Nowhere is the incumbent advantage stronger than in municipal politics. But with the resignation of former councillor Karen Ras at the beginning of 2022, the door is open for a new face to join the council table representing Ward 2.
Widely viewed as Mississauga’s first settled area, Ward 2 faces a number of questions around urban growth, lakefront development, increased density and transportation, which a rookie councillor will have to navigate over the next four years.
Ontario hospitals, battered by nearly three years of COVID, are in crisis. The PC government says it is trying to help, passing legislation that will force hospitals to charge patients $400 a day if they refuse a transfer to a long-term care facility—even if they did not choose the facility which could be 150 kilometres away from their home.
Passed with limited debate or public consultation, legal experts say Bill 7 will be a disaster for Ontario.
Pat Saito will bid Mississauga City Council farewell after more than 30 years of public service. The Ward 9 representative never intended to run in 1991 but her tenacity, homework and strong opinions allowed Saito to champion public policies on traffic safety, policing and community building.
Now, as she reflects back on her many years in politics, the work most dear to her heart will be felt by residents for decades to come.
Following similar lawsuits undertaken in Europe and South America, seven youth from across Ontario have banded together to sue the provincial government under Premier Doug Ford for stripping down legislation meant to reduce provincial greenhouse gas emissions.
The landmark case could force stricter emissions targets into climate legislation.
Inside the Art Gallery of Mississauga, staff were extremely cautious to speak up. For years they were bullied, harassed and overworked. In 2020 it all came to a halt when a few brave ex-employees shared their stories in a movement called, “Hold the AGM Accountable”.
A diversity and inclusion audit and separate investigation into the conduct of now former president Leslie Silvestri (who is running for a council seat) alarmed elected officials and staff inside City Hall. They froze the gallery’s funding. Money to operate has since been restored, but little has been revealed about what the investigations found.
Environmental issues still don’t capture the attention of voters the way economic and public safety concerns do. They are not directly linked to the immediate interests of residents, even though climate change is increasingly impacting the well-being of more and more Canadians. Green candidates have brought plenty of passion to the election trail; now they have to take off the gloves as our times need politicians, like Mike Schreiner, who will fight for the planet.
Brampton’s business community is losing faith in City Hall after years of tax freezes under Patrick Brown and inexperienced CAO David Barrick. A damning presentation made by the Board of Trade laid bare the recklessness of Brown’s tax freezes.
Business leaders highlighted the lack of basic planning, the late release of information and an air of incompetence emanating from Brampton, its council and staff.
Between now and the fall municipal election, The Pointer is republishing articles that highlight the troubling behaviour of Patrick Brown since becoming mayor of Brampton.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created even more instability around energy supply. Nuclear power has been hotly debated for decades.
Some see it as the only feasible way to shift from carbon; a goal linked directly to climate change mitigation, and the need to break the global dependence on bad actors like Russia. But the risks associated with nuclear power still loom like the radioactive clouds of past disasters.
Meetings scheduled for both September 7 & 14 have been cancelled by Brown following the snap special meeting he called late August where the mayor terminated a half-dozen forensic investigations into the use of public funds for City contracts, including some handed to his friends. The cancelled meetings this week and next were supposed to provide the public with details of the investigations, which some councillors are vowing to complete, despite the mayor’s interference.
The City of Toronto has adopted protocols to prevent conflicts between humans and foxes. These increasingly common interactions are the result of increased habitat loss, driving more and more animals out of the natural spaces where they thrive. Thanks to rescue operations many species threatened by human activity have been rehabilitated which helps maintain their population, but because of constant threats like habitat loss due to urban development, a multitude of species – at risk or not – are still in rapid decline.
Conservation experts and environmental advocates are manufacturing mini miracles across Ontario using small doses of funding doled out by the provincial government.
These projects create a bulwark against a biodiversity crisis that is threatening the vast majority of the world’s species with extinction. If elected officials decided to dedicate just a minuscule amount of increased annual funding to conservation efforts the outcomes could be remarkable.
Instead of allowing Brampton residents to shape their city, Patrick Brown put future planning in the hands of wealthy developers. To cut the public out of the process he claimed in Council that the PC government inside Queen's Park had set a deadline for the submission of special planning applications that are approved by the provincial government, not City Hall, to fast track projects. The special process, known as a Minister's Zoning Order (MZO), completely cuts the public out of decision making. The problem: Queen's Park set no such deadline; Brown made it up to prevent residents from having a say in how their city will take shape in the coming years.
