Province to open new 'regional office' in Ottawa
Premier Doug Ford announced the province will be opening a new regional office dedicated to Ottawa on Monday.
- Sign up now for our daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
In a press conference with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, the Premier says the new office will "support better services for the people of Ottawa" and "support greater engagement" with the province and the city.
"Today’s announcement is further evidence that our government takes Ottawa’s position as our second-largest city and a service and economic hub for eastern Ontario seriously,” Premier Doug Ford said in a statement.
"This new office will be critical in delivering on the new deal while identifying opportunities to grow Ottawa and eastern Ontario’s economy and supporting the hardworking people of this region. It will also be an important link between the province and the federal government."
The office will be located in Constitution Square on Albert Street in downtown Ottawa, but it's unclear whether it will be open to the public. The province says the office will open starting today.
This is Ford's third visit to Ottawa in five weeks.
The office will be led by former Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate for Kanata – Carleton Sean Webster, who has experience in the Canadian pharmaceutical and energy sectors.
Sutcliffe says its the first time the province has opened a regional office in the city.
"I think it demonstrates the Premier's commitment to Ottawa, we've never had anything like this," Sutcliffe said at Monday's press conference.
"Having another point of contact where we can be working closely on issues that pertain to Ottawa … I think is a very good step forward."
Ford said the new office will help to implement a deal the Ontario government made with the city this spring, where the province will be injecting $543 million of funding, which includes uploading Highway 174 to the province, building a new interchange at Highway 416 and a new police operations centre in the ByWard Market.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford take part in a press conference at Ottawa City Hall on Monday, April 29, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
"Recently, the province recognized some of our unique needs and provided some much-needed funding to help Ottawa tackle these challenges," Sutcliffe said in a statement. "Having a regional Provincial office in Ottawa will ensure that our local needs are supported and our concerns are effectively communicated to Queen’s Park."
Ottawa is Ontario's second largest local municipality and the largest in eastern Ontario. There is currently no sitting MPP for Ottawa in Ford's cabinet.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air turbulence: When can it become dangerous?
Flight turbulence like that encountered by a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday is extremely common, but there's one aspect of severe turbulence an aviation expert says can lead to serious injury.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
WATCH Why today's inflation numbers are good if you have a mortgage
New inflation data is 'welcome news' for consumers and an economist says it could signal the possibility for a interest rate cut as several core measures also continue to ease.
'Miscommunication' Liberals say of Speaker Fergus event invite Conservatives call partisan
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus is facing fresh Conservative-led calls to resign, this time over "very partisan" and 'inflammatory' language used – the Liberals say mistakenly – to promote an upcoming event.