home safety

Canadians want to see carbon price paused on all home heating fuel, poll suggests

A shed sits at the side of a house, containing home heating oil, in Halifax, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael MacDonald OTTAWA – A new poll suggests Canadians are broadly in favour of the federal government’s decision to exempt home heating oil from its price on carbon, and would welcome expanding the relief to all forms of home heating fuel. The governing Liberals announced last month a three-year reprieve from the carbon price for property owners who depend on heating oil, along with funding to help people make the switch to electric heat pumps. The abrupt about-face from a government that considers tackling climate change a cornerstone priority triggered an uproar in Ottawa over a controversial measure that has proven politically useful on both sides of the aisle. Climate activists denounced the reprieve as a short-sighted move that risks doing permanent damage to the Liberal government’s efforts to limit the impact of climate change. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, has vowed he would do away with the carbon price altogether as prime minister, rallying supporters at events across the country with cries of “axe the tax.” Just over half of respondents to the online Leger survey said they knew about the carve-out, while 48 per cent said they were not aware of it. Despite that, 63 per cent said they support the decision and only 37 per cent said they were opposed to it. Support was highest among those under age 44. The poll also suggests most people would be happy to see all forms of home heating fuel exempted : 70 per cent of respondents said they support an expansion, although that dropped to 58 per cent among people under 25. More than 1.2 million Canadian homes use home heating oil, according to Natural Resources Canada, and about a quarter of those are in Atlantic Canada. Almost a third of Atlantic Canadian homes rely on heating oil, meaning the policy has a disproportionate impact in that region. The Liberals have been accused by their critics of trying to save votes in Atlantic Canada. Some 78 per cent of Atlantic Canadians who took part in the survey said they were happy about the move. Opposition was highest in Quebec, where 43 per cent of respondents said they disagreed. Albertans were most likely to support an expansion to all home heating fuel, at 78 per cent, while 40 per cent of Quebec respondents felt the opposite. Asked about their grasp of the carbon pricing mechanism overall, about 44 per cent expressed a somewhat good or very good understanding, while 56 per cent said they understand it poorly or not at all. Men were more likely to say they understand the carbon price than women. Leger surveyed 1,531 people online, asking a range of questions about the carbon price. Online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population. OTTAWA – A Conservative private member’s bill to exempt more fuel used by farmers from the carbon price is stirring up intense lobbying efforts in the Senate, and leaving the Liberals on the verge of being forced to carve up their signature climate policy even more. Alberta Sen. Paula Simons said that the effort to convince senators of how to vote on this bill is extreme from both sides of the debate. She said she’s concerned that rhetoric is outpacing reality in every direction. “I’ve never been lobbied like this on private member’s bill,” Simons said in an interview with The Canadian Press. “This bill has become symbolic and it’s being used as a wedge issue.” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who has already made eliminating the carbon price the centrepiece of his political messaging ahead of the next federal election, has launched a full-on campaign to get the bill passed. That includes new ads launched on Wednesday. The premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario all wrote letters to senators asking them to vote in favour of the bill. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has reached out to some senators himself, seeking to push the government’s reasons for not wanting the legislation to pass. Simons said senators are receiving hundreds, if not thousands, of emails about it, most of them sent by bots. Bill C-234 was introduced by Ontario Conservative MP Ben Lobb in February 2022, and passed the House of Commons last March with the support of all parties except the Liberals. The bill seeks to take the carbon price off natural gas and propane used by farmers for heating their buildings or running their grain dryers. Farmers are already exempt from the price on pollution for gasoline and diesel to run their farm vehicles and machinery, but they have said the carbon price is costing them thousands of dollars for heating barns and drying their crops. Dave Carey, co-chair of the Agriculture Carbon Alliance, told the Senate agriculture committee in September that there are “no viable alternatives” for heating and cooling livestock barns and greenhouses, or for grain drying. He said the carbon price isn’t an incentive to change, but rather is a “significant financial burden on producers who don’t have other viable options.” Tom Green, senior climate adviser at the David Suzuki Foundation, told the committee there are things farmers can do to lower their fossil-fuel use for both barns and grain dryers, pointing to poultry farms that have installed solar roofs or thick insulation that reduced their energy consumption. He also noted that the government has grant programs to help them transition to lower-emitting options, and offsets farmers’ carbon costs with a tax credit. That tax credit came into being after Bill C-234 was first introduced. It is not connected to the actual carbon price that is paid or the amount of fuel that is used, but is instead calculated based on a farm’s income. Greenhouse operators can also get 80 per cent of the carbon price taken off when they buy fuel for their greenhouse operations. “Bill C-234 sets Canada on a slippery

