Hour 2 of Ottawa Now for Thurs. March 12th, 2026

Ottawa city councillors unanimously approved a $200 million revitalization plan for the ByWard Market, with several key amendments proposed by Rideau-Vanier councillor Stéphanie Plante. It includes pedestrian-friendly initiatives, increased after-hours daycare spots to cater to the Market’s nightlife economy, and 24/7 accessible public washrooms. It also recognizes the importance and impact of Ottawa’s social services, particularly in the Downtown Core where they are highly concentrated. Joining us with her reaction is Sylvie Bigras, the President of the Lowertown Community Association. Meantime, as the price of oil and gas skyrockets due to the Iran War, experts fear that grocery prices will be next. We dig deeper in Hour 2 with Sylvain Charlebois, a Senior Director with the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. But you can just call him ‘The Food Professor’.