Hour 2 of Ottawa Now for Mon. March 16th, 2026

Ontario’s Attorney General is calling on the Carney Liberals to consider legalizing the use of pepper spray for self-defense measures. This proposal also involves the exploration of mandatory DNA collection upon arrests for sexual offences. In his open letter to Canada’s Attorney General, Doug Downey says it’s all part of an effort to hold violent offenders accountable, support victims of crime, and strengthen public safety. As of today, it’s illegal to carry pepper spray. As of today, a warrant or conviction is required for DNA sample collection. But according to criminal defense lawyer Sam Puchala, this isn’t just a political move. It resembles an entire shift in the nature of self-defense analysis. She pays us a visit in Hour 2. Shifting gears to something much lighter, how about that weather forecast? On Friday and Sunday, we had snow on the ground. Today, the warm temperatures have probably cleared up the roads. What gives? And what curveballs are on the way next? We dig deeper with Environment Canada’s Geoff Coulson.