Ahead of this fall's municipal election, The Pointer is publishing a series of previous articles that highlight Patrick Brown's startling conduct since becoming mayor.
After a stable year under the new director of education, Peel District School Board has made significant progress on the 27 Directives handed down by the Ministry of Education to eradicate widespread, systematic racism. Rashmi Swarup is known for her determined, caring approach. That’s why she was brought to Peel, to steer the board toward a new chapter. Repairing relationships with the community, specifically the diverse Black communities, and listening to student concerns has been a priority for her. After one year on the job, Swarup sat down with The Pointer and talked about the challenges PDSB faces.
An email from Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah circulated recently among community members asking residents to sign-up to hear about the force’s “journey.” The vague email called the event a “community update” but it caused confusion and anger when members learned they were not invited to get answers about why Peel Police used force against Black residents at more than three times the rate compared to the population overall.
During a last-minute special council meeting called late Friday afternoon by Brampton’s mayor, he took advantage of a missing councillor and with just enough votes pulled the plug on an ongoing series of investigations after allegations of widespread misconduct under his watch. An update by the investigation firm revealed disturbing practices around the use of taxpayer money under Brown. Despite the preliminary findings and advice from Ontario’s Ombudsman to follow through with the investigations, Brown terminated them, sparking outrage among council members, staff and the public.
The critically sensitive ecosystem we are all a part of has countless features that are all interdependent; if even one is affected, the entire system has the potential to collapse. Scientists have warned of what happens when one species goes extinct – human factors being the most prominent recent cause – and what this means for life as we know it. Thanks to rescue operations many species have been rehabilitated which helps maintain their population, but because of constant threats like habitat loss due to urban development, a multitude of species – at risk or not – are still in rapid decline.
The staff who work in Brampton’s communications department take home hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money every year. Since corruption allegations started swirling inside City Hall shortly after Patrick Brown's election, the department under Jason Tamming, who was recruited by Brown, worked to protect those accused of wrongdoing. Tamming is no longer with the City after a group of councillors vowed to clean up the culture Brown brought with him.
Between now and the fall municipal election, The Pointer is republishing articles that revealed Patrick Brown’s startling behaviour since becoming mayor of Brampton.
An analysis by The Pointer of chloride concentrations in Peel waterways has uncovered a troubling reality. Many of the creeks, streams and rivers that flow through the region are starting to have more in common with a salt water ocean than a freshwater ecosystem.
This poses a serious threat to aquatic life in Peel, and with a new study showing these harms can be triggered at levels lower than what governments have deemed safe, it demands increased urgency from municipalities and provincial officials to find new solutions for winter safety.
The pressure on nurses and other frontline hospital staff in Ontario continues. The system is failing and more nurses are jumping ship to increase their pay with organizations that have enough staff and are better managed. Many are comparing the United States and Ontario, describing realities that are worlds apart. If the provincial government does not address the growing crisis our healthcare system will spiral further out of control.
Just under half of Peel Region residents work within the trucking industry or its spin-off sectors. As a driver of the local and provincial economy, its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and the industry’s own vulnerability to a warming planet demand innovative ideas to keep goods moving sustainably.
A report authored by Principles Integrity shows Brown used City of Brampton staff for his CPC leadership bid, without any approval for their leave; seven members of Brown’s City-funded office staff worked on his campaign during normal working hours; Brown’s failure to keep any documentation for his use of staff prevented the commissioner from making a finding against him; and the City’s corporate electronic time recording system was updated after the fact to show time-off was taken.
After the recent death of a four-year-old Mississauga girl, Canadian Pacific Railway crews patched up large sections of the fence on either side of the Milton GO corridor. As the owners and operators of the tracks, CP has the responsibility to maintain fencing. Less than a kilometre from the tragic incident The Pointer found another large hole cut in the fencing. Other areas along the line have gaps or poorly maintained fences. The traumatic incident has raised questions around rail safety and the joint responsibility of stakeholders.