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23 criminal charges laid in Ottawa human trafficking ring

An Ontario Provincial Police logo is shown during a press conference in Barrie, Ont., Wednesday, April 3, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette Ontario Provincial Police has arrested four young adults from Ottawa and laid 23 criminal charges related to human trafficking. Police say the ten-month investigation began in October 2022, where OPP was made aware of a young girl being human trafficked across Ontario and Quebec. Evidence revealed that the victim had been sexually exploited since 2019. The victim is now in a place of safety. The investigation was conducted by the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS), OPP’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, the Ottawa Police Service, the Kingston Police Service and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service.  Police believe there could be other victims. Devin Ronald Jessy Huff, 26-years-old from Ottawa, has been charged with:  Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, as per Section 117.01(1);  Sexual Assault, as per Section 271;  Assault, as per Section 266;  Procuring, as per Section 286.3 (1), two counts;  Traffic in Persons, as per Section 279.01;  Material Benefit Resulting from Trafficking in Persons, as per Section 279.02(1);  Material Benefit from Sexual Services, as per Section 286.2(1);  Advertising Sexual Services, as per Section 286.4 C.C;  Possession of a Prohibited device or ammunition, as per Section 92(2); and,  Possession of a Schedule I substance for the Purpose of Trafficking, Section 5(2) CDSA. Huff remains in custody following a bail hearing. Hayl Collis, 22-years-old from Vanier, has been charged with:  Traffic in Persons, as per Section 279.01;  Material Benefit Resulting from Trafficking in Persons, as per Section 279.02(1);  Material Benefit from Sexual Services, as per Section 286.2(1);  Procuring, as per Section 286.3 (1); and,  Advertising Sexual Services, as per Section 286.4. Collis remains in custody following a bail hearing. Alexia Zoe Simard, 26-years-old from Ottawa, has been charged with:  Traffic in Persons, as per Section 279.01;  Procuring, as per Section 286.3(1), and;  Advertising Sexual Services, as per Section 286.4. Simard has been released from custody. She is scheduled to appear on December 12, 2023, at the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa. Haileigh Brooke Devlin, 23-years-old from Ottawa, has been charged with:    Traffic in Persons, as per Section 279.01;  Material Benefit Resulting from Trafficking in Persons, as per Section 279.02(1);  Material Benefit from Sexual Services, as per Section 286.2(1), and;  Procuring, as per Section 286.3 (1). Devlin has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa on Dec. 12. Police are urging anyone with any additional information to contact the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122 or their local police. The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-833-900-1010. Human trafficking resources are available at canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca Police arrested a fourth person wanted in connection with a human trafficking investigation dubbed Project Chameleon. Earlier this month, police raided an Innisfil property at