In a historic move, the Peel District School Board became the first—not only in the Greater Toronto Area but in the entire province—to call for an anti-Islamophobia strategy.
The move follows a successful motion by board Trustee Nokha Dakroub and the work of community leaders like Samya Hasan.
Kevin J. Johnston has been sentenced to 18 months in jail after breaching a defamation lawsuit. The Islamophobe regularly participates in misinformation and online hate against Muslims on his website.
The case is being seen as an example of the potential consequences for those who participate in extremist groups and online hate.
An investigation into Peel Children’s Aid Society launched by the Province shows an organization where out-of-touch leaders take credit for the work of frontline staff whose discrimination complaints are dismissed.
The deeply disturbing findings suggest a need for swift action to fix an organization that cares for vulnerable children across the region.
An investigation into Peel Children’s Aid Society, triggered by complaints of anti-Black racism, has revealed its CEO, Rav Bains, spent taxpayer dollars on a trip to San Francisco.
He was also given exorbitant salary increases of five percent a year, on average, pushing his compensation way beyond what other CAS heads make.
Parvasi Radio, a current events show hosted by founder and CEO Rajinder Saini, which reached thousands of Punjabi-speaking Canadians over CJMR airwaves, was suddenly removed by the station after 17 years, over a financial misunderstanding.
Saini says a new deal with a different radio licence holder has been struck but the drastic move highlights how precarious things are for ethnic media sources that play a crucial role in Peel.
An investigation into explosive corruption allegations at the heart of Brampton’s local government has been swept past the public by democratically elected council members and the top bureaucrat at the centre of the accusations. A publicly funded report into allegations levelled mainly at CAO David Barrick was barely discussed in public, after hours of private discussion that taxpayers were locked out of. Councillors Jeff Bowman and Martin Medeiros say the matter is not over.
Mississauga’s bus system is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic more than a year and a half later. MiWay has a plan to move forward but inconsistent ridership and lack of funding is holding it back. The frustrating combination threatens ambitious transit expansion plans that are key to the city’s future. Creative marketing could help draw eyeballs… and commuters.
Peel’s Healthy Babies Healthy Children program is unable to provide support to as many families. Hiring specific public health nurses and training them to assist vulnerable residents is something the program wants to do but cannot because of the current nursing shortage. These highly trained professionals are needed on the frontlines to deal with the lingering pandemic. Behind the scenes many of our youngest residents are suffering due to the lack of help for babies and toddlers in need of support.
Vaccination rates are plateauing in Ontario and Peel Region is trying to push the number of fully vaccinated residents as high as it can. Creative efforts including the Region’s Vax Bus and a similar one provided by GO Transit are just some of the initiatives to reach specific communities that could be facing barriers preventing inoculation. Mandates and the vaccine passport have increased take-up rates but what more can governments do to entice residents to get the jab?
A report into wide-ranging corruption allegations at the City of Brampton has been published, after months of waiting. The investigation, completed by Deloitte, clears inexperienced CAO David Barrick of wrongdoing under the technicalities of Brampton’s disorganized internal policy documents.
It also offers glimpses of an administration in disarray.
A dedicated stadium in Brampton could accelerate cricket’s growth in the city, bring international tournaments to Canada and nurture domestic talent.
But with the city still reeling from the pandemic and its mayor forcing tax freezes, is a legacy sports facility a priority for many struggling taxpayers?
An investigation into allegations of corruption within Brampton City Hall, implicating Mayor Patrick Brown and his handpicked CAO David Barrick, has finally been published, the evening before councillors must discuss and scrutinize its findings.
Now, with no chance for the public to review it, some councillors want to defer debate on the report to allow elected officials and residents time to digest its contents.
Once again, the Peel police services board, which includes no Black members, has displayed an alarming lack of awareness toward issues faced by Black residents in two of Canada’s most diverse cities.
Friday, board members were presented with a history of racial profiling by school police officers but instead of offering leadership to restore trust, they remained silent.
