Crime & safety top of mind for voters in north Brampton

All four major parties contesting races in Brampton’s north end should be thinking of the one burning issue on the minds of many voters.  

While the ongoing healthcare crisis in the city, the lack of affordability and housing have often drawn plenty of attention, crime has dominated the political landscape here. 

In Brampton North voters want to know what incumbent Graham McGregor (PC), Liberal candidate Ranjit Singh, the NDP’s Ruby Zaman, and Green Party candidate Sameera Falcon Khan would do in Queen’s Park, if elected, to confront gun violence, auto thefts and home-break ins.

Candidates were asked by The Pointer about what they would do as a local MPP to tackle crime. 

Singh said the Ontario Liberal Party “has a history of implementing community-focused safety initiatives. For instance, in 1999, the party developed a comprehensive crime-prevention strategy for Toronto, emphasizing community engagement and proactive policing."

Brampton has long grappled with gun crimes associated with elements of organized activity, and Singh suggested neighbourhood programs are a good way to let criminals know they are being watched.

"Drawing inspiration from such initiatives, I plan to work alongside elected Ontario Liberal MPPs and local representatives to increase the presence of law enforcement officers familiar with local neighborhoods to foster trust and deter criminal activities, invest in better lighting and surveillance systems in high-risk areas, and establish neighbourhood watch programs with regular town hall meetings to empower residents in safeguarding their communities."

 A recent townhall meeting hosted by the North Brampton Neighbours community group drew elected officials who were drilled about crime.

(Muhammad Hamza/The Pointer)

He cited past Liberal initiatives, such as the National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention as a foundation for addressing gun violence and auto thefts. Singh also stressed the need for a multifaceted approach at the provincial level, including legislative action, law enforcement improvements and collaboration with federal agencies.

"I advocate for stricter gun control measures, including codifying the national handgun freeze into law and increasing penalties for firearms smuggling and trafficking, as outlined in former Bill C-21," he told The Pointer.

"Additionally, I support enhanced law enforcement training to equip officers with specialized skills to handle gun-related incidents and auto theft more effectively. Strengthening collaboration with federal agencies to monitor and control the illegal flow of firearms into our province is also crucial. To combat auto theft, I would push for partnerships with manufacturers and insurers to improve vehicle security technology and expand the use of tracking systems." 

Asked about the unprecedented $144 million increase to the Peel Police budget for 2025 (more than $200 million over two years) and whether throwing more money at police instead of investing it in collaborative strategies and upstream approaches that can be successful in preventing crime in the first place, Singh called for a balance between law enforcement investments and community-based solutions.

"I propose expanding access to mental health care to address the root causes of criminal behaviour, supporting community-based programs that provide youth with educational and employment opportunities to deter them from criminal activities, and advocating for bail reforms to ensure individuals who pose a significant threat are not released prematurely while maintaining a fair and just system. Additionally, I support increasing police resources where needed to ensure Brampton receives adequate funding to match its growing population and rising crime challenges."

The Green Party’s Falcon Khan takes a more holistic approach, highlighting social and economic factors as key drivers of crime.

"Rising crime rates can be linked to social and economic challenges and very likely linked to mental health concerns," Khan wrote in an email.

"We want to use a combination of data metrics to identify critical zones and areas, particularly those identified and work directly with local community members and organizations to build an advisory body that can provide real-time information and some general intervention. We support traditional law enforcement initiatives and would be working closely with municipal, provincial and national bodies to enhance the work they’re already performing by creating more information linkages.”

Upstream solutions are a priority for Khan.  

“[W]e’re also tackling the root causes of crime and social unrest by targeting key indicators including food affordability, housing challenges, mental health (and by extension healthcare). Reducing stressors is the first step to ensuring a safer, secure Brampton in the future. We will absolutely do what is necessary to secure Brampton now, and create the conditions to keep it safe".

While policing resources are still needed, she said deeper investments in health care, mental health and education are critical.

"We will invest in more police resources and build informational linkages between municipalities and the federal government to track and apprehend criminals," she said.

"Rebuilding our healthcare system” and investments in mental health will “support folks at every stage” while other priorities would “eliminate re-offending and make significant improvements to education in Ontario as a way of creating a sense of agency and confidence in kids.  Pathways and opportunities are the means to reducing and eventually eliminating crime in the future."

She also stressed a more balanced approach, rather than funneling the vast majority of taxpayer dollars in the public safety space to police.

"We support a healthy and data-informed mix of resources to combat criminal activity in Brampton to reduce instances of crime and eliminate it for the future. This will include additional police resources, alongside supports in a variety of areas. This will take the form of community advisory councils, restorative justice measures, mental health, and bail reforms to provide a host of tools to be used. Investment in healthcare, education, and work opportunities will provide the foundation to rebuild a society that disincentivizes crime and criminal activity."

At a town hall meeting in the riding on January 22, frustrated community members filled the Jim Archdekin Community Centre detailing the rise in break-ins, brazen shootings and stolen vehicles, urging local leaders and police to prioritize these immediate threats felt by community members.

The event was hosted by Wards 2 and 6 City Councillors Michael Palleschi and Navjit Kaur Brar, alongside Peel Police Deputy Chief Marc Andrews, Superintendent Navi Chhinzer, Community Liaison Officer Constable Jana Marchese, Road Watch Coordinator Constable Claudia D’Amico and Community Safety and Wellbeing Constable Vito Pedano. 

McGregor, who has served as the area MPP since 2022 was also there. Residents recounted harrowing experiences, including one whose neighbour was shot in a case of mistaken identity, leaving him paralyzed. Others spoke of living in fear, with some even contemplating leaving the neighbourhood due to what they described as spiralling criminal activity.

