Mississauga seeks long-term federal support for affordable housing, as councillors broker ‘Frankenstein’ deals to fill the gap

Mississauga seeks long-term federal support for affordable housing, as councillors broker ‘Frankenstein’ deals to fill the gap

Faced with a growing housing crisis, Mississauga councillors are calling on federal parties to offer long-term housing solutions. Karen Ras and George Carlson tell The Pointer that what’s needed is stable federal funding to allow long-term planning. In the meantime, they’ve been forced to get “creative” in their search for short-term solutions. 



Incoming regional police chief not ruling out a station in Malton

Incoming regional police chief not ruling out a station in Malton

Nishan Duraiappah said his transition to top brass of the Peel Regional Police Service has been “remarkable.” But when he starts officially on Tuesday he will have a lot to contend with — rising gang violence, increasing homicides, and an outcry from the community of Malton to re-establish a police station there after a recent mass shooting. The badge may shine bright, but there is a certain darkness hanging over the region right now.



Province’s new dental care program for low-income seniors ‘makes sense’, will help ease ‘hallway healthcare’ crisis

Province’s new dental care program for low-income seniors ‘makes sense’, will help ease ‘hallway healthcare’ crisis

A new provincial dental care program being rolled out this fall will cover nearly 7,000 low-income seniors, a big boost from the 800 or so served by a regional program that preceded it. It’s being hailed as a good thing by councillors, particularly because it’s funded entirely by the province. Bad oral health leads to more than toothaches — it’s the reason for many ER visits, making preventative care one way to alleviate the “hallway healthcare” problem.



Brampton MPP Amarjot Sandhu pleads guilty after being charged with operating illegal basement suites weeks before he was elected

Brampton MPP Amarjot Sandhu pleads guilty after being charged with operating illegal basement suites weeks before he was elected

Court documents show the Brampton West MPP pleaded guilty this month to having two unregistered secondary suites in two properties in Brampton. The charges under the provincial Planning Act were laid just weeks before his election in June 2018. Sandhu told The Pointer the units were present when he bought the houses and that the city brought “a few inconsistencies” to his attention. 



Singh's NDP finally completes slate of federal candidates in Mississauga after slow start

Singh's NDP finally completes slate of federal candidates in Mississauga after slow start

When the writ dropped on Sept. 11, the NDP was unable to name candidates in the majority of Mississauga’s federal ridings. This pattern, which played out nationally, was seen by many observers as an indication of internal chaos. Now, with just under a month until the election, the party finally boasts a full complement of candidates in Peel. However, a lack of profile and presence for some, combined with disappointing polling, will continue to worry the party leadership. 



Mississauga vape shop feeling the heat after news of vaping-linked illnesses and deaths

Mississauga vape shop feeling the heat after news of vaping-linked illnesses and deaths

Concerns around vaping are making many customers rethink the habit after last week’s report of a London, Ont. teen who was put on life support to deal with a respiratory illness tied to vaping, as well as multiple confirmed deaths in the U.S.. One Mississauga vape shop owner said his sales have declined by 80 per cent in the past three weeks. 

 



Potential job action by support workers looms in Peel schools

Potential job action by support workers looms in Peel schools

Non-teaching staff represented by CUPE plan to begin a work-to-rule campaign next week, after issuing a formal notice of job action on Wednesday. What that means for kids and families in Peel Region schools isn’t clear yet. Meanwhile, negotiations between the province and teachers’ unions continue, after their contracts expired at the end of August.



What is behind Peel’s swing-riding record?

What is behind Peel’s swing-riding record?

Political loyalties are far from set in stone in Brampton and Mississauga ridings, which have flipped as one — twice — in recent elections. 

Are the changes as dramatic as our first-past-the-post system make them seem? And why are Peel voters so mercurial?



Housing for all? At current funding levels from the federal government, meeting Peel’s affordable housing goals will take decades 

Housing for all? At current funding levels from the federal government, meeting Peel’s affordable housing goals will take decades 

While candidates and party leaders talk about the need for affordable housing and what they plan to do, the Region of Peel has received a clearer picture of the funding it will be getting from the federal and provincial governments to support affordable housing initiatives and development – it’s a bleak reality. 

