Your taxes paid for *how many* temporary tents?

Okay, so I was doing my usual deep dive into the City Hall permit system – you know, the real exciting stuff that makes the city hum – and two permits for the *exact same temporary tents* from The Bani Hashi Society caught my eye. We're talking about Permit #BP 3TEN 26-406 and #BP 3TEN 26-407, each for five temporary tents at 900 Eglinton Ave E, costing $6,500 each. That's $13,000 in total for temporary tents in Ward 3.

Now, why two permits for the same thing?

* The first set of tents is for June 16 to June 27, 2026.

* The second set is for July 26 to August 06, 2026.

It looks like they're planning two distinct events, or perhaps a recurring one over the summer, needing separate approvals. It’s a good reminder that even temporary structures need formal authorization and come with a cost. It’s the details like this that show you how the city functions, how even the smallest things get budgeted and approved, and what your permit fees are actually doing.

It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on these things, especially when it comes to how our community spaces are being used and for how long. The real story is never on the Hill — it's always just off it.

Simone Okafor-Bouchard, MiTL Sports Desk, Ottawa.

Keith and the gang are probably already arguing about this on the morning show – check them out at mornings.live.