Yonge Street and the 7th Line on Nov. 1 and said they seized $30,000 worth of drugs and arrested three individuals after receiving a tip that a female was being held for sexual services. Tyrone Aaron DIAS, 38, of Innisfil (L), Jashyna SINGH, 29, of Brampton (C), and Royden REIS, 38, of Barrie (R), face charges in connection with a human trafficking investigation. (Source: South Simcoe Police Services) Police say three female victims were rescued from the Innisfil residence. A second search warrant was carried out in Newmarket. On Monday, police confirmed 37-year-old Burnel Hopkinson surrendered himself to police without incident. Police had issued an arrest warrant for the capture of Hopkinson following the Innisfil raid. He faces charges of human trafficking, material benefit from the trafficking of persons, material benefit from sexual services, advertising sexual services, and sexual assault, and has been held in police custody pending a bail hearing. The allegations against each of the accused have not been tested in court. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtEWmkwLVgU Accused human trafficker Kevin Kielty has taken a guilty plea in a Barrie courtroom on Tuesday, admitting to illegally employing four foreign nationals from Mexico between 2017 and 2019 under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. “Mr. Kielty continues to deny any allegation of mistreatment of those people,” said Carson Hurley, Kielty’s lawyer. Kielty’s plea deal is a victory for the defence, with all criminal charges, including human trafficking, against the former Barrie man and his wife, Patricia Zuniga-Rojas, being stayed. Zuniga-Rojas’ lawyer, Peter Thorning, said she never should have been charged. “And had there been a trial, there’s no doubt she would’ve been acquitted,” he said outside the Barrie courthouse. Kielty, Zuniga-Rojas and her two daughters, Ashley and Patty Camacho Zuniga, initially faced 27 charges each, including the alleged human labour trafficking of 48 Mexican nationals who claimed in 2019 that they were tricked into working for a cleaning company that used them as cheap labour at local resorts and hotels. In 2019, CTV News reported that when Canada Border Services, the OPP and Barrie police announced the bust, some of the workers claimed they were paid $50 a month and lived in terrible conditions in Barrie and Wasaga Beach. Police referred to the workers from Mexico as “modern-day slaves” who were lured to Canada with promises of educational opportunities and good-paying jobs. The four counts Kielty pleaded guilty to on Tuesday carried a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment. He was ordered to serve a conditional sentence of 18 months, which includes house arrest following a joint submission by the Crown and the defence. Kielty pleading guilty to the regulatory charges means his wife and her daughters – who faced the prospect of deportation had Zuniga-Rojas been convicted- can remain in Canada. Charges against Zuniga-Rojas’ daughters were dropped before the trial dates were set. The court heard Kielty ran RTL Services, a cleaning company with an office in Barrie, out of which police said illegal workers were supplied to clean local hotels and resorts in Collingwood and the Blue Mountains. The defence told the court Kielty was very remorseful for his actions. “It’s