The nearly $30 million investment is welcome news, as is any influx of cash, but it’s not nearly enough. That will pay for only 144 new units over the next three years. The region wants to bring on 7,500 every year up to 2028.



Welcome to the real world, Mr. Prime Minister

Welcome to the real world, Mr. Prime Minister

The controversy surrounding the unveiling of a picture of Justin Trudeau caught in brownface wasn’t a snapshot of vile racism, but one of white privilege. It exposes the background of a man whose character wasn’t formed on the smithy of hard work or a desperate attempt to prove his worth, but of someone who feasted on the limelight, and was surrounded by those from the same strata – who live in a bubble.



Trudeau avoids local issues, promises lower taxes and cellphone rates, but nothing to cope with healthcare challenges, region’s crime and influx of newcomers

Trudeau avoids local issues, promises lower taxes and cellphone rates, but nothing to cope with healthcare challenges, region’s crime and influx of newcomers

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau was in Brampton to let everyone know that he would, if re-elected, work to lower Canada’s notoriously high cellphone rates and exempt Canadians from paying federal income tax on their first $15,000 earned. But he offered no commitment to ensuring that Brampton and Mississauga get their fair share of funding to cope with rising crime and the stress put on city infrastructure and services by an influx of newcomers.



Mississauga Matters election debate cancelled after federal candidates decline to take part

Mississauga Matters election debate cancelled after federal candidates decline to take part

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie had scheduled a debate tonight under the banner Mississauga Matters, with plans to quiz candidates across the city’s six ridings about how they would stand up for the funding needs of their home municipality. But the debate has been cancelled after the city couldn’t find enough candidates to take part. That raises questions about how committed federal hopefuls are to improving the city they hope will elect them in October.



The power of perception during a violent year in two cities – Part 1 – Winter 

The power of perception during a violent year in two cities – Part 1 – Winter 

In Mississauga and Brampton, 2018 was one of the most violent years in recent memory. Homicides, shootings, stabbings and many other types of violent crime all increased drastically. 

As the violence unfolded over the first half of the year, the public were paying attention, but the police seemed caught off guard and political response was absent. 

In Part 1 of this three-part series, The Pointer looks at the violent winter months and how they set the stage for one of the most troubling years on record. 



Lakeview residents meet to discuss density, height and an indigenous education centre as waterfront redevelopment moves closer

Lakeview residents meet to discuss density, height and an indigenous education centre as waterfront redevelopment moves closer

Residents of the Lakeview community in Mississauga met on Thursday evening to discuss the impending redevelopment of the waterfront. While developers want to add height to existing plans, locals want to keep their view of the lake, with more parkland and activity space along the waterfront. In some situations, big developers would ignore such demands and forge ahead, yet Lakeview has a secret weapon.



Peel becoming a national leader in dementia care with groundbreaking Butterfly Model

Peel becoming a national leader in dementia care with groundbreaking Butterfly Model

A program implemented in Peel Region has become a model of excellence for long-term care homes across Ontario for how to best treat and look after those suffering from dementia. Known as the Butterfly Model, it puts the patient first and focuses on forging real bonds between patient and caregiver.

The benefits have been nothing short of remarkable. 



Incumbents in Brampton and Mississauga silent on electoral reform since Liberal u-turn in 2017

Incumbents in Brampton and Mississauga silent on electoral reform since Liberal u-turn in 2017

Four years ago, Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party was propelled to power on a series of promises, including a historic commitment to reform Canada’s first-past-the-post voting system. In Brampton and Mississauga, town halls and public meetings in 2016 heralded a nationwide consultation on the issue and asked Peel residents for their opinions. However, in 2017 the party abandoned its pledge and MPs have been silent on the issue ever since. 



Liberals will let cities ban handguns and pledge to ban ‘military-style assault rifles’ if elected

Liberals will let cities ban handguns and pledge to ban ‘military-style assault rifles’ if elected

Less than a week after nine people were shot in separate ambushes in Mississauga and Brampton, leaving two dead, including a 17-year-old boy, the Liberals are promising sweeping measures to clamp down on gun violence.

