Andy Pinsent
@andypinsent.bsky.social
City Hall reporter at News Talk 580 CFRA, sometimes CTV Ottawa contributor. Host of 'City in Review' on Saturdays on CFRA. 🇨🇦 Opinions are mine. Typos also mine.
Pre-testing for the LRT east extension will begin next month. It was one topic of this week’s City Issues panel with Jon Willing and Brigitte Pellerin. #ottcity #ottnews Listen:
City In Review - Pre-testing for LRT East Extension expected to begin next month - 580 CFRA
Transit was, once again, a focal point at City Hall this week – including a slew of updates at what was the final planned Transit Committee meeting of this term of council. The most optimistic news: P...
omny.fm
A good time to support your go-to local news sources and/or purchase a subscription.
Chris Holski@chrisholski.bsky.social · last mo.CNN's story gets *many* of the details wrong, (This is not council's decision to make, there are no actual contenders, and there was no vote) but the idea of renaming Ottawa's Trump Avenue has likely reached the White House.
A giant house centipede crawled out from under a laundry basket and skittered under our bed too fast to whack it. So now we have to burn the house to the ground, salt the earth and move two area codes over.
I will need to add in the booze/wine/beer list, but so far it's about $19.3B in imports -- which would then cost US consumers an additional $9.65B. Helluva way to address inflation as you head into the midterms....
Looks like smoke from wildfires in northern Ontario is moving across eastern Ontario.
Thanks to Councillor Gower. FYI: We recently soft-launched this as a weekly Saturday update for any #ottcity policy nerds interested.
Glen Gower@glengower.ca · 3mo agoThis is a really good round-up of local news in Ottawa this week, especially the ongoing storm recovery.
On this day in 1930, The Codfather, Gordon Pinsent, was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador. A Canadian icon, he won a Canadian Film Award, six Geminis, three Genies, two Canadian Screen Awards and received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. 📸 Keith Beaty
The most recent #ottcity edition of CFRA Weekends. Latest on the floods and the city’s response. Full Renoviction by-law clears committee and heads to council. No plans to revisit Centretown highrise after city says IT glitch meant some residents weren’t notified. omny.fm/shows/580-cf...
PODCAST: CFRA Weekends for Sat. July 11th, 2026 - 580 CFRA
The Week In Review The latest on the response and fallout to the historic Canada Day flooding, which has impacted over 5,000 homes in Canada's Capital. Concerns from residents and city councillors abo...
omny.fm
Emergency Management Coordinator Kris Haarbosch tells me emergency operations have been stretched to their limits at times. This sheer volume of rainfall is one reason. Residents are also facing complex issues with damage and insurance, among others. #ottnews #ottcity
Glen Gower@glengower.ca · 3mo agoExtreme Weather Event Rainfall Data
Council just got an update from City staff about data they've compiled from municipal rain gauges - 26 across the City. Some areas of the city experienced "a storm event close to or exceeding a 1 in 200-year event." 1/
Storm recovery is underway in #OttCity and we thank you for your patience as we work on cleanup operations. Please note: our 3-1-1 call centre is experiencing higher than normal call volumes. 1/2
Tomorrow, Berton and I hit the road for two months to travel across Canada, sharing the stories of our history, culture, people, and places. This is our love letter to Canada. Every bit of support helps fuel the journey. Support below👇 gofund.me/456542cf7
New from me: OC Transpo expects 223 bus operators to leave before end of 2026: data #ottcity #ottnews
OC Transpo expects 223 bus operators to leave before the end of 2026: data
Data from OC Transpo shows over 200 bus operators are expected to leave before the end of the year as it launches its ambitious plan to fill critical frontline staff.
ctvnews.ca
New from me: OC Transpo expects 223 bus operators to leave before end of 2026: data #ottcity #ottnews
OC Transpo expects 223 bus operators to leave before the end of 2026: data
Data from OC Transpo shows over 200 bus operators are expected to leave before the end of the year as it launches its ambitious plan to fill critical frontline staff.
ctvnews.ca
#OttCity edition of CFRA Weekends: -AG: OC Transpo’s ‘New Ways To Bus’ had flawed scheduling, cost savings that impacted reliability. -OC Transpo to lose 223 bus operators by end of 2026. -How Ottawa Police handles internal conduct against women is in the spotlight. These and more. #ottnews
PODCAST: CFRA Weekends for Sat. June 20th, 2026 - 580 CFRA
The Week In Review Auditor General finds OC Transpo’s ‘New Ways To Bus’ initiative had flawed scheduling and a $10 million cost-saving target, leading to a series of reliability issues. OC Transpo exp...
omny.fm
A follow up here that the numbers arrived late today and I’ll have an update tomorrow when I can properly assess them in context.
