Thank you for your reply! There is a flight with a 2.5 hour layover, that costs $100 more. Is 1.5 hours not sufficient nowadays? There was another flight going through Halifax with a 47 minute layover which I thought seemed sketchy, even pre pandemic. I know, it seems to make more sense to get to Montreal on my own...I don't love driving and I find driving in Montreal can be stressful. Also, if something happens along the way and I can't make my flight, aren't I out of luck? Whereas if I fly from Ottawa and something happens, they are responsible for my connection?
P.S. Are you in the dental field btw?