A 2023 poll by the Insurance Board of Canada (IBC) showed nearly 80 percent of Brampton residents believed their neighbourhood was facing an auto theft crisis and 73 percent expressed worry that their vehicle would be stolen. Data revealed that auto theft claims in Brampton surged by 133 percent between 2018 and 2022, with the cost of those claims skyrocketing nearly 400 percent. The IBC noted that Brampton’s auto theft rate had surpassed the provincial average by 20 percent, making it one of the hardest-hit cities in Ontario. 

In a video circulating over social media from February 11, a car is stolen from a woman by two men whose faces are covered. The incident happened at a gas station in Brampton at the intersection of Hurontario Street and Wanless Drive, where the silver Mercedes was brazenly stolen.    

Mike Dwyer, a Brampton resident who attended the January town hall, and served as safety and security director for ArcelorMittal Inc., spoke to The Pointer about the surge in crime in his neighbourhood.

"Well, it's been nonstop over the last, I would say, three to five years… From house break-ins two doors down from me, a house was broken in, a guy was assaulted in his driveway when they tried to steal his Mercedes, a very expensive car. Then we had the shootings, six shootings on that street from that one particular house that's causing this meeting tonight. Why the big issue? Plus, it's all of these people that are coming into the neighbourhood, you know, just targeting, looking for anything they can find that they can get a hold of, and breaking into houses, breaking into cars. It's just been a huge increase."

Mike Dwyer, a Brampton resident, highlighted safety concerns around the Mayfield Road area in the north-central part of the city, where recent shootings have left the community on edge.

(Muhammad Hamza/The Pointer)

He mentioned a fatal shooting in the Inder Heights Drive and Mayfield Road area in November. Dwyer shared how the incident deeply impacted the community’s sense of safety.

"This young guy that was shot by mistake because he drove a black pickup truck—I drive a black pickup truck, so I'm lucky. One of my neighbours down the street bought a brand new F150, a black one. After the shooting, he took it back and bought a new truck, Baby Blue colour, because he was too afraid to drive a black pickup truck. There's a school zone right there where the buses come to pick up the kids right where that guy was shot. That's my house; my house is right beside that house. I'm out there. My wife is out there. Our neighbours are out there."

Some residents, he said, want to leave.

"People are putting their houses up for sale…they love the neighbourhood, but they're scared to live there," Dwyer told The Pointer. "And so, people are talking about leaving the neighbourhood. I will not leave the neighbourhood. I will never leave the neighbourhood because of this. Thank God that now some of the for-sale signs have been taken down, and people are changing their minds that they're going to stay. But we have to do something about this."

He believes Canada’s immigration system is being abused by criminal elements.

"The police are not the root cause, okay? The root cause of it is the immigration system that is so abused in Canada right now that everybody's frustrated with it. Everybody's frustrated with the government and the direction that they have taken on crime.

“There are problems all over Brampton, like I said in my speech: YouTube, TikTok, everybody makes fun of Brampton.”

He voiced his frustration over a criminal justice system Dwyer described as too lenient.

"You see what happens in these smash and grabs in the shopping malls and the jewelry stores. They break, and two days later they're back out on the street again. This has got to stop. They've got to punish people for the behaviours that they do."

Tiere Sharma, another local Brampton resident, shared her concerns with The Pointer.

"I live in the area of Tapestry Ridge, and right now, there's been a significant increase in break-in entries. There's also been vehicle theft. My car was stolen about 18 months ago," she said.

Tiere Sharma, a Brampton resident, had her vehicle stolen about a year-and-a-half ago.

(Muhammad Hamza/The Pointer)

"And then also, most recently, there have been shootings off the street that is adjacent to my street. There's a known drug dealer, and his house has been shot at six times, and most recently, an innocent person was mistaken for him, and he was shot and now he's paralyzed and has lost three fingers. My level of comfort has drastically decreased. I feel not as safe as I once did, especially in the evenings, and I am in great concern that this increased crime is making me not feel safe."

Deputy Chief Andrews shared some startling statistics during his presentation at the town hall. In 2024, Peel Police seized 220 firearms, an average of one gun every 36 hours, with 95 percent of them smuggled from the U.S.. In 2025, seven handguns were seized in the first three weeks. He also noted that in 2024 Peel Police confiscated 1,035 rounds of ammunition and had already seized 45 rounds by mid-January this year.

Referring to the November 9 shooting at Inder Heights Drive and Mayfield Road, where an innocent man was paralyzed, Andrews informed the public that 22-year-old Hakeem Davis had been arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Superintendent Nav Chhinzer told The Pointer that data collection and analysis is being used to fight crime.

"So, when we look at patrols, patrols are always data-driven. So, if there are hot spots identified with crime or trends, we will strategically create patrols that will go by there to either educate, engage or enforce. So, it's all bound through data and strategically designed."

He acknowledged that residents expect the police to be omnipresent and said increased staffing will allow more frequent patrols.

Councilor Palleschi also emphasized the critical need for additional police officers. He aggressively supported the decision by himself and a majority of his Peel Regional council colleagues to approve the additional $144 million this year for Peel Police, which will partly be used to hire 300 new officers. "It's unfortunate that we have some councillors and a mayor that oppose the police budget,” Pallecshi told The Pointer, referring to Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish. “But I'll continue to advocate.”

Police members and the local politicians in attendance at the town hall did not address the need for upstream funding, instead stressing the solution to north Brampton’s crime problem is more police officers.

The Pointer sent questions to McGregor, the local incumbent in the provincial race. He did not respond.

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