In 2015, Darren John, aka Avalanche the Architect, was convicted for uttering threats after releasing a song that included controversial language following a falling out with his former music promoter.
John is appealing to the Supreme Court pointing out that evidence used against him in the case was lost and has yet to be found, evidence he says could have made a difference in his initial trial.
There are more roads in a single square kilometre in Southern Ontario than in any other part of Canada. It means the natural world is slashed, paved over and divided, leaving very few corridors for wildlife to migrate, search for food or suitable places to breed.
Habitat fragmentation is a leading cause of species decline, and now the Ontario government wants to build a 400-series highway along the edge of the Greenbelt, compromising the homes of countless animals, and the province’s fight against climate change.
A rush of delegations and advocacy demanding more be done to help international students is gaining traction.
After pressure and a comprehensive report on the problem, Brampton City Councillors have agreed to address the issue but remain reluctant to take a true leadership role. The city is home to thousands of foreign students hoping to live and study in Canada. All arrive expecting the Canadian dream, but too many see it morph into a nightmare.
The court case for a horrific Brampton crash that left a Caledon mother and her three daughters dead is set to resume November 1. The trial will determine if 21-year-old Brady Robertson will be convicted of impaired driving causing death. The Judge ruled Wednesday that critical evidence showing THC and fentanyl in Robertson’s system, along with drugs police seized from his car, will be admissible in the case.
A third-party investigation into allegations of corruption and fraud at the very top of Brampton City Hall has, once again, been delayed, raising concern over possible staff involvement in the final report. And it’s unclear why the findings apparently were going to be kept from the public ahead of a council meeting to discuss the accusations levelled by a senior staffer.
Confusion around its publication caused by Brampton’s chaotic governance is just the latest twist since Mayor Patrick Brown directed the hiring of senior staff with a scandalous past in Niagara region.
For the past two government cycles, the City of Mississauga has been represented by six Liberal MPs who were part of the ruling party.
With more than $1 billion in unfunded projects across the next decade and aging assets, Mississauga has looked to Ottawa for desperately needed help. However, over the past six years, infrastructure funding to prevent catastrophic damages related to climate change and to move the booming city into the future has not flowed from the highest level of government. Meanwhile, Mississauga taxpayers continue to subsidize other parts of the country.
Under a partnership with the Ontario Human Rights Commission Peel Regional Police is turning to the community for help to address systemic racism within the force.
Data on the targeted carding and use of force against Black residents already shows Peel police what it needs to know, activists say.
Perhaps the most dynamic, and crucial theme that unfolded during the election campaign is how to balance the country’s economic interests with the need to shift our thinking about climate change.
The Green Party has pushed a more sophisticated idea—that Canada can have its cake and eat it, too: A cleaner future and massive economic returns from creating the technology and jobs of the future.
A couple of the Liberal names in Parliament representing Mississauga will be different. But like the national headlines, the city’s 2021 election result is the same as 2019, raising more questions about why Canadians were forced to the polls for a campaign that did not offer voters enough information to change their mind at a time when many are still anxious about the future.
Human trafficking has been a taboo subject this election campaign.
While this type of crime has continued in the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic, none of Canada’s big political parties have a comprehensive plan to tackle forced labour or sex trafficking if elected. Why?
Maxime Bernier, Leader of the People’s Party of Canada, visited Port Credit Thursday to meet supporters. The former Conservative MP arrived at his event more than three hours late, jogged in, then greeted supporters while pushing a range of debunked theories, including a questionable understanding of vaccines and climate change.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has only visited Brampton twice this election, a significant drop from his rookie national campaign in 2019. At a rally in Brampton East Wednesday he didn’t make any new promises to residents, but told The Pointer another local hospital would only be built if he wins Monday’s election.
Mississauga Centre Green Party candidate Craig Laferrière is running for parliament with a formidable resume. He has a PhD in chemistry, alongside a career in vaccine research and development and a range of non-profit experience on top of an impressive history of volunteer work.
