Bringing residents, politicians and advocates together, Niagara’s fifth Mental Health Summit offered an opportunity for dialogue on the dire situation facing those battling mental health and addiction issues in the region.
Event organizer Steven Soos aimed to provide a chance for those who are typically voiceless, to finally be heard.
A report from Cancer Care Ontario reveals participation in cancer screening is lower for areas described as materially deprived in Brampton and Mississauga.
These typically lower income areas have fewer people receiving critical tests that can detect cancer early and lead to more successful treatment. The findings place further emphasis on the need for enhanced medical services across the underfunded Peel Region.
The systems in place to manage Brampton's small equipment and tools are either completely ineffective or non-existent, a recent audit has found.
These expensive pieces of equipment are often not tracked, secured or documented, opening the City up to significant losses—like the $35,000 theft from one of its tool sheds in December.
As Canadians face increasing cost of living pressures, some are having to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table.
While energy poverty has hit different demographics for decades with little in the way of response from government leaders, organizations are now demanding the issue be addressed in conjunction with the clean electricity transition, to make energy accessible and affordable for everyone.
Brampton’s tree canopy has been dealt tough blows in recent years. From the 2013 ice storm to an ongoing battle with invasive species, thousands of trees have been lost.
To get a handle on its health and biodiversity, the City wants to take an inventory of the urban tree canopy.
The exercise will help inform future plans to protect these crucial pieces of natural heritage.
Peel's paramedic service are once again trying to resolve issues that have plagued its dispatch centre for much of the last two decades.
Problems at the Mississauga Central Ambulance Communications Centre, which the Ministry of Health is directly responsible for operating, are creating service delays and impacting the ability of paramedics to improve their response times.
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Dr. Ellen Field, a professor of education at Lakehead University has been granted funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada to implement climate change education into teacher training programs.
As the consequences of climate change are magnified, Field sees an opportunity for schools to serve as a place to foster skills and habits for both teachers and youth.
Thousands of Brampton residents took part in a tele-town hall to discuss the City of Brampton’s controversial residential rental licensing program. It paused the initiative less than a month after launching it at the beginning of 2024 after backlash from landlords. The consultations are meant to inform changes to the program which is designed to help tenants have safe living conditions.
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across communities, devastating countries worldwide, those residing in long-term care homes were among the hardest hit, revealing very quickly the harrowing reality of how unprepared Ontario was. A recent investigation by Ombudsman Paul Dubé revealed the Ministry of Long-Term Care “took limited steps to enforce compliance with legislative requirements,” as its inspection system collapsed during the first wave of the pandemic.
A new report from Environmental Defence and Equiterre models how Canada can double public transit use and decrease single occupancy vehicle use by 35 percent.
Transit service levels would have to roughly double, and the federal government has to step up to achieve this goal, which aligns directly with Ottawa’s current emissions reduction commitments.
As Mississauga gears up for the much-anticipated by-election on June 10 to replace former mayor Bonnie Crombie, several candidates have entered the race as of March 6 when registration officially opened.
Among the contenders so far are four council members and two long-time Mississauga residents.
Brampton will be allocating $1.5 million to accommodate its own Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Processing Center right in the city, instead of continuing to lease its current 50 ASE cameras through a Toronto-based facility which staff said has processing limitations that cause delays.
It will bring in an additional 135 cameras with the goal of improving road safety and modifying driver behaviour to reduce speeding.
Mississauga City officials are calling on the PC government to revisit the criteria of its new infrastructure funding program which measures municipalities on their housing starts (which municipalities cannot control) rather than approvals. The City was deemed ineligible for provincial funding that would help Mississauga build “more homes faster” to meet its housing target of 120,000 new homes by 2031.
The City of Brampton will appoint citizen members to its new Women’s Advisory Committee which will offer Council advice and recommendations on gender equity matters and ways to improve engagement by women in municipal politics, among other critical issues.
Niagara Region Council members are feeling more pressure to explain their differential treatment, after refusing to provide the same support to Palestinian community members as they did to the area’s Ukrainian community after the Russian invasion.
Advocates are demanding explanations for what they describe as obvious discrimination after the latest disturbing efforts by regional elected officials who once again went out of their way to deny voices from being heard inside the local legislative chamber.
Full or partial expropriation of several properties is necessary to begin construction on the transformative Riverwalk project, but one of the property owners tells The Pointer the City has failed to provide proper communication about the process.
The fate of unsheltered residents living along the Etobicoke Creek is also unclear, as they likely face displacement without access to Peel’s overburdened emergency shelter system.
The federal government has taken a step forward in establishing Clean Electricity Regulations to oversee the national transition to low or no carbon electricity systems.
But while the goal of achieving a net zero electricity grid by 2035 is critical to mitigate atmospheric harm, the draft regulations released by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change last fall, and updated last month, will not reach the lofty goal, experts say.
As opioid-related deaths continue to climb and accidental overdoses become more frequent, more municipalities are looking at Supervised Consumption Sites, like the one anticipated to open at 10 Peel Centre Drive, a stop-gap to the harm occurring on city streets.
