Tag: news

As the Taxi/ Uber war rages on in Ottawa and other cities across Canada, soldiers from both sides find themselves entangled in the conflict. After seeing videos of other cabbies harassing Uber drivers, local cab driver Ahmed Mousai decided to take it to the next level.

“I thought to myself, anyone can take a video of an Uber driver, but what if someone became an Uber driver and worked to destroy it from the inside? That is what caused me to act.” Mousai applied to become a driver, passed his police check, installed the app, and started driving. “I was first surprised by how easy it was. I didn’t have to buy or rent a cab licence. I didn’t have to pay to go pick up at the airport or hotels. It was all so simple: people needed to be picked up, so I went to get them.”

After a month driving for Uber, Mousai made the decision to stay with the company. “I started thinking, why take Uber down? Passengers are friendly. I make more money. I go where I want, when I want. I have no quotas, no restrictions, I just drive.”

The popular Bier Markt franchise came under fire this week, after it attempted to force employees to wear short, skimpy dresses as part of a company uniform. Activists claimed that the company was infringing on the human rights of its employees by instituting the mandatory outfits. Additionally, many Bier Markt staffers complained about the changes, arguing that the bar was attempting to sexualize them. However, not all employees were upset with the dress code.

“I thought the dresses were comfortable and sleek” says Peter Hayes, who has been a bartender at Bier Markt for over a year, “It gets hot being stuck behind that bar, so when I heard that they were assigning these tiny uniforms, I was stoked.”

Mr. Hayes claims that he was denied a dress when he asked to be issued one by his manager. He eventually received an outfit from a coworker, but was asked to remove it minutes after putting it on. Mr. Hayes refused to change his outfit for two shifts before he was let go. “I was an employee, and the memo said that employees had to wear the dress. Bier Markt is sending mixed messages.”. Mr. Hayes is suing the company for wrongful dismissal.

Ottawans rejoiced this week as the Kent Street section of the 417 Queensway was replaced at the end of October, as promised. While the news comes as relief to many, others have been devastated by the concise construction.

“We’ve lived under that bridge for the past 9 years” sobbed Grak, a local troll who woke up that morning to the sound of jackhammers. “My girlfriend and I don’t have cable, we had no idea this was happening.” The family narrowly escaped the construction, and has lodged a complaint with the City. They have not received word back yet.

Grak, Mong, and their two daughters are now homeless, and have no family in Ottawa to rely on. They now must find a new place to live. “With housing prices being what they are, we can’t afford to live anywhere else. That bridge was all that we could afford. I’m a floor manager at a call centre, and Mong is on disability because of her hystrollectomy. With our financial situation, we may have to move to Renfrew.”