The More You Woe News Briefs

View of Bank St. and Gloucester St. on Nov 29, 2019. Photo by Mary Carswell-Gates

Door closes on Airbnb debate

Following a 10-hour meeting earlier this month, City Council approved regulations to short-term rentals in Ottawa at a meeting on Nov. 27.

The new bylaws will let homeowners list properties for short-term rental that are registered as their primary residence or vacation residence. They also block property owners from listing commercial or investment property addresses on websites like Airbnb. The bylaws will be piloted for three years.

The regulations aim to address “the proliferation of short-term rentals in Ottawa and concerns about the quality of rental housing, low vacancy rates and a growing need for more affordable rental housing,” according to a report on the City’s website.

The by-laws required by the regulations are not expected to be finalized until late 2020.

Sens lose face off with city council

A newly proposed 700-home subdivision west of the Canadian Tire Centre and the approval of a roundabout on Palladium Drive are on track to make Sens fans’ journey to and from the arena even more laborious, argue Senators’ owner, Eugene Melnyk, and chief financial advisor, Brian Crombie.

The Senators have seen a decline in attendance to games at the Canadian Tire Centre, and these changes have Sens officials and fans concerned about the increased traffic congestion around the 19,153-seat arena.

Already infamous for its long distance from the city centre, Crombie said that the approved road changes will add an extra four minutes to fans’ commute to and from the arena.

But City Council rejected the argument and is set to go ahead with the traffic circle once the subdivision gets final approval, expected at a meeting on Dec. 11.

Teachers’ strike

Secondary school teachers across the province announced a one-day walk-off that will take place on Dec. 4, and are hoping the lesson sticks with Premier Doug Ford.

The strike will see more than 80,000 public high school teachers and support staff walk off the job for the day, returning to work on Dec. 5.

The announcement escalates the ongoing labour dispute between the province and educators at the primary and secondary level.

The president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, Harvey Bischof, told CP24 that teachers’ work-to-rule activity has not swayed the province’s position on changes to class sizes and teachers’ wages.

“This is intended to draw further attention to this government’s destructive cuts to the education system,” said Bischof.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board said in a statement that they are hopeful a deal between the teachers’ union and the province can be met before Dec. 4 to avoid the full walkout, but they are advising parents to make alternate plans.

“We will provide an update to parents on the impact this could have on secondary and elementary students. Our primary focus in contingency planning for strike action is the health and safety of students. However, we encourage parents to do some contingency planning in case strike action occurs.”

Here’s what is happening today

• Black ice wreaks havoc on Black Friday: Ottawa City Police are advising drivers to “drive to the conditions” following 16 motor vehicle collisions in the area overnight.
• It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas: Ottawa’s first traditional Christmas Market opens its doors at Lansdowne.
• Time to break in the new skates: Sens Rink of Dreams outdoor skating rink opens today at 12 p.m. in front of City Hall.