Hour 3 of Ottawa Now for Fri. September 4th, 2026

It’s a scenario that we’ve all dealt with countless times. You are searching for a parking spot and then, when you find one, you have to pay the piper. Those costs can add up over time, especially if you frequently visit the Downtown Core. And for some, it’s a turn-off that keeps you away from the heartbeat of our city. On the flip side, paid on-street parking has delivered much-needed revenue for the City of Ottawa. Try nearly $10 million in 2025. But if Alex Lawson becomes Mayor of Ottawa next month, those parking meters will meet their maker. Should paid parking be eliminated in Canada’s Capital? Guest host Austin Lee sifts through the CFRA textboard and tackles today’s Question of the Day. Plus, Ziyada Callender from Bell Media Ottawa has completed her incredible walk from Montreal to the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, an effort to raise funds for the cancer centre that helped her. She pays us a visit in Hour 3.