He hopes to take that experience, and a passion for the environment, to Parliament Hill with a win on Monday.
Peter Fonseca was extremely vocal throughout his last two years in office for Mississauga East—Cooksville.
He consistently brought up the riding and fought for issues his constituents pushed to the top of the local agenda. Routinely debating in the House made Fonseca stand out from many of his colleagues in Parliament.
She may have limited resources and time, but Sarah Walji is determined to give Mississauga—Lakeshore constituents tired of the Conservatives and Liberals another viable option.
As an emergency psychiatric nurse doing shift work, she somehow manages to prioritize the requests of residents looking for someone to advocate on healthcare, education, housing and climate action.
Kaukab Usman is running to change the fortunes of many newcomers to Mississauga–Erin Mills. The Pakistani-Canadian believes incompatibility between immigration rules and employment standards is holding her community back.
If elected, she has promised to reform Canada’s immigration and settlement system to unleash the potential of well-educated immigrants, some of whom work in low-skilled jobs that do not take advantage of their education and experience.
Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party has put forward a broad platform for the ongoing election campaign, vowing to continue and expand childcare plans already signed with seven provinces and one territory, while addressing the ongoing affordable housing crisis.
But like other commitments in the plan, the full assistance for some struggling families might not arrive until after the next term of government.
The Green Party places the environment and climate crisis at the heart of its plans for Canada. With a small percentage of support from Canadians, it’s unlikely Leader Annamie Paul will become Prime Minister.
However, with the Party’s plans for the climate crisis, and expanded support for municipalities, it deserves a second look from many Canadians, while serving as a bellwether for other parties.
Iqra Khalid may not have always mentioned Mississauga—Erin Mills by name in Parliament, but she focused on the members of her community and issues they face every day. A strong advocate on women’s rights and other human rights issues, Khalid rose many times during the past session of Parliament, continuing to build on the work she began after first being elected in 2015. She chaired one of the highest profile committees, the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, which did the heavy lifting on many of the issues closest to her heart.
With days until the polls close, candidates are making their last pitches to voters. Messages are printed on pamphlets, plastered over social media and repeated on thousands of doorsteps.
The Pointer visited one Mississauga—Streetsville neighbourhood and spoke to residents about how the end of a short campaign at the local level, far from the cameras and charter planes for the party leaders, is playing out.
The career environmentalist has worked in the public and private sector to push sustainable practices, and has spent much of his life over the past decade in the political realm, running for office to educate the public and keep green values in the discourse around election time.
His strong stance against the GTA West Highway reflects the platform of his party.
Enhancements to the Hurontario LRT, a BRT route along Dundas Street, and climate change mitigation efforts are at the top of the list for the City of Mississauga, and it’s the same for Ewan DeSilva, the Green Party candidate for Mississauga—Erin Mills.
The rookie candidate promises to push for local projects not just to help the environment but to enhance the quality of life for Mississauga’s residents.
The Green party has once again put forward an ambitious platform to deal with the largest issue people around the world are facing, collectively.
In Mississauga—Lakeshore, huge developments across the riding’s waterfront are taking shape, and Robertson vows to make sure the rapid growth is handled with a focus on nature, sustainability and human-scale planning. Her party also has a platform focussed on the specific needs of municipalities.
There was plenty of agreement when the Liberal, Conservative and Green candidates met virtually for a debate on the topic of climate change.
During a respectful, if uneventful, Zoom event, federal election hopefuls offered their solutions for the worsening climate crisis.
Mississauga—Lakeshore candidate Michael Ras caused a stir Friday at a local Board of Trade event, when he suggested he supports the construction of the controversial 413 Highway being pushed by the Doug Ford PC government.
He later clarified his position, telling The Pointer there needs to be proper consultation before a decision on the future of the proposed transportation corridor is made.
Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole was in Mississauga on Friday as the federal election enters its final phase with him in a neck-and-neck race alongside Justin Trudeau.
He told assembled reporters he was working to rebrand his party for suburban voters in the GTA’s 905, with no wins in Brampton or Mississauga over the past two elections. He appealed to Mississauga voters to move on after six years of Liberal government but avoided directly committing to transit priorities in the city.
Hidden in the shadow of Toronto, Mississauga does not always get the attention it deserves, says Mississauga—Lakeshore candidate Michael Ras.
After the pandemic upended many lives financially and strained the mental health of thousands across the city, he says now is the time for those in Ottawa to address the city’s specific needs.
After being reelected in 2019, Sven Spengemann promised to bring needed transit and affordable housing funds to his riding of Mississauga—Lakeshore. Over two years, he only spoke of public transportation once and never said the words, “affordable housing” in Parliament.
Instead, he focused on climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and bringing attention to the contributions of members of his community who had passed on.
While preparing to teach a course on law and the environment, Mark Davidson was shocked by Canada’s poor track record on environmental protection.
Running for the Greens in Mississauga—Malton, Davidson acknowledges he might not know everything about being an MP, but as someone closely connected to people in his community, he vows to solve the problems they face, while tackling the looming threat of climate change.
The broad issue of climate change comes up daily during this short campaign contest. What national leaders don’t offer are concrete actions they would take on specific projects, if elected prime minister.
Currently, Highway 413 sits in limbo as an assessment ordered by the Liberal government hangs in the balance until a new government makes a decision on how the review will proceed and whether or not the ruling party commits to either salvaging the massive highway project or abandoning it for good. Each candidate’s stance could impact how Peel residents vote on September 20.
The New Democrats have a young leader who is clearly targeting young voters. His tactics on social media, PR-style promotions—Punjabi poutine anyone?—and slate of youthful candidates appeal to many millennial voters.
The NDP platform includes plenty of broad themes, many related to pressing issues in Peel, but Jagmeet Singh continues to confound those looking for details such as how affordable housing will be paid for and what he intends to do, specifically, to improve healthcare for all Canadians.
The goal of young Liberal candidate Iqwinder Gaheer is to meet and speak with as many people as possible over the days leading up to the election.
He hopes to address affordable housing, climate change and child care in Ottawa, if elected. Coming from a working-class family Gaheer shared with The Pointer why after two years practicing law he switched paths to pursue a career in public life.
Data that has been labelled “deeply troubling” by an expert hired by Peel Regional Police has many community members demanding immediate action by police leadership to address anti-Black racism within the force.
At the same time, police board members fumbled a request to form an anti-Black racism committee, despite needing to rebuild trust with Black communities now more than ever.
The incumbent for Mississauga Centre is seeking a third consecutive term in Ottawa, after losing his seat in 2008 following his brief rookie-run as an MP.
Over the past two years, Alghabra has seen his profile rise dramatically with his appointment to cabinet. He has spoken and voted as a loyal caucus member, saying he prefers to elevate local concerns within the party structure instead of airing conflicts in public.
NDP candidate Teneshia Samuel has a background working as an equity consultant and in recruitment for the banking sector.
They promise to make mental health, particularly for marginalized communities, a pillar of their policies if elected. Disaggregated data, they say, could be key to ensuring recovery policies are working for those that need them most.
In 14 months, Peel District School Board has had three directors of education, as the back-and-forth on policies, directives and getting important equity work done has stalled. Finding the right person for such a fundamental transformation in one of the most diverse regions in the world, will make or break the troubled board. In June, Rashmi Swarup was given the responsibility. The Pointer talks with her about the new role.
The Conservative Party of Canada platform doesn’t point to the specific projects desperately needed in Brampton and Mississauga, but with a plan to help municipalities with infrastructure needs, as well as tackling gun and gang crime, and help for those suffering with mental health and addiction issues, the party is making promises that could benefit the region directly.