The party announced Friday that it would ban “all military-style assault rifles” if elected. And, as the NDP has also pledged, they would allow cities to enact their own handgun bans.



Hey candidates, if you expect to win in Mississauga, pony up $200 million for the downtown LRT loop

Hey candidates, if you expect to win in Mississauga, pony up $200 million for the downtown LRT loop

The new Mississauga Matters campaign is pushing bold requests from the next Parliament: Rapid east-west transit along the lakeshore; a new transit terminal; and federal funding to restore the downtown LRT loop are among the items Mayor Bonnie Crombie, a former Liberal MP and veteran horse-trader, wants Ottawa’s help with after the federal election. Those issues, along with affordable housing, are the goals the city is prodding candidates (and voters) to consider in its three-pronged Mississauga Matters advocacy campaign. The priorities: infrastructure, transit and housing.



In two of Canada’s most diverse cities, a bellwether for Liberal fortunes, residents indifferent about Trudeau’s brown/blackface use

In two of Canada’s most diverse cities, a bellwether for Liberal fortunes, residents indifferent about Trudeau’s brown/blackface use

Decades-old images of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau in blackface and brownface have rocked his election campaign.

But in Mississauga and Brampton, cities where two-thirds of residents are visible-minorities, attitudes seem largely unconcerned. Predictably, candidate responses broke along party lines.



Climate change mixes with everyday concerns for Mississauga-Streetsville incumbent

Climate change mixes with everyday concerns for Mississauga-Streetsville incumbent

Help with everyday issues, like affordable medications, tax breaks for parents and transportation — as well as the broader issue of what Canada is doing about the climate crisis — are all important issues to folks on the street in Streetsville, according to Liberal candidate Gagan Sikand, who hopes to repeat his 2015 victory in the riding.



Federal policies on student visas could affect Peel as international student population grows

Federal policies on student visas could affect Peel as international student population grows

Brampton and Mississauga, which host an increasing number of foreign students every year, are grappling with the effects of an aspect of immigration policy largely overlooked in federal election platforms: student visas.

One international student laid out his concerns to The Pointer.



Crombie pushes for 100 percent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

Crombie pushes for 100 percent reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

Mississauga’s draft climate change action plan has a greenhouse gas reduction target of 80 percent by 2050. But that strikes Mayor Bonnie Crombie as not good enough.

She wants to reduce net emissions by 100 percent come 2050. Is this attainable? Or is it just city hall blowing hot air? 



As blood spills on the streets politicians and the public grow frustrated in their search for answers

As blood spills on the streets politicians and the public grow frustrated in their search for answers

Neighbourhoods in Mississauga and Brampton are in crisis. A mass shooting in Malton Saturday was followed by two more gangland-style ambushes, one in north Brampton Monday and one in central Mississauga Tuesday. In total, two people were murdered and seven others were rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds.

While the bloody attacks and their alarming details are consumed as attention-grabbing headlines by millions across the GTA and, increasingly, around the country, for frustrated local politicians and trembling residents caught in the criminal web, the situation has reached a tipping point.



Number of secondary suites in Mississauga could be as high as 30,000, councillor says

Number of secondary suites in Mississauga could be as high as 30,000, councillor says

Complaints about unregistered basement apartments and the like are down in Mississauga this year. And while that sounds like good news, Ward 6 Councillor Ron Starr says data from the city’s planning department suggests there may be 20,000 to 30,000 secondary units throughout the city.

The number actually legally registered currently stands at 847.



As federal party leaders weigh in on chaotic Malton shooting spree, local councillor says area’s crime has long been ignored

As federal party leaders weigh in on chaotic Malton shooting spree, local councillor says area’s crime has long been ignored

Gunfire erupted outside a busy Mississauga apartment building on Saturday leaving one 17-year-old bystander dead and several others with gunshot wounds. 

The fatal act of violence has shaken the city and drawn the attention of federal politicians early in the election campaign, with mixed messages from the party leaders about how to address violent crime, which has spiked dramatically across two of the country's largest cities over the last five years. Local Councillor Carolyn Parrish has for years demanded more resources for policing in her ward.



