpeace Canada.

“This decision is a step backwards for the environment but will just cause backlash for Big Plastic — these are companies producing plastics. Big Plastics thinks it operates in a silo where it can keep producing and profiting amidst the pollution amidst climate crises surrounding it,” said Sarah King, Greenpeace Canada’s head of oceans and plastics campaigns, in a statement.

King’s statement urged the Canadian government to appeal the decision, continue to take strong measures to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030 and support an ambitious treaty that helps accelerate a just transition to a reuse-based economy.

“Plastic pollution is not only an environmental problem but also a climate crisis,” Sumaila said.

Sumaila said more plastic in the environment means more generational carbon dioxide, which aggravates climate change. The consequences are huge, affecting the temperature and resulting in melting ice caps and a rise in sea levels.

Sumaila said all these can lead to more flooding and wildfires, as witnessed in June 2021, when the town of Lytton, B.C., experienced higher temperatures than West Africa, hitting almost 50C, and a devastating wildfire that destroyed about 1,000 buildings.

Despite years of community advocacy groups calling on the City of Ottawa to freeze the police budget, Ottawa police argue that the force actually needs more money because of increased crime rates.

The board tabled its 2024 draft operating budget of $415.5 million on Nov. 8, reflecting a $13.4-million increase over the previous year.

Police chief Eric Stubbs said police officers need a larger budget since there has been “a significant rise in calls,” “increasing crime rates,” and “more complex demonstrations,” indicating the recent Israel and Palestinian demonstrations and ongoing protests associated with the Freedom Convoy.

“Reallocating funding to some of the many services and programs would give people more safety and police less work to do.”

Sam Hersh, community organizer

Crime rates in Ottawa continue to rise, showing an overall increase of seven per cent by mid-October compared to the corresponding period in 2022, according to police.

To address these challenges, the police board proposed a “staff stabilization strategy,” which aims to hire 555 police officers and civilian employees over the next three years.

Stubbs elaborated on the deployment of new police officers in response to a question from Alta Vista Coun. Marty Carr. The police department will integrate new members from the Ontario Police College to “stabilize the frontline,” and transfer them into the neighbourhood resource and traffic teams as they become more experienced “to help bolster the district.”

During the meeting, Stubbs acknowledged “all our answers won’t be there in terms of the resources in year one.”

Some councillors aired their disappointment.

“I wish we were hiring more police officers at this round, but it is what it is,” Kanata North Coun. Cathy Curry said at the end of the meeting.

If the budget plan is approved by city council without modification, the average urban household will pay $17 more in taxes ($697 per year in total) for their local police force in 2024, according to deputy chief Steve Bell. The added dollars would fund 25 new hires in 2024, along with 40 replacements of vacant positions.

“Ottawa’s population growth and the urban and suburban sprawl are outpacing the Ottawa Police Service’s growth, Stubbs said “Our staffing levels cannot keep up with the growth.”

“I wish we were hiring more police officers at this round, but it is what it is.”

Kanata North Coun. Cathy Curry

Each year, Ottawa police ask the city for more money and always get it. However, some local community groups wonder if this is the best approach for ensuring a safer Ottawa.

Sam Hersh from Horizon Ottawa, a grassroots community advocacy group committed to dismantling oppression, said they “don’t think that’s a good use of taxpayer money.”

“Reallocating funding to some of the many services and programs would give people more safety and police less work to do,” he said.

In terms of the absence of public delegates at Friday’s meeting, Hersh said there’s been a decline in public delegations and participation after the new bylaws made it more difficult for people to speak because people “have to submit all comments beforehand” and only have “a very limited window” to do so.

“Ottawa Police Service Board was supposed to hold the police accountable,” Hersh said. “But in many cases, it’s the opposite, where the police board is like the police’s representatives to us, and they basically try to pass anything with a rubber stamp.”

The budget plan will require board approval on Nov. 27 after a second public consultation, followed by council approval on Dec. 6. Ottawa residents and local businesses who would like to share their thoughts on the police budget can complete a questionnaire before that.

The employees, members of the Unifor union, are seeking better salaries and working conditions at a time when food prices have increased nationwide.

Two shoppers said they support the workers, but expressed concerns about going elsewhere to buy groceries and pay for food during the holiday season. A third said her main concern is how a strike would affect her ability to buy affordable food.

“I can understand why Unifor workers want to go on strike. They’re obviously suffering,” said Phillip Walsh.

Walsh, a member of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, said he understands the necessity of a strike in order to directly improve the working conditions of the workers. “It’s an awful situation. Obviously I support the union,” he said.

Curtis Wright, a No Frills regular, also said he supports the workers.

“I think this is what they have to do,” said Wright. “The workers should be able to demand and bargain for what they want.”

Wright said that he hadn’t heard about the possibility of the strike, but said he thinks that if the strike were to happen it will “alleviate the stress felt by the workers during the holidays.”

Shopper Rosie Genio said that if No Frills workers went on strike, she would feel an added pressure to provide affordable food during the holidays.

“I price match,” Genio said. “So I’m just trying to get what I can while I can.”

Further, she said she would have to go somewhere else if the workers went on strike and that many people will have to find somewhere else to buy affordable groceries.

Food insecurity is on the minds of many as the holiday season approaches.

Statistics Canada reported this week that the proportion of families who were food insecure increased to 18 per cent in 2022 from 16 per cent in 2021. Food insecurity is determined by a variety of factors, such as the stability of income, assets and debt, access to family and social supports and the cost of living, according to the report.

Unifor said in a press release that the union would strike if demands were not met by Loblaw Companies, the parent company to No Frills.

“People simply don’t believe Loblaw can’t do better by its workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor national president. “Unless the corporation comes to the table with a serious offer, this will certainly result in our members being forced to take strike action. What choice do these workers have?”

Unifor is seeking increased wages, improved working conditions and more full-time jobs. They will strike on Nov. 20 if the bargaining is not successful.

The Loblaw public relations department did not respond to a request for comment.