Table Of Content

PDN January 13, 2020_Layout 1 1/16/2020 9:17 AM Page 1 Week of Jan. 16, 2020 Housing update posts by Alex Gregory "middling results" of 632 affordable units NEWS Page 5 Mississauga’s Second Cup picks up Ottawa coffee chain Flooding hits homes in BUSINESS Page 11 Players discuss Lisgar mental health at Raptors 905 panel SPORTS Page 17 A City employee uses pumps to lower the water level near a home in the Lisgar area of Mississauga this past weekend. Seven homes McMaster pays reported flooding, as inclement weather and melting snow caused flooding at several sites in the area, including the Lisgar Meadow‐ brooke Trail and Ninth Line near the Osprey March outlet. (Photo Courtesy of Office of Ward 10) tribute to Motown Heavier‐than‐expected precipitation Protocol (HWP) to move water out of col‐ According to Raakman, in a statement and melting snowbanks caused flooding lector sewers. The water level had less‐ sent Wednesday afternoon to residents in in the Lisgar area this past weekend, as ened by Sunday morning. the area, a meeting has been set up to dis‐ at upcoming show several homes in the Sixteen Mile Creek “I spoke with a handful of residents cuss the issue with city staff and find area quickly discovered. about their experience and the devasta‐ short‐ and long‐term solutions to the The flooding, which was reported by tion last night's storm has caused ‐ not flooding problem. LIFESTYLE Page 18 several residents on Jan. 12, led to City of only the physical damage, but also the “The more information we have about Mississauga employees deploying 11 mental toll this takes on all of us,” David affected locations, the better the broader Caledon Rings in pumps throughout several sites within Raakman, the executive assistant to Ward analysis will be in trying to determine the area, including Ninth Line at the Os‐ 10 councillor Sue McFadden, said why some homes are affected while oth‐ prey March outlet, Black Walnut Trail and Wednesday afternoon. The flood is one of ers are not,” said Raakman. New Decade at the Lisgar Meadowbrook Trail near the several that have hit the area over the last Hundreds of homes in the Inglewood bridge at Osprey Boulevard, in order to decade, including last summer. area of Caledon saw their power knocked Winterfest lower the water level. “Just when we thought we had a solu‐ out over the weekend due to the weather, At least twenty‐nine homes were tion, along comes another storm with an‐ which also caused flooding. flooded due to the inclement weather, other flood and it all seems like were back Look inside this week’s issue for addi‐ LIFESTYLE Page 19 while the City invoked its High Water at ground zero.” tional coverage. PDN January 13, 2020_Layout 1 1/16/2020 9:17 AM Page 2 PDN January 13, 2020_Layout 1 1/16/2020 9:17 AM Page 3 Jan. 16, 2020 | PEEL WEEKLY NEWS | NEWS3 Brampton lawyer nabbed after defrauding clients A Brampton lawyer is on Campbell, who was with‐ ated a law office in Bramp‐ the hook after being holding funds that had ton and specialized in real charged with defrauding been placed in trust ac‐ estate, wills, estate and his own clients. counts and were to be dis‐ family law. Peel Police`s Fraud Bu‐ persed to them via estate “In many Fraud related reau revealed Wednesday wills after their loved ones cases, people in vulnerable that an investigation was had died. situations are coerced, ma‐ launched against the Campbell, who was ar‐ nipulated and taken advan‐ lawyer, 63 year‐old Shawn rested on Saturday, was tage of for the profit of the Kelly Campbell, of George‐ charged with one count of fraudster,” the force wrote town, after complaints defrauding the public. He in a statement. were received by the Law appeared in Brampton Any residents with infor‐ Society of Ontario by court for a bail hearing mation pertaining to clients who had been de‐ later that day. Campbell or the case are frauded. In a statement Tuesday, asked to call Peel Police`s The clients, who weren`t Peel Police said that their Fraud Bureau at (905) related, reported that they may be additional victims, 453–2121, ext. 3335. had been defrauded by and that Campbell oper‐ The parking lot outside the perspective from near power outages were the Lloyd Wilson Memo his residence, as well as a caused by a tree that had rial Arena in Inglewood photograph from last fallen on a hydro pole in and the nearby area was March, which showed the area, which affected flooded this weekend, as similar flooding near the more than 800 residents inclement weather and arena. living near Highway 9, high winds knocked out “Should have completed stretching up to Olde power to hundreds of some preventative main Base Line Road. homes in the community. tenance,“ Raakman Stay tuned to Peel The stark photos, re wrote. “Nothing changes Weekly News for further vealed by local resident from 2019.” updates regarding in David Fibingir on social According to a notice clement weather and media on Sunday, show posted by Hydro One, the flooding alerts. Robots set to issue Visas, internal Federal report reveals by Surjit Singh Flora The issuance of visas for “There is a great deal of plan to “process a large num‐ fessional, marriage, educa‐ mated visa program. an automated system, a Canada will now be in the public concern about fairness ber of Visas quickly and tional, or travel history could The high‐ranking immigra‐ human employee reviews the hands of most artificial intel‐ and data protection in rela‐ cheaply” raises the question “play” machines. tion officials who wrote the application. However, the ligence rather than immigra‐ tion to big data and artificial of whether an automated “A system that approves ap‐ internal report repeatedly (department) should proac‐ tion officials, an internal intelligence,” says the Immi‐ “Big Brother” system can be plications without adequate warned the department em‐ tively offer customers the op‐ report has revealed. gration Service’s 2019 report, tested. review would increase the ployees that Canadians will portunity to have a human Tens of thousands of which was created as part of At a time when Canada is risk to Canadians, and it is become suspicious of the in‐ officer review them at the be‐ prospective migrant workers access to information re‐ allowing more guest workers understandable that Canadi‐ creasingly automated visa ginning of the application and international students quests. and foreign students than ans are more concerned system. process and to decide on their from China and India have Nevertheless, Ottawa plans ever before, immigration about mistakenly approving “It is important for public case,“ the report also states. had their fate determined by to expand the automated ap‐ lawyers have also expressed risk takers than mistakenly trust to keep people up to In an interview earlier this Canadian computers making proval system far beyond the concern about the lack of rejecting real candidates,” he date,” the report states. While week, B.C.‐based immigra‐ decisions with artificial intel‐ pilot programs that went into transparency when machines said the document. human decision‐making may tion lawyer George Lee said ligence. operation in 2018 to process make life‐changing decisions The 25‐page report also not be superior to algorithmic he thinks that people will get Although immigration offi‐ applicants from India and about many of the more than shows how the fact that ro‐ systems, the report shows used to the idea that ma‐ cials recognize that the public China. 200,000 Visas that Canada bots are used for humans af‐ that “human loop systems chines make vital decisions is concerned about replacing The decision is being criti‐ issues each year. fects thousands of Visa currently represent a form of about human life, including human Visa officers with ro‐ cized in various aspects, with The internal report reveals officials. The new system transparency and personal people’s dreams of migrating botic algorithms, the Liberal Visa holders also considering the departments’ reserva‐ “will fundamentally change accountability that is more to a new country. government plans to signifi‐ the risk of securing visas and tions about a more extensive the daily work of decision‐ familiar to the public than au‐ “I think the use of robots cantly expand “automated de‐ privacy in their visa. switch to an automated sys‐ makers.” tomated processes.” will become more acceptable cision making” in April, Immigration attorney tem – particularly whether Immigration officials did “When a customer chal‐ later,” he said. “Until the ro‐ according to the internal re‐ Richard Kurland, of Vancou‐ high‐risk applicants who