Food security, homelessness, environment among top local priorities for Mississauga–Lakeshore incumbent

Food security, homelessness, environment among top local priorities for Mississauga–Lakeshore incumbent

Sven Spengemann says his concerns stem from the belief that communities are judged by how they treat the most vulnerable, and the fact his riding has its share of poverty.

The Liberal says representing a lakeside riding also makes being a champion for the environment especially important. He would, among other things, restore funding for the original plan for Mississauga’s LRT.



“The province” is “putting council in a very difficult position,” says senior Peel Region financial planner 

“The province” is “putting council in a very difficult position,” says senior Peel Region financial planner 

Provincial backpedalling will spare the Region of Peel some pain, but funding will still shrink by $39 million over three years. The chaos at Queen’s Park, with stark cuts being ordered without much detail and then mitigated or delayed in response to public outcry, is creating no end of headaches for the region’s financial staff and planners. Not to mention councillors forced to decide whether to reduce services residents have come to count on or hike their property taxes — just to keep things as they are.



Brampton, Mississauga voters appear unaffected by controversy surrounding local candidates

Brampton, Mississauga voters appear unaffected by controversy surrounding local candidates

The reasons aren’t entirely clear: Are voters unaware? Don’t care? Or just focused on the national race, with little regard for the local candidate? Whatever the reasons, scandals over offensive social media posts and the like have done little to budge the needle on polls as the federal election campaign wears on.

Brampton North candidate Arpan Khanna and Streetsville candidate Ghada Melek, both Conservatives, are among those who seem to be weathering the storm after controversy.



Malton councillor laments loss of community police station in her ward after devastating shooting

Malton councillor laments loss of community police station in her ward after devastating shooting

In the wake of a mass shooting in Malton that killed a 17-year-old, Mississauga Councillor Carolyn Parrish wishes the community police station at Westwood Square Mall was still open.

So do some local residents who feel unsafe and dispute the impression that crime in the area had decreased enough to warrant shutting it down. It was closed to cut costs in February 2018, despite Parrish’s battle to keep it open.



Motivated Green candidates spread the word on climate action; but can they be convincing?

Motivated Green candidates spread the word on climate action; but can they be convincing?

International recognition of a climate emergency has offered the Greens a boost for the upcoming federal election. However, while the party seems to be on the upswing across Canada, the message continues to struggle in Brampton and Mississauga, where the car reigns.

With just over a month to go, local candidates of varying professionalism are working to open the eyes of the electorate to an issue they have been campaigning on for years. 



Ryerson study shows only 28 percent of Canadians trust social media in an age when fake news can swing an election   

Ryerson study shows only 28 percent of Canadians trust social media in an age when fake news can swing an election   

British technology expert Sam Jeffers told a Brampton audience this week that our upcoming federal election might be riddled with security worries, as waves of disinformation from unchecked social media sites spit out cyber advertising and fake news that have plagued campaigns around the world, and could rear their ugly head here. Over the next few weeks in our hyperactive news environment that will fill the cybersphere ahead of October 21, “Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour” will again become a sign of our times.



Temporary relief for Peel as paramedic funding is unfrozen and offered a small 2020 boost

Temporary relief for Peel as paramedic funding is unfrozen and offered a small 2020 boost

The province has reversed course on a controversial decision in May to freeze funding for paramedic services and will now provide a small boost into next year.

The flip-flop epitomizes the confusion experienced by municipalities across Ontario as the Doug Ford PCs continue to make cuts, only to reverse them in response to public outcry. One regional councillor tells The Pointer that Peel is in a “holding pattern,” waiting for a semblance of certainty.



Death threats made Parliament no easy job for Iqra Khalid, but she’s ready for more

Death threats made Parliament no easy job for Iqra Khalid, but she’s ready for more

Though the incumbent for Mississauga–Erin Mills has made a mark in Parliament in the area of human rights — drawing malicious backlash at times — she’s counting on her focus on seniors and other local concerns to persuade voters to keep her in Ottawa.

She sat down with The Pointer to talk about the issues that most concern residents of her riding.