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Major Canadian grocer says expanded price freezes will happen amid new plans to stabilize food prices

Shoppers at a west-end Toronto Sobeys grocery store, Sunday, June 26, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy) Major Canadian grocer Empire, the parent company of Sobeys, confirmed it will expand price freezes on several products between November 2023 and January 2024. A month ago, major grocers in Canada did not confirm whether they were committed to special promotions to stabilize grocery prices despite promises by the federal government to alleviate inflation and the rising cost of living for Canadians. Now, Empire confirmed it will be expanding its price-freezing practice to 20,000 of its packaged products in the coming months, the company said in an emailed statement to CTV News Toronto Tuesday. “This is a meaningful step-up from prior years and has resulted in cancelling price increases on approximately 1,700 additional products initially planned to occur during this timeframe,” a spokesperson for Empire said. Empire adds it typically implements price freezes on 90 per cent of all packaged products from November to January annually, with exceptions in certain scenarios. Price increase cancellations will remain in place regardless of any internal or external conditions that might cause prices to go up, according to the company. The federal government gave an ultimatum to major grocers in September, saying they should present plans to stabilize grocery prices by Thanksgiving or face potential tax measures as a consequence. The move came in response to concerns that Canadian families were struggling to put food on the table as grocery prices continued to climb rapidly. Grocery prices in August were 6.9 per cent higher than they were a year ago, according to StatCan. “We also have significant and meaningful plans in development to continue to help stabilize food prices past February” the company said. Empire’s announcement comes after Statistics Canada reported a 3.1 per cent slowdown in the annual inflation rate in October, down from 3.8 per cent in September. Statistics Canada said the largest contributors to inflation continued to be mortgage interest costs, food purchased from stores and rent. While grocery prices rose faster than overall inflation, Statistics Canada said the pace continued to slow. Grocery prices were up 5.4 per cent year-over-year in October compared with 5.8 per cent higher in September. Produce is shown at a west-end Toronto Sobeys grocery store, Sunday, June 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy OTTAWA – A House of Commons committee is asking the heads of Canada’s major grocery chains to appear before MPs and explain their plans to stabilize food prices. The agriculture committee passed an NDP motion last Thursday to invite the grocery executives, or summon them if necessary, to testify about the measures their companies are taking to address food inflation. Earlier this fall, Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced the major Canadian grocery companies — Loblaw, Metro, Empire, Walmart and Costco — had presented to the government their plans to tackle rising prices, which he says included discounts, price freezes and price-matching campaigns. Champagne offered few details about these promotions at the time, saying he wanted the grocers to compete with one another. Most grocers have also not confirmed the details of their plans. The motion at the parliamentary committee is asking the grocers to submit “a comprehensive report on their strategies and initiatives taken to date and on further actions aimed at the stabilization of grocery prices in Canada.” The deadline for the submissions is Nov. 2. It is also inviting Champagne and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to appear before committee to answer questions. The Canadian Press reached out to the grocers on Tuesday for comment on the parliamentary committee’s motion. Sarah Dawson, aspokeswoman for Sobeys, said the company has not yet received an invitation or request from the committee but that it has “every intention of participating if asked.” She said Sobeys has shared its plans with Champagne, noting they “include some of the novel measures” mentioned by the minister. “Our plans are competitively sensitive and we do not plan to discuss them publicly before they are launched in our stores,” she added. Metro declined to comment, while the others did not immediately respond. The Canadian Press had asked the grocers earlier this month for more details on their pledges to the federal government. Walmart was the only company to weigh in, with a spokeswoman saying the company promised to continue offering “everyday low prices,” which refers to its strategy of offering low prices on a regular basis, rather than on promotion only. In an interview with The Canadian Press on Oct. 16, Champagne said he wishes the grocers were “more forthcoming” about their plans. The federal government is taking other steps aimed at addressing high grocery prices. On Tuesday, Champagne announced more funding for non-profit consumer advocacy organizations to help fund projects that focus on retail practices that hurt consumers, and on the development of tools that help consumers make informed decisions and save costs. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the decision to pressure grocers to tackle rising prices in September, one of several affordability measures from the Liberals after a summer of polling showing growing support for the Conservatives. The Conservatives have been hammering the Liberals over the cost of groceries, blaming them on Liberal spending, while the NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has said the Liberal government’s “plan to ask CEOs nicely to reduce prices is ridiculous.” Grocery prices have risen in Canada at a faster rate than overall inflation, although they have also risen dramatically around the world, with many countries seeing food prices rise at an even faster rate. OTTAWA – Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says he wishes Canadian grocers would be more forthcoming with the public about their plans to stabilize prices. Earlier this month, Champagne announced that major Canadian grocers — Loblaw, Metro, Empire, Walmart and Costco — submitted initial plans to the federal government for how they will stabilize prices in the face of high inflation. The Liberal government summoned the heads of the companies to meet in Ottawa last month, demanding they present such a plan by Thanksgiving or face

