The Federal government is changing the bilingual language requirement of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence to no longer require every office, base and military installment to operate in both official languages. Instead, each detachment will operate in its local or regional language. Only designated bilingual locations will be required to operate in French and English including parts of Ontario and the National Capital Region, New Brunswick and Quebec. Opposition parties and the Bloc Quebecois are calling this an attack on Francophones and a systemic attack eroding the bilingualism of Canada, adding this could open the door for other federal departments to follow suit.

The Ottawa Police Service is noting a significant increase in sexual assault crimes so far this year. 150 cases have been reported since June 1st marking a 24% increase year over year. Sexual assault cases generally increase in summer months but stranger on stranger sexual assaults and ride share sexual assaults seem to be disproportionately higher as well as sexual assaults resulting from social media meet -ps. Police are urging residents to use safety features available on ride share apps and to maintain vigilance particularly with children to monitor and discuss their social media use.

A cyclist was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries following a collision with an OC Transpo bus in Ottawa’s south end on Thursday afternoon. Ottawa Paramedic Service says emergency crews were called to the intersection of Antares Drive and Hunt Club Road at approximately 4:25.  Paramedics assessed the injured cyclist at the scene before transporting them to hospital for further treatment. The circumstances leading up to the collision have not been released, and there were no reports of injuries on the OC Transpo bus. The intersection remained closed for the balance of the afternoon rush hour.