A small forest in Brampton was highlighted by Credit Valley Conservation Authority for its ecological importance. But Great Gulf Homes, who now owns the property, and the City of Brampton signed off on the removal of the trees anyway. A residents’ association wants to know why this environmentally significant forest is being destroyed. Through a freedom of information request, the group discovered the conservation authority called for the forest’s preservation, but few stood up for it ahead of the final decision to raze it when Brampton Council sealed its fate in October 2020. A future subdivision is now slated to replace the Huttonville Forest.
Opinions are mixed on how to handle the overdose crisis in Brampton’s downtown.
As the Region of Peel moves forward with its plans for a supervised consumption site, the organization representing downtown businesses is firm in its stance that the site selection process is flawed. But some business owners disagree, and see the potential site as a beacon of hope.
Younger generations are spending more time indoors and many are plagued with worry about a future where the natural world has turned aggressive, morphed by the impacts of climate change.
The creation of new outdoor learning standards could be the antidote for this anxiety, and spark a passion for nature in countless young minds. It’s a mindset that will be incredibly valuable in future decision-makers as the world stares down our changing climate.
School will look different for thousands of students within the Peel District School Board this year with the board ending the controversial hybrid learning model.
Students and parents will need to make a choice between virtual or in-person learning with few options to transition between the two learning models.
Mississauga is looking for millions of dollars in assistance to help with key projects to rejuvenate greenspace across the city and boost its efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
As Canada’s 7th largest city, any emissions reductions seen here have the potential to provide big benefits to the climate targets set by upper levels of government.
Data released by Statistics Canada has provided one of the most comprehensive looks to date of the incessant increase of online child exploitation in the country.
It sheds new light on who is being impacted the most, how police are handling the problem—and how so much more needs to be done to stop it.
The Region of Peel has purchased a rail corridor connecting Brampton and Orangeville with plans to convert it into a system of hiking trails.
While additional opportunities for residents to enjoy the outdoors are crucial for a growing population, the plan has created questions for transit advocates who claim the railway would be better utilized as a future transportation corridor.
A committee formed after a strong push from members of Peel’s Black communities to get their voices heard by the Peel Police Services Board appears to have once again excluded them from the process.
Formed with no consultation with the public, and consisting of only members of the current board, advocates are once again calling on the board to do better for the diverse community that suffers the most at the hands of police.
The City of Mississauga’s inclusionary zoning policy will head to council for final approval tomorrow.
If given the green light, this policy will force developers to create more affordable housing near major transit hubs. Housing advocates have been vocal throughout the process and say the final policy is still not as strong as it could be.
Population numbers for the monarch butterfly have been dwindling for decades. A recent endangered designation by a global conservation union is the latest signal of the dire position this incredible butterfly finds itself in.
Many hope the decision will signal increased protection, but in Ontario, where the provincial government has been hostile to species at risk, there may be little help for this critical pollinator.
In car-dependent Peel, eliminating reliance on the personal automobile is a tough sell for those who get behind the wheel on a daily basis. But transitioning to a zero emission vehicle, one that still affords the freedoms of a gas-powered car without the climate-harming emissions, could be an option—if crucial barriers are removed.
A new Peel strategy looks to do just that, but with the constant flip-flopping from the PC government on its stance towards electric vehicles, Peel is left with little help to reach its goals.
A lawsuit brought forward by a survivor of exploitation on Pornhub has taken a significant step forward after a judge ruled that Visa can be held liable for providing financial services to MindGeek, Pornhub’s Canadian parent company, while it knew the website was infested with child sexual abuse material.
The decision “will have far-reaching implications on credit card companies and online criminal conduct,” the survivors' lawyer says.
Future development along Dundas Street’s major urban growth corridor might happen without any real plan to mitigate routine flooding from Etobicoke Creek.
The Dundas Connects Master Plan envisions a dense, pedestrian friendly streetscape with mixed-use residential development. A portion of the corridor has a Special Policy Area designation that could prevent the master plan from coming together if staff can’t figure out how to mitigate the risk of flooding.
Charities like the Mississauga Food Bank are there for people in the worst times, making sure families are fed, seniors are looked after and those who lose housing don’t go hungry. It has been serving the community for decades relying almost entirely on donations.
Now, with demand soaring the Food Bank has outgrown its warehouse on Universal Drive and is desperately trying to find a new home. Twice as many clients, according to projections, will use its services in five years.
