Brampton considers Ombudsman investigation for closed meeting; Mississauga integrity commissioner to explain lack of action on harassment complaints from former councillor
Each week, The Pointer will check the agendas of public institutions involved in decision making that impacts the citizens of Peel. We will summarize particularly important reports or motions under various headings. This feature is designed to act as a guide for local residents, unlocking the often stodgy and byzantine process of local government.
For meetings where more than one item may be of interest, sub headings have been used. Each item includes a link to the full agenda, how to watch meetings live and information to speak on the issue at the meeting.
Democracy Watch will include a link to the most notable agendas each week. If there are no newsworthy items, information regarding timing and how to get involved will still be featured.
Special City Council
Date: February 8 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live
Concerns around January 26 closed meeting
Today's special council meeting has a motion that, if approved, would see minutes from a closed session meeting on January 26 disclosed “for purposes of seeking legal advice related to the meeting.” A separate motion is seeking the Ontario Ombudsman be called in to investigate the January 26 meeting. The agenda does not include any further information.
Closed Session:
Council members will meet behind closed doors to discuss personal matters about an identifiable “individual, including municipal or local board employees; and labour relations or employee negotiations.”
City Council
Date: February 9 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live
Long list of closed session items:
Under the Municipal Act, council is allowed to close its meetings to the public for a few specific reasons.
Last week Brampton’s committee of council meeting had 11 items on its closed session agenda. On Wednesday there are 8 items on the agenda to be discussed behind closed doors including: four separate items related to “a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board,” and two connected to the buying or selling of land.
Special Council Meeting
Date: February 9 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live
Council asks Integrity Commissioner to explain reasons for not investigating complaint from former Councillor Karen Ras
In a special council meeting on Wednesday, Mississauga’s integrity commissioner Robert Swayze will be providing an explanation for why he did not investigate complaints brought forward by former councillor Karen Ras related to harassment and vandalism allegedly perpetrated by fellow Councillor Ron Starr. Swayze will also explain how the Council Code of Conduct Complaint Protocol applies to this situation. Ras resigned from her position last month, but only revealed to media last week that her resignation was due to harassment by Starr, who denies the allegations.
Previous Reporting:
The resolution can be read here.
Council Meeting
Date: February 9 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live
Potential environmental impacts from the Dundas Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
The City of Mississauga and Metrolinx began the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) for the Dundas BRT Mississauga East in 2021.The draft Environment Project Report being presented on Wednesday states there is potential for considerable environmental impacts to critical wildlife habitat and species at risk, including the possibility of harm to the barn swallow, chimney swift and other species at risk. City staff are looking for council to endorse their preferred solution to mitigate these impacts outlined in the draft report, and issue a 30 day public review window starting February 22.
Previous Reporting:
You can read the corporate report here and the draft Environment Project Report here.
Closed session:
Under the Municipal Act, council is allowed to close the meeting to the public for a stringent set of reasons. Mississauga has two items to discuss in private this week, including legal advice on limiting the number of election signs on a single dwelling residential property and delegation of authority for acquisition of proposed land for the Dundas and Lakeshore Bus Rapid Transit projects.
Planning and Development Committee
Date: February 8 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live
Three-storey, 127-bed senior’s facility proposed next to Caledon East school
Wyndham Holdings is proposing to build a three-storey senior’s retirement facility at 15728 Airport Road next to Caledon East Public School. A proposed amendment would redesignate land use from low density residential to institutional. Council is holding a meeting Tuesday to receive public input on the proposal, but no recommendations or decisions will be made.
Public meeting information report can be read here and the presentation by the developer can be viewed here.
Special Regional Council Meeting
Date: February 10 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live
Council to declare Ras’s seat vacant
Mississauga and Regional Councillor Karen Ras resigned from her position last month. Last week, in deciding against a byelection, Mississauga council appointed Patricia Mullin, a former councillor, to replace Ras for the remainder of the term.
Mayor Bonnie Crombie was the lone vote against Mullin's appointment, calling the move "undemocratic." Mullin will serve as Mississauga Ward 2 councillor until the municipal election on Oct. 24.
On Thursday, the Regional Council will declare Ward 2 councillor’s regional seat vacant in a Special Regional Council Meeting prior to the regular council meeting.
Previous Reporting:
Regional Council Meeting
Date: February 10 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live
Free menstruation products across all government-operated facilities in Peel
The Toronto District School Board was the first in Ontario to provide free menstruation products in public schools in 2019. The provincial government followed two years later. The City of Brampton also provides free menstrual products in all public washrooms across city facilities and on Thursday, a Brampton resident will be requesting regional council consider a similar approach in helping her fight period poverty and to support equality across the community.
Previous Reporting:
You can read the request here.
Peel receives additional child care funding
The Region has received $3.2 million in additional funding from the Ministry of Education to support the early years and child care sector and a one-time transitional grant in the amount of $8.8 million. According to the staff report, $2.4 million in funding will be used to meet an increase in targets for fee subsidy and special needs resourcing and $881,000 is earmarked for EarlyON programs and will be used to “improve their accessibility and equity.”
The report from commissioner of Human Services at the Region of Peel, Janice Sheehy, warns that without timely approval, the region will not be able to use the funds [which must be used in 2022] to support early years and child care sector in Peel and may need to return a portion of the money to the Province.
Previous Reporting:
You can read the staff report here.
Regional staff recommends incentive program to ensure clean drinking water supply
Increased land use activities like road salting, fuel storage, septic systems, agricultural and industrial processes pose a potential risk to groundwater sources in Caledon.
Region of Peel staff are seeking councils endorsement to develop a Source Water Protection Incentive Program that could assist landowners with risk management measures to avoid contamination to groundwater sources.
Previous Reporting:
You can read the staff report here.
Executive Committee
Date: February 11 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live
Managing harm to the TRCA watershed
The executive board at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) will consider a staff report that lists a total of 109 projects [from 2018-2021] that were allowed to remove natural habitats for monetary compensation. TRCA uses this compensation to help offset these "unavoidable" natural losses because of land use changes.
Previous Reporting:
You can read the summary report here.
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