Hour 1 of Ottawa Now for Mon. April 21st, 2025

According to preliminary estimations from Elections Canada, nearly 2 million people voted in the advanced polls on Good Friday alone. If that sounds like a record turnout to you, it’s because it is. Over the next few days, the advanced polls will close, and we will have more concrete data to report on Canada’s early birds. Is this a sign that voter turnout for this year’s federal election is on the rise? Kristy Cameron digs deeper with Julie Simmons, an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Guelph. Meantime, Smiths Falls residents could soon be able to house chickens in their backyards. On Tuesday, City Council will be voting on a proposed Backyard Hen pilot program. And if it receives the green light, residents will be allowed to keep up to 6 backyard hens at a residential property. Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow pays us a visit in Hour 1.