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“Drone hits Crimean ammunition depot as strikes kill, wound civilians and journalists in Ukraine”

A plume of smoke rises over an ammunition depot where explosions occurred at the facility in Kirovsky district in Crimea, July 19, 2023. (Viktor Korotayev/Kommersant Publishing House via AP) KYIV, UKRAINE –  A Ukrainian drone strike Saturday caused a massive explosion at an ammunition depot in Russia-annexed Crimea, forcing the evacuation of nearby homes in the latest attack since Moscow cancelled a landmark grain deal amid Kyiv’s grinding efforts to retake its occupied territories. The attack on the depot in central Crimea sent huge plumes of black smoke skyward and came five days after Ukraine struck a key bridge that links Russia to the peninsula it illegally annexed in 2014 and after Moscow suspended a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to safely export its grain through the Black Sea. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, said in a Telegram post that there were no immediate reports of casualties from the strike, but that authorities were evacuating civilians within a 5-kilometre radius of the blast site. The Ukrainian military took credit for the strike, saying it destroyed an oil depot and Russian military warehouses in Oktyabrske, in the Krasnohvardiiske region of Crimea, though without specifying which weapons it used. A Crimean news channel posted videos Saturday showing plumes of smoke billowing above rooftops and fields near Oktyabrske, a small settlement next to an oil depot and a small military airport, as loud explosions rumbled in the background. In one video, a man can be heard saying the smoke and blast noises seemed to be coming from the direction of the airport. The strike came during a week in which Ukraine attacked the Kerch Bridge and Russia, in what it described as “retribution” for the bridge attack, bombarded southern Ukrainian port cities, damaging critical infrastructure including grain and oil terminals. Ukraine also attacked the bridge in October, when a truck bomb blew up two of its sections, which took months to repair. Moscow decried that assault as an act of terrorism and retaliated by bombarding Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, targeting the country’s power grid over the winter. The Kerch Bridge is a conspicuous symbol of Moscow’s claims on Crimea and an essential land link to the peninsula. The US$3.6 billion, 19-kilometre (nearly 12-mile) bridge is the longest in Europe and is crucial for Russia’s military operations in southern Ukraine. Speaking at the Aspen security forum via video link, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the bridge a legitimate target for Ukraine, noting that Russia has used it to ferry military supplies and it must be “neutralized.” In a video address to the nation later Saturday, Zelenskyy said he had a phone call with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss “our steps to unblock and ensure the stable operation of the grain corridor” following Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal. Zelenskyy said they agreed to hold a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council in the nearest days for consultations on the issue. “We can overcome the security crisis in the Black Sea,” he said. As fierce fighting continues in Ukraine’s bid to retake territory from Russia, Russian shelling killed at least two civilians and wounded four others on Saturday, Ukrainian officials reported. A 52-year-old woman died in Kupiansk, a town in the northeastern Kharkiv region, while another person was killed in a cross-border Russian attack on a village in the neighbouring Sumy province. Earlier Saturday, Ukrainian officials reported that Russian attacks on 11 regions across the country on Friday and overnight had killed at least eight civilians and wounded others. A DW cameraman was injured Saturday by shrapnel from Russian cluster munitions that also killed one Ukrainian soldier and wounded several others near the town of Druzhkivka, in the eastern Donetsk region, the German broadcaster said in a statement. Cameraman Ievgen Shylko was part of a team sent to report from the Ukrainian army training ground about 23 kilometres (14 miles) away from the frontline, it said. “We were filming the Ukrainian army during target practice when suddenly we heard several explosions,” DW correspondent Mathias Bölinger said. “We lay down, more explosions followed, we saw people were wounded. Later, the Ukrainian army confirmed that we had been fired at with cluster munitions.” Cluster munitions, which open in the air and release multiple small bomblets, are banned by more than 100 countries because of their threat to civilians, but they have been used extensively by both sides in the war. The Pentagon has said the cluster munitions the U.S. recently gave to Ukraine will give Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its counteroffensive. The Russian Defence Ministry announced that a group of Russian journalists came under artillery fire in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. In an online statement, it said four correspondents for pro-Kremlin media had been struck by cluster munitions and that one of them, Rostislav Zhuravlev of the state RIA Novosti news agency, later died from his injuries. The Kremlin-installed head of the Russia-occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhia region, Yevhen Balitsky, claimed in a Telegram post that the journalists were travelling in a civilian vehicle that was hit by shelling. The claims couldn’t be independently verified. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the attack on journalists as a “heinous crime” in which the U.S. and its allies were complicit. The Ukrainian air force on Saturday morning said that overnight, it had brought down 14 Russian drones, including five Iranian-made ones, over the country’s southeast, where battles are raging. In a regular social media update, the air force said that all Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones launched by Russian troops during the night were brought down, pointing to Ukraine’s increasing success rate in neutralizing them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0fP6B7nT-4 KYIV, UKRAINE –  Russia pounded Ukraine’s southern cities with drones and missiles for a third consecutive night Thursday, keeping Odessa in the Kremlin’s crosshairs after a bitter dispute over the end of a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port. The strikes killed at least two people in Odessa. In Mykolaiv,

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“Breaking News: Devastating Tornado Strikes Ottawa, Leaving Destruction in Its Path”