The Region’s growing population continues to put intense pressure on its paramedics. Increasing calls for service, combined with an overwhelmed hospital system creating significant delays in handing patients over to emergency rooms are forcing the Region of Peel to reconsider its 2022 budget for paramedics.
Following approval from council, Peel will be pouring millions into new ambulances and hiring new staff. But will it just lead to even more patients being brought to local hospitals that simply don’t have enough room?
Two youth climate activist groups in Peel are providing knowledge and community engagement on issues central to the environment.
Their collective action aims to inspire a stronger young adult voice in government, as too many veteran politicians continue to ignore the climate crisis.
On Wednesday a four-year-old girl was killed by a GO Train travelling toward the Cooksville GO Station.
The horrific accident has shocked the quiet, family-oriented community and raised questions about how such a small child could end up in the path of a speeding train, and who is responsible for making sure it doesn’t happen again.
An annual report on the equity gap in the Peel District School Board’s special education program shows that marginalized populations within the student body were more likely to be identified as having a behavioural problem.
Community members and students of Ascension of Our Lord Secondary School in Malton have been calling for an investment to bring the school’s athletic facilities on par with others across Mississauga and Peel for years—without success.
This spring, an agreement was finally reached between Peel’s Catholic school board, and the City of Mississauga which owns the field adjacent to the school. But details remain under wraps, as many in Malton are questioning why the area's diverse population is often left behind.
While much of the province is currently crippled by a frontline healthcare crisis, a spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones says operations are “running smoothly.”
Meanwhile, ERs across Ontario are closing, surgical backlogs are piling up and frontline staff are exhausted.
Turning wastewater into energy may sound odd, but that’s exactly what is planned at Lakeview Village. A district energy system will provide the power to heat and cool the future homes being constructed as part of the massive development, harnessing the power of wastewater from the nearby G.E. Booth treatment facility. The Region of Peel believes if the system is a success it could be used for future projects, as part of its goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions.
In February media reports confirmed the south GO parking lot at Port Credit station had been sold by the Province to Edenshaw Queen Developments Ltd. The company is proposing what councillors say is an “outrageous” project with no affordable housing.
At a Planning and Development Committee meeting earlier this month councillors were not shy about their disdain for the proposal, sending the developer back to the drawing board.
The 413 Highway remains in stasis as the federal government awaits the final report from the Province that will detail how Premier Doug Ford and the PCs plan to address a number of Ottawa’s concerns over the environmentally destructive project.
With all of this looming, residents and policy makers are asking, “what happens next?”
A trio of projects in Peel received a $53-million boost from the federal government, providing a small ounce of relief to Peel's affordable housing system.
Indwell, a non-profit organization, is spearheading one of the projects in Brampton that looks to reuse existing empty buildings instead of tearing them down, a sustainable and cost-effective way to grow Peel’s affordable housing stock.
The Mississauga Parks Plan lays out how the city expects to meet the demands of an increasing population in a municipality experiencing rapid vertical growth.
Can it avoid the irreversible mistakes of other places that eschewed greenspaces in favour of columns of glass and concrete during their urban growth phases? Mississauga is already facing a grave parkland deficit—a problem that is only expected to get worse as more and more cranes fill the city.
Brampton’s main courthouse which serves all of Peel is one of the busiest in the country, and a lack of funding is impacting public safety across the region.
The shortfall in judicial resources and funding for support staff are creating significant backlogs resulting in serious charges being dismissed. The funding gap in one of the country’s fastest growing regions, where tax dollars are not coming back to meet the need for services, has once again drawn the ire of those responsible for administering justice in Peel.
As first responders and communicators are forced to deal with a growing list of calls that can distract them from the real emergencies across the region, the increasing misuse of 911 is compromising public safety in the Region of Peel.
Last week’s Rogers black out was a reminder of what can happen when people are disrupted from making critical emergency calls.
July 6, Councillor Ron Starr’s lawyer, Emilio Bisceglia, outlined why integrity commissioner Robert Swayze’s findings in the harassment case are flawed. Ultimately, Bisceglia was unable to prevent council from punishing his client, docking 60-day’s pay.
In an email to The Pointer, Starr’s lawyers say he is continuing with legal action filed May 31 against the City of Mississauga and Swayze to turn around the decision and quash the punishment handed down last week by Council.
