News Headlines / October 12, 2007

Alternatives sought for Dalhousie 'food desert'   A community grocery store or co-operative food project may replace the Loeb store on Booth Street that closed last year.   Tunnel debate stalls councillors' transit junket   A West Coast transit tour by some city councillors and planners has been put on hold until the city figures out when, or if, they’ll proceed with a plan to build tunnels through the downtown core.   Canadians spread media literacy message in Burundi   The woman’s eyes are luminous as she talks about her parents’ death. She shrugs. “We move on, right?” This is just one of the images that flashed across the screen recently at Library and Archives Canada, during the Canadian premiere of the Burundi Film Centre.   Online petition pushes for pets on city buses   Last winter, John Donaldson had to take his cat Giai to the vet. He doesn’t own a car and he couldn’t afford a cab. He wanted to take the bus, but had trouble finding a bus driver who would let his cat on the bus. Three buses later he finally found one.   City and union compromise on taxi driver dress code rules   Taxi drivers across the city will be required to follow a new dress code after reaching a compromise with the City of Ottawa on the clothing they have to wear.   Harper doesn't get the picture: Ottawa Centre MP   Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar says Stephen Harper misled him over possible plans to expand the Prime Minister’s Office into what was to be the home of the new National Portrait Gallery.   Elgin Street concert hall still in limbo   A development at 150 Elgin St. that includes a 925-seat concert hall is no closer to being built now than when Ottawa city council first approved the project in October 2004.   New police unit to combat street-level drugs   A new Ottawa police unit to combat street-level drug use will be operating in Centretown by mid-November, according to district Inspector Alain Bernard of the Ottawa police.   City wants to flush water wastage down the toilet   The City of Ottawa is cracking down on old, water-guzzling toilets by providing residents with a rebate program for new water-efficient ones.   Pesticide ban back on table   A province-wide ban on the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes is a distinct possibility after three major parties have put the issue in their election platforms.   Support our Troops decals start debate about racism   Representatives of the local Muslim community say concerns that the controversial Support our Troops campaign is fostering racism are unfounded.