Election Hangs in the Balance:
The fate of the United States presidency hangs in the balance as Democrat Joe Biden picks up a big win in Wisconsin while fighting President Donald Trump in other battleground states.
Neither candidate has cleared the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House, and the margins are tight in several other states. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s campaign says it’s suing to temporarily stop the vote count in Pennsylvania, claiming lack of “transparency.”
COVID-19 Ottawa:
Ottawa Public Health has confirmed 48 new COVID-19 cases in Ottawa.
We are up to 7,273 total cases in the Capital, with 707 active, and 6,236 resolved. Meanwhile, no new deaths were reported Wednesday, with that number staying at 330.
Meanwhile,
Public Health has also declared new outbreaks at a couple of local schools.
Ecole Secondaire Publique Louis-Riel is dealing with its third outbreak of the pandemic, with three students and one staff member testing positive. The other outbreak is at Omer Deslauriers Secondary.
COVID-19 Ontario:
Across the province, 987 new cases, and another 16 deaths from the virus are being reported.
79,692 cases have been confirmed in Ontario during the pandemic, with 3,182 deaths and 68,189 cases resolved.
Study Shows Fines Don’t Work:
There’s little evidence indicating the threat of fines is encouraging Canadians to follow pandemic rules.
That’s according to a new report by researchers at Carleton University and the University of Toronto. Researchers Alex Luscombe and Alexander McClelland say despite this lack of evidence, provincial governments across Canada are increasingly using fines as a tool to ensure compliance.
Suspicious Fires in Vanier:
Ottawa Police are trying to track down the culprit following three suspicious fires in Vanier.
The first fire broke out early Saturday morning on Longpre, with similar fires on Barrette, and Hannah early Wednesday morning. Anyone with more information is asked to call police at 613-236-1222, ext. 3770 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Pathologist Testifies at Bushby Trial:
A forensic pathologist who performed an autopsy on an Indigenous woman who died months after being hit by a trailer hitch says it’s not unusual to investigate the link between an injury and a death that occurs much later.
Dr. Toby Rose is testifying at the Thunder Bay trial of Brayden Bushby, who is accused in the 2017 death of Barbara Kentner. Bushby has admitted throwing a trailer hitch at Kentner from a moving car, but has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in her death, which took place five months later.
Rose tells the court that Kentner’s death was caused by health complications that were a consequence of an internal injury sustained when she was hit by the trailer hitch.
2021 Budget Tabled:
The city’s 2021 spending plan was revealed at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.
Highlights of the proposed budget include a three per cent increase in property taxes, and a 2.5 per cent OC Transpo Fare Hike. The budget also includes $376-million for policing, with a proposed strategy for how mental health calls are dealt with.
Council is also banking on financial relief from the province to cover an anticipated $181-million pandemic-related deficit this year, and an expected $153.5-million shortfall next year.