Brampton North Conservative candidate latest to be tainted by unearthed cyber-skeletons, as news focuses on personality not policy 

Brampton North Conservative candidate latest to be tainted by unearthed cyber-skeletons as news focuses on personality, not policy 

Arpan Khanna, who secured his candidacy a year ago, is the latest parliamentary hopeful to be dogged by his past comments posted on social media, as the theme has dominated the federal election campaign over the first few days ahead of the October 21 vote. He used homophobic language years ago and is now facing mounting pressure to step down.

A number of controversial remarks captured in the cryptic space of the internet have forced party leaders to stumble off their policy platforms, while having to address a growing list of questionable past remarks made by candidates. 



Surge in fentanyl-related deaths in Peel adds urgency to calls for public health funding

Surge in fentanyl-related deaths in Peel adds urgency to calls for public health funding

Ten years. That’s all it took for fentanyl to go from a potent painkiller used to manage only the most serious post-surgery pain to one of the most deadly street drugs in the country. 

In Peel, opioid-related deaths involving fentanyl have skyrocketed, leaving the Region of Peel and community organizations struggling to tamp down the problem —  a task made even more difficult by the region’s underfunded public health budget.



New national strategy will guide fight against human trafficking across Canada

New national strategy will guide fight against human trafficking across Canada

In 2016, the federal government’s national action plan to combat human trafficking expired. For three years, service providers and community organizations have been pushing for Ottawa to step up and once again make human trafficking a priority. 

Days before Parliament was officially dissolved, signalling the start of the federal election campaign, the Liberal government finally took that step.



Show us the money; Trudeau Liberals ignore Peel’s growing infrastructure gap, with Mississauga and Brampton receiving $150M while Edmonton gets $1.9B

Show us the money; Trudeau Liberals ignore Peel’s growing infrastructure gap, with Mississauga and Brampton receiving $150M while Edmonton gets $1.9B

With the 905 set to be a key battleground this federal election, major party leaders should pay attention to Peel’s rapidly growing infrastructure needs.

With 12 seats up for grabs, two fewer than each of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the booming region becomes a hotbed of election activity every four years, but the question is, what are party leaders and elected MPs doing for residents in between?



Deer’s death prompts 760-name petition demanding enforcement of leash rules at Rattray Marsh

Deer’s death prompts 760-name petition demanding enforcement of leash rules at Rattray Marsh

The killing of a fawn, allegedly by a dog, raises concerns that too many people are ignoring the signs reminding pet owners to leash their dogs — and cyclists to get off their bikes on the conservation area’s trails and boardwalks.

The petition signers want more prominent signage and stronger enforcement against practices dangerous to wildlife.



In Mississauga and Brampton and across Ontario, Doug Ford is the biggest threat to smart, green growth

In Mississauga and Brampton and across Ontario, Doug Ford is the biggest threat to smart, green growth

The Ford government’s pointed attack on our conservation authorities is short-sighted and will result in this province paying a heavy ecological price over the next few years. The green movement can work in concert with the business community, and the best example is an ongoing reclamation project on the old Ontario Power Generation lands in the southeastern section of Mississauga. This Lakeview miracle could remake the city. But any possible divinity, in Mississauga and Brampton and beyond, lies in the hands of citizens, including those in the seats of power, who can stare down the premier. 



Crombie, Brown join other big-city mayors demanding Ottawa get its act together on transit funding

Crombie, Brown join other big-city mayors demanding Ottawa get its act together on transit funding

Sometimes it’s not the wheels on the bus but the endless quest for transit cash that keeps going round and round. The country’s sixth and ninth largest cities are at a watershed: get the funding to get residents out of their cars and into public transit, or continue the suburban trends of the past few decades. 

Representatives of 22 of Canada’s biggest cities, including Mississauga and Brampton, want to end the cycle of transit funding dependency on the federal government that Ottawa ignores. They have a plan to make sure good transit keeps being built in places large and small until at least 2038 — if the feds will only sign on.



After years of writing master plans, a pivotal climate change decision faces Mississauga this fall

After years of writing master plans, a pivotal climate change decision faces Mississauga this fall

Mississauga is swimming in policy reports about environmental issues, cycling and transit. But a recently commissioned study now on the desks of city planners offers a revolutionary approach that could greatly reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, in keeping with the climate “crisis” city council declared in June.

Adopting it would mark a huge step, one that some wonder if Mississauga is capable of making.



Update: It’s week 2 of school for thousands of Peel students, with no teacher contracts in sight

Update: It’s week 2 of school for thousands of Peel students, with no teacher contracts in sight

Whispers of strikes and job action abound among educators. So far, the teachers’ unions have been opaque about how negotiations with the province are going.

In Peel schools, much depends on how those higher-level talks proceed.



Study of immigration in Ontario suggests it’s time to spread the love around

Study of immigration in Ontario suggests it’s time to spread the love around

The GTA, including Peel Region, welcomes nearly eight of every 10 immigrants arriving in the province, according to a report from the Conference Board of Canada. That means other centres, despite efforts to attract newcomers, are missing out on the economic benefits immigration brings to an aging population. There may be strategies to change that.



Jagmeet Singh’s NDP circling the drain seven weeks from the election, polls show

Jagmeet Singh’s NDP circling the drain seven weeks from the election, polls show

The numbers don’t look good just days ahead of the expected federal election call. Jagmeet Singh’s NDP stands a good chance of losing a significant number of seats. Procrastination in naming candidates and internal strife have given the NDP an air of disorganization — not least in Mississauga, where only one NDP candidate has even been named, as of Saturday.



Trudeau hopes to go 11-for-11 in Brampton and Mississauga, again

Trudeau hopes to go 11-for-11 in Brampton and Mississauga, again

The Liberal Leader made a surprise fundraising visit to Brampton Thursday. Strangely, the event was for an Oakville candidate, but it’s clear Justin Trudeau is looking to consolidate the 905. The country’s sixth and ninth largest cities, which the party swept in 2015, will be the key. The evening gave some of the incumbents a moment in the spotlight, including Mississauga Centre’s Omar Alghabra, who said residents in his riding have one clear message about the type of leader they don’t want to see.



Procurement changes on the horizon, in light of The Pointer’s investigation

Procurement changes on the horizon, in light of The Pointer’s investigation

Mississauga Councillor Carolyn Parrish is proposing rules that would put Peel Region councillors in charge of approving all regional contracts over $50,000 — much lower than the current $250,000.

The move follows revelations that senior regional staff quietly hired and directed a consultants’ report to prove that Peel Region should stay intact — while undermining Mississauga’s bid to secede.



MuslimFest celebrates the ‘lighter side’ of Muslim culture

MuslimFest celebrates the ‘lighter side’ of Muslim culture

The popular festival highlights Mississauga’s vibrant Muslim community and bridge-building with others, in contrast to the heightened suspicions and discrimination in evidence of late at the U.S. border, where numerous Muslim men on family trips report being turned away for unknown reasons.



Mississauga’s MiWay prepares to bring on more hybrid electric buses in effort to battle climate change

Mississauga’s MiWay prepares to bring on more hybrid electric buses in effort to battle climate change

A move to buy 11 more of the less-polluting buses marks another step toward an inevitable transition to all-electric, says the commissioner of transportation.

Currently, MiWay’s fleet is the City of Mississauga’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, higher even than city-owned buildings.



Liberals likely to keep stronghold on Mississauga after fall election

Liberals likely to keep stronghold on Mississauga after fall election

Poll averages suggest much of the city is sticking with the party in power, with the NDP slow off the mark even to name candidates. Navdeep Bains, the highest-profile incumbent, is leading the pack in a riding that poll aggregator 338Canada deems “safe” for the Grits.

But voters may be paying much more attention to the two-way race among national party leaders than their local candidates.



Justice system shows prejudice against Peel rapper Avalanche the Architect, judges find

Justice system shows prejudice against Peel rapper Avalanche the Architect, judges find

Darren John, who raps under the name Avalanche the Architect, is appealing a 2015 conviction for uttering threats contained in the lyrics of one of his songs, following a feud with his former music promoter. 

As that case is set to be heard in December, two judges and a judicial body have identified issues with John’s treatment in court during other legal matters, pointing out bias and prejudice against him. It’s a systemic issue that John says has plagued him over the past two decades while he’s been forced to deal with a justice system that only sees him as a big, bad Black man, not a person.