Hour 1 of Ottawa Now for Tues. March 17th, 2026

It is illegal to use the HOV lanes if you’re driving alone. However, that road rule could soon be changed by the Ford government. The province is proposing changes to the Highway Traffic Act, which would allow single-occupant vehicles to use the HOV lanes during off-peak hours. CFRA’s Andrew Pinsent has more on that story. Meantime, today’s snow squall has left thousands of Ottawa residents in the dark. And in the case of thousands of students at Algonquin College, they have been told to stay home. CTV’s Tyler Fleming delivers the details in Hour 1. But first, we bring you up to speed on today’s top headlines.