Tomislav Mitar shared photos of damage to his home in Barrhaven, calling it “ground zero of the tornado.” (Twitter/EnjoytheTom) Emergency crews are assessing damage and assisting residents after at least one tornado touched down in the south Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven, damaging homes and properties. Ottawa police said just before 1 p.m. it was aware of a tornado in the Barrhaven area, as a severe storm moved through the region with heavy rains and strong winds. Environment Canada had issued a tornado warning for Ottawa, saying conditions were favourable for the development of a possible tornado. In a shocking turn of events, the tranquil city of Ottawa was rocked by a ferocious tornado, unleashing its destructive force upon unsuspecting residents. The tornado, classified as one of the most damaging in Ottawa’s history, wreaked havoc across the city, leaving behind a trail of devastation and despair. The tornado descended upon Ottawa with little warning, catching residents off guard. The sunny skies quickly turned ominous as dark clouds gathered, giving birth to a swirling vortex of destruction. Within moments, the city was transformed into a battleground against nature’s fury. As the tornado tore through Ottawa, its sheer power was evident in the destruction it left in its wake. Buildings crumbled like fragile sandcastles, roofs were ripped off, and debris flew through the air like deadly projectiles. The once serene streets became strewn with rubble, shattered glass, and uprooted trees, turning the city into an apocalyptic scene. Amidst the chaos, the tornado took a toll on the lives of Ottawa’s residents. Tragically, lives were lost, and many more were injured as the tempest unleashed its wrath. Families were torn apart, homes were destroyed, and dreams were shattered in an instant. The emotional and physical scars left behind would be a constant reminder of the devastation inflicted by nature’s fury. In the aftermath of the tornado, the strength and resilience of Ottawa’s community came to the forefront. Strangers became allies, offering support and comfort to those who lost everything. Emergency response teams and volunteers worked tirelessly, searching for survivors and providing aid to those in need. The unity and compassion displayed by the people of Ottawa in the face of adversity showcased the indomitable spirit of the city. Rebuilding a shattered city is no small feat, but Ottawa embarked on the arduous journey towards recovery. The government, alongside local organizations and charitable foundations, pledged their support to assist those affected by the disaster. Temporary shelters were set up, supplies were distributed, and services were mobilized to help survivors regain their footing. The long and challenging road to rebuilding shattered homes and infrastructure began, symbolizing the city’s determination to rise from the rubble. The devastating tornado served as a powerful reminder of the unpredictable forces of nature. It compelled authorities and residents alike to reevaluate their disaster preparedness and response plans. Lessons were learned, and measures were put in place to enhance early warning systems and strengthen emergency response protocols. The scars left by the tornado will forever be etched in Ottawa’s history, serving as a reminder of the city’s resilience and the importance of unity in the face of adversity. Ottawa’s encounter with the damaging tornado will forever be etched in the memories of its residents. The city stood strong against the devastating force of nature, demonstrating the power of unity, compassion, and resilience. Though scars remain, Ottawa’s determination to rebuild and move forward paints a picture of hope and resilience that will inspire future generations.   Environment Canada issued a second tornado warning for Ottawa at 2:45 p.m., but it was lifted just before 3 p.m. Photos on social media showed damage on several streets in the suburb in Ottawa’s south end, with debris spread across roads. Shingles were tossed off houses and basketball nets were knocked down. At least 50 houses in the area of Umbra Place, near Cambrian Road, were affected by the storm. City of Ottawa officials will provide an update on the damage and the response at 4:30 p.m. CTVNewsOttawa.ca will broadcast the media conference live. Ottawa fire says firefighters were going door to door in the worst areas checking on residents and shutdown down gas and hydro on multiple units. Paramedics say one person was struck by debris as the storm hit Ottawa. The victim was transported to hospital in stable condition. Barry Pepper was driving on Standherd Drive when he watched the funnel cloud form. “It was an exciting few minutes,” Peter told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron. “The funnel kind of formed and came down, and it sucked up debris and it looked like trees.” Pepper says there was a lot of debris along Strandherd Drive and a tool shed from the parking lot of Home Depot on the sidewalk. “It was terrifying.” “I looked out the window and into my backyard, and it looked almost like it was snowing which I found very bizarre.  I later realized it was actually the insulation from somebody’s roof,” Tomislav Mitar, Barrhaven resident, told CTV News Channel. “The next thing I saw was metal patio furniture going at a tremendous amount of speed, flying across and smashing into my neighbor’s fence. “It lasted 30 to 45 seconds and then continued down its path.”   Environment Canada confirms one tornado touched down in Ottawa.  David Sills of Western University’s Northern Tornadoes Project tells CTV News Ottawa at least one damaging tornado touched down in Ottawa on Thursday afternoon, “maybe more.” Investigators with the Western University Northern Tornadoes Project will be travelling from London to Ottawa Thursday afternoon to assess the damage.  Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says the city has mobilized its Emergency Operations Centre, and staff will be providing resources to support residents. The city of Ottawa will provide a media briefing at 4:30 p.m. Move 100’s Stuntman Stu posted video on Facebook of damage on Jockvale Road, with several trees knocked down. Trees have been damaged in the area of Exeter Drive and Tartan Drive in Barrhaven. (Natalie

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Comprehensive Home Safety Guide

