OTTAWA --
Attention shoppers: the city of Ottawa is once again offering free parking at three downtown parking garages.
Mayor Jim Watson announced the city is reinstating free parking for up to 30 minutes at two city-run parking lots in the ByWard Market and the parking lot at Ottawa City Hall.
Watson says the initiative is to support curbside pickup for the hard-hit downtown businesses and restaurants.
The city quietly started offering 30 minutes of free parking at the two municipal lots in the ByWard Market and at Ottawa City Hall in February to help support businesses during the pandemic. The offer ended on March 31, just over a week ago.