Andy Pinsent@andypinsent.bsky.social · 4mo agoOn today’s city edition of CFRA Weekends: -Updates on safe consumption closures, Bill 9 and Adisoke Library -OC Transpo plans for federal workers RTO, staffing. -Councillors concerned how Ottawa will continue to pay for growth with changes to development charges. #ottcity #ottnews
PODCAST: CFRA Weekends for Sat. June 13th, 2026 - 580 CFRA
The Week In Review Funding for safe consumption sites ends on Saturday. OC Transpo prepares for a federal return-to-office mandate, as it introduces an ambitious hiring plan. As one of Ontario’s faste...
omny.fm
Re-upping my chat with Dr. Monty Ghosh on what to expect when the final two safe consumption sites close on Saturday. #ottnews #ottcity
CFRA Weekends - Once Ottawa's safe consumption sites shutter, is our city equipped to handle the fallout? - 580 CFRA
Over the coming weeks, the Ford government will cease funding for Ottawa’s remaining safe consumption sites – the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre on Nelson Street and a trailer operated by Ottawa I...
omny.fm
CTV News Ottawa@ctvnewsottawa.bsky.social · 4mo agoOttawa doctors raise concerns about drug consumption site closures
The province couldn’t clarify when the rules kick in or what local powers remain for serious misconduct. Complainants against former Ottawa Councillor Rick Chiarelli say nothing has changed. #onpoli
CTV News Ottawa@ctvnewsottawa.bsky.social · 4mo agoLack of clarity, timeline for new councillor conduct rules draws concern
Also new from me. #ottnews #ottcity
City not ruling out legal action as Ottawa’s new central library a year late and over budget
The City of Ottawa is not ruling out legal action against the contractor building the Ādisōke Library as the project’s price tag approaches $352 million — nearly double its original budget.
ctvnews.ca
New from me: #ottcity #ottnews ‘There’s no date for when the province’s new rules for councillor conduct come into effect and its lack of clarity has raised concerns among advocates — and questions about what local powers will stay in place.’
Lack of clarity, timeline for new councillor conduct rules draws concern
There’s no date for when the province’s new rules for councillor conduct come into effect and its lack of clarity has raised concerns among advocates — and questions about what local powers will stay ...
ctvnews.ca
City Hall edition of CFRA weekends: No one can say when province’s bill to deal with problem Councillors comes into effect, advocates say it may be worse than before. How to address the city’s $229 million infrastructure gap may have made its way to the ballot box. #ottnews #ottcity
PODCAST: CFRA Weekends for Sat. June 6th, 2026 - 580 CFRA
The infrastructure deficit in Canada’s Capital sits at $229 million, an issue that multiple Canadian cities are trying to grasp. Here at home, the idea of an infrastructure levy is being debated to he...
omny.fm
Late here, but a link to our Saturday show on the top city issues of the week. Also: Dr. Monty Ghosh on impending impacts from safe consumption site closures. Pollster David Valentin on Mayoral race and what Ottawa residents are flagging as the issues. #ottnews #ottcity
PODCAST: CFRA Weekends for Sat. May 30th, 2026 - 580 CFRA
Over the coming weeks, the Ford government will cease funding for Ottawa’s remaining safe consumption sites. Earlier this week, Ottawa’s top doctor issued stern warnings to decision-makers and residen...
omny.fm
Tomorrow’s interviews: Addiction expert Dr. Marty Ghosh on what to expect when the final safe consumption sites close. Pollster David Valentin: Liaison’s numbers on the Mayoral race and the mood of the electorate. MPP John Fraser on Ottawa issues raised at Queens Park this week.
Andy Pinsent@andypinsent.bsky.social · 4mo agoMy Saturday CFRA show will now be one hour on city issues based on daily reporting on City Hall. Tune in for an in-depth look at the top local stories, analysis and interviews. 6 and 7 a.m Saturdays atm, the podcast will be out the same day.
My Saturday CFRA show will now be one hour on city issues based on daily reporting on City Hall. Tune in for an in-depth look at the top local stories, analysis and interviews. 6 and 7 a.m Saturdays atm, the podcast will be out the same day.