At security surveillance solutions, we understand there a lot of danger in this world and your home Safety Guide is important. Luckily, it doesn’t make much to protect what matters most. Ensure your safety by suffering attentiveness to a few simple daily steps. Follow these guidelines will give your greater peace of mind and enhance the security of your home and family. Start with enhancing                                                         When it comes to the safety of your friends and family, it’s best to start with the basics. Here are some simple areas of your home to keep in mind as you begin to animate your home security. Entrance Look all doors every time you leave. Check through your peephole answering the door. Change all the locks you move in. Consider adding a video doorbell. Windows Keep your windows locked at all times. If you open a window for fresh air, make sure to lock it when you are finished. If windows don’t have locks, install some. Never leave home with a window open. Trim back any trees or shrubs that is near your windows. Will-Lit Outside Keep your front and backyard lit with motion-activated floodlights that can alert you to unwanted guests and burglars. Trim back any business or trees that can block line of sight from a window or door, as well as block light from installed floodlights. You Home Alarm Installed home security systems. This can include a control panel, motions detectors, glass breaks, smoke & carbon monoxide detectors , and more. If you have security systems, be sure to test it regularly. If you system is currently running on a landline, consider upgrading to cellular which is more reliable during weather events or more secure. Protect your home with a security provider There a lot of home security providers on the market that provides a wide Varity of services. Here are some things you consider when shopping for the right company for your needs. What to expect during your home safety guide assessment and installation Once you decide to buy home safety guide security systems, there is going to be a home assessment and installation. During the safety assessment, you can expect a thorough look at the potential hazards in around your best home. This is a great tool to help discover what steps you can take so your home is safe as possible in all situations. For the installation of home safety guide systems, the process will depend on whether your system is wired or wireless. If you are getting a wired system, in most cases there will be holes made in your wall and sheetrock to install your systems. They are much needed for wires, the security control panel, new locks, cameras, and more. For wireless systems, there will typically be less drilling involved. However, there might still be some depending on the systems. Protect your systems Make sure to protect your home security guide systems from hackers. Because most systems rely on your home network and WIFI , it’s necessary to keep your network password protected. Use a private network and hidden SSID. Use strong passwords that have at least one special character and a mix of capital and lowercase letters. Change your password even 2-3 months. Add two factor authentications. Have unique codes for each of your systems. An important part of owning a home security system knows how to use it. Make sure your entire family is sensible of how it works, as well as how to activate and disarm the system. Home Security Tips Home security is more than just owning a security system. You need to be ready for anything that will happen to your home. Here are a few general safety and security tips for the experts at security surveillance. Don’t leaves notes for guests or deliver outside your home Install deadbolt locks on all outside doors and lock your doors every late-night. Don’t hide keys outside. Register and photograph valuables and their serial number. Store valuable documents (insurance policies, wills, passport, social, security cards) in a safety deposit box or fire proof home safe. Join online neighborhood watch groups like Next-door or your neighborhood face book groups. Fire safety and prevention When it comes to fire safety, prevention and planning are your good deacons.  Here are some specific tips about fire safety you can use in your home. Make A Plan Make a fire emergency plan for your family. As part of this, teach your kids get how and go to show them how to get out of the house in case a fire. Choose a designated place to meet outside as a family to make sure every one is a safe. Never go back into building that is on fire and wait for first responder to arrive. Identify potential Hazards Finding potential fire hazards and taking action to either remove or fix them can help my our entire friends and family. Some common fire hazards include: Damaged electrical equipment Candles Barbeques, smokes, or grills Curtains or towel racks too close to burners in the kitchen. Space heaters too close flammable materials Dirty or clogged chimneys Prevent Electrical Fires Electrical fires can do some serious damage to your home and put your safety at threat. Luckily, electrical fires are most always preventable in your home. To avoid electrical fires. Avoid overloading your circuit breaks. Keep heat-producing appliances unplugged when it damaged. Only use extension cords for temporary solutions. Never use a device with a deface power cord. If a cord is cracked, frayed, or has come loose from its plug, you should either have it repaired or get a new record. Carbon Monoxide Safety Carbon monoxide cab be trickily to understand and is called “the silent killer” because it is a colorless gas, which makes it very easy to overlook or not recognize in your home. That’s why it’s important to follows these safety tips to keep and your protected. Don’t warm up a vehicle or leave the engine running

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