Rose's Cantina

One of the things I've always loved about Ottawa is its small town feel. Tourists may know this place because it is the Nation's Capital, a place of political theatre and the gargoyles that grace the Parliament Buildings. They come for the festivals, and the souvenirs, for rides along the waterways in amphibious boats. Sophisticates marvel at the charity balls, high priced boutiques and restaurants that serve tiny food.  But townies adore the other side of Ottawa -- the square pizza at the Prescott, quarts at the Chateau Lafayette, and the markets that pop up every May, like clockwork. Townies, even transplanted ones like me, know all the great spots in town, all the delis serving smoked meat sandwiches piled high, the best places to hear blues on a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon, and the little cafes in Little Italy where we can buy the best damned cappuccino and biscotti this side of Tuscany. We also love, love, love our local television which for years has reflecte...

#175489173 / gettyimages.com Bell Media was hoping to scare consumers yesterday, with its pronouncement that local programming could disappear without us paying for it through some sort of subscription plan. Its head honcho suggested that Bell, Rogers and Shaw will have to find other revenue streams to keep local fare alive; otherwise the local news will be on the chopping block. Perhaps. But would we really miss it? Anyone who watches the current local shows knows they are already on live support. Our local CTV affiliate in Ottawa has all but stopped doing remote satellite feeds that once made the audience feel like they were part of the action. Even the host of its once lovely little program Regional Contact has had to resort to covering only stories that are bussable. CTV Ottawa's noon hour program has been turned into a repeater for news from the night before, and its local segments are nothing more than infomercials for local restaurants and stores. I saw a...