Despite the increasing number of deaths, the PC government has halted any new site approval after a deadly shooting near a Toronto facility in July. Evidence has shown these sites actually reduce harms associated with drug injecting and minimize risks to the communities around them.
Younger generations are seemingly becoming more disengaged, with less activists showing up for climate strikes and participation in other facets of the movement. Facing pressures around affordability and housing and a range of other forces pushing in on them including those that impact their mental health, many young Canadians are struggling with how much is on their plate, which often turns climate activism into a privilege.
The PC government has announced it will move forward with the restoration of the previously cancelled downtown Mississauga LRT loop and an extension of the transit line into the Brampton city centre, after the city’s council members rejected the provincially funded alignment in 2015.
But the big question remains: will Doug Ford approve the Brampton LRT alignment demanded by Patrick Brown, who has insisted on a tunnel option that would cost almost $3 billion, about three times more than a surface route?
Homeowners, landlords and tenants across St. Catharines could be in for more pain as significant property tax increases in the city could for the second year in a row lead to much higher bills for homeowners, large property managers and tenants, whose rent could go up dramatically alongside any tax hikes for 2024.
Peel Manor in Brampton will receive provincial funding for an additional Behavioural Specialized Unit. The investment will introduce 26 new beds, while similar funding needs and increased staffing issues continue to create gaps in senior care across the province.
MPPs, parents, students and teachers within Ontario schools for the deaf and blind still have no answer as to why the PC government refuses to address numerous allegations of abuse, discrimination and ongoing mismanagement—all of which is documented in lawsuits, Ministry of Labour investigations and accounts from parents and teachers.
The current government sees it as nothing more than “opposition rhetoric” and despite overwhelming evidence of failed leadership, the PCs “remain steadfast” in supporting these schools.
In a recent letter to the Region, NIMBY residents have banded together expressing concerns over a Mississauga development meant to bring supportive, affordable housing to the Clarkson community.
As staff report, the Region is only meeting three percent of Peel’s core housing needs; the CEO of Indwell Community Homes, the architect behind the housing project, is defending the organization’s plan to bring more desperately needed affordable housing to Peel.
As Mississauga’s City Hall prepares for a chaotic year with an upcoming mayoral byelection and the PC government’s plan to download several regional services to the lower-tier municipality, Sue McFadden has announced plans to run federally as the candidate for Mississauga—Streetsville with Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party.
McFadden is the second member of Council to seek a political upgrade after former mayor Bonnie Crombie departed in January for her new role as leader of the Ontario Liberals.
Last week Premier Doug Ford announced $25.5 million in funding for infrastructure in the city to help support new housing units.
The amount falls well short of the $200 million annually Brampton City staff have identified as necessary to support the accelerated growth Ford and his PC government have mandated onto the municipality.
Regional officials are scrambling to find sustainable, cost-efficient solutions to address the surge in demand for emergency shelter space. A staff report to Peel councillors on Thursday revealed Peel’s shelters are currently operating at nearly 400 percent capacity. While the Region has submitted yet another claim to the federal government’s Interim Housing Assistance Program for incurred costs, the report calls for sustained funding streams, instead of BAND-AID solutions.
The actions of councillors in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake have come into question over their involvement and influence in projects where they may have a conflict of interest.
The trio of reports are an opportunity to review the municipal integrity commissioner process, how it came to be and what penalties can be assessed if a council member is found to have broken the rules.
The amount of mental health services for young people in Peel continues to lag far behind what is available in other jurisdictions. This is despite a startling revelation exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic that youth were waiting years for help.
Almost four years later, very little has changed.
As the controversy over a proposed 800-acre blasting quarry in northwest Caledon unfolds, local business owners speak out about how the aggregate operation could impact the growing local tourism industry and other commercial interests in the area.
Progress continues on Brampton’s first permanent youth shelter, after council members approved a motion in January, despite opposition from some local residents. Access to affordable housing is one of many obstacles for young people dealing with various challenges unique to their generation.
Cities across southern Ontario are increasingly implementing policies to target the climate crisis and signing declarations affirming their strong commitments to climate action.
But an analysis of the actual achievements municipalities have made, and the latest carbon inventory report show emissions across the GTHA are increasing at an alarming rate, suggesting a lot of the actions taken by municipalities may be simply performative.
On Tuesday the PC government and Premier Doug Ford unveiled the Get it Done Act, an omnibus piece of legislation that Ford billed as a path to getting critical infrastructure built to support housing while keeping “costs down” for people and businesses.
This legislation furthers the environmentally destructive agenda the PCs have been advancing since 2018 by stripping down the environmental assessment process for major infrastructure projects like Highway 413 while doing little to promote the types of housing development Ontario desperately needs.
A new analysis undertaken by an independent air quality engineer working alongside the Forks of the Credit Preservation Group concluded northwest Caledon could quite easily experience harmful levels of particulate matter, above Ministry standards, during the operations of a blasting quarry currently under consideration.
The study is ringing alarm bells about the health of residents in the nearby community and the natural environment.
Studies show Canadians know human sex trafficking is a problem in this country, but many wouldn’t know the warning signs if they encountered them and have no idea how to talk about it with their loved ones.
This lack of knowledge and education has allowed this crime to flourish in recent years.
The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking is releasing a new tool to try and get people talking.
The City of Brampton’s efforts to stop trucking businesses from breaking the law are falling short.
More and more Bramptonians are seeing large logistics operations taking over land not zoned for such heavy use. A recent staff report exposes concerning and costly environmental degradation and recommends council approve a task force to try and come up with new solutions for holding businesses accountable.
The decision by councillors to block a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza continues to create ripple effects in the community.
The Pointer speaks with Chair of the Region’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Councillor Laura Ip, who has been called to resign as committee chair following council’s decision.
A proactive investigation carried out by the Niagara Regional Police into individuals looking to purchase underage sex over the internet has led to the arrest of 13 men over the course of 4 days.
The results highlight the ongoing demand for illicit sex in Niagara’s busy tourist destinations.
A recent progress report on efforts to fix its disciplinary systems revealed the Peel District School Board continues to hand out suspensions and expulsions to Black and Indigenous students at twice the rate compared to other students.
The board is forming a new committee and looking for Black and Indigenous community members to inform the necessary changes.
The case against Marino Cader, the former director of finance for the Peel Children’s Aid Society charged with defrauding the organization of more than $250,000, will finally be moving ahead following a series of delays. A new trial date is set for April 15.
The charges against Andre Paul, the co-accused in the case, were withdrawn in December after the Crown determined the “scope of [Paul’s] involvement… was significantly less.”
Food Banks Mississauga CEO projects food bank usage will reach an alarming eight percent of the city’s population by May.
While the organization exceeded its fundraising goal in its latest food drive by 21 percent, it is approaching a tipping point where it may soon need to start turning clients away, or providing less food.
Similar situations across Ontario are leading to calls for upper levels of government to reform critical social assistance programs that are currently legislating people to live in poverty.
Community activist and longtime Caledon resident Joe Grogan has, since his retirement from the academic world two decades ago, involved himself in numerous local issues that directly impact the lives of residents. He fears virtual government, a hangover from the pandemic, is eroding public accountability at the municipal level. He writes that our democracy is weakened when voters can’t square off face to face with the elected officials who are supposed to protect them.
The City of Brampton is increasing fines for drivers illegally parking in bike lanes from $35 to $150 as complaints mount. The ongoing conflict between cyclists and drivers highlights a challenge in Brampton where a push for active transportation infrastructure, necessary for achieving critical emission reduction targets, clashes with the city’s historic car-centric design.
While the PC government continues to push a new 400-series corridor across the southern edge of the Greenbelt, Highway 413 has faced widespread community opposition for years. One Caledon councillor might follow the lead of local elected officials across the GTA whose motions cemented formal opposition to the controversial project.
Stealing cars has been happening since they were invented, but the recent increase in violent auto thefts across Peel and beyond has drawn the attention of the federal government. In an effort to tackle the growing trend, Ottawa recently announced two funding envelopes — $121 million for Ontario and another $28 million for the Canada Border Services Agency. As these organized crimes become increasingly violent, local officials are calling for tougher penalties and stricter sentencing, which is nothing new.
As the PC government pressures some of Ontario’s largest municipalities to get housing built, a recent policy report from the Ontario Real Estate Association reveals housing starts were down in 2023. Based on data from the report, the annual pace of construction would need to nearly double to 150,000 new units by 2025 to have any hope of achieving the PCs’ ambitious goal.
Municipalities want the PCs to adjust the criteria for provincial funding incentives, using units approved, rather than housing starts, which cities often can not control.
Mervat Ghaboun recently fled Gaza amid the ongoing bombardment by the Israeli army. She has landed in St. Catharines with relatives, but her siblings are still stuck in the middle of a war.
She is working to bring them to Canada—with every step another roadblock sets her back. She is desperately trying to rescue them from the same fate that took the life of her youngest brother two weeks ago.
In a submission to the federal government ahead of the 2024 budget process, Brampton Council has identified housing, transit and climate change among a number of key issues it would like Ottawa to support.
Patrick Brown, who has demanded a high-price tunnel option for the proposed LRT into downtown, instead of a normal surface route, wants $1.4 billion from the federal government. After years of cuts and cancellations inside City Hall, so Brown can build a political brand as a fiscal conservative, his moves have crippled Brampton’s own finances.
Ontario NDP Education Critic Chandra Pasma is calling on the provincial auditor general to investigate the systemic issues plaguing Ontario’s provincial schools for the deaf and blind.
The request follows years of sustained advocacy from parents, teachers and union officials who have sounded the alarm about underfunding, understaffing, abuse and neglect within the board which has led to two class action lawsuits settled by the Ontario government at a cost of over $20 million.
The City of Mississauga wants the PC government to help pay for the exorbitant costs of its irresponsible housing plan.
The demand is part of a submission ahead of the 2024 provincial and federal budgets and calls on Premier Doug Ford to answer questions about billions of dollars for municipal infrastructure needed to support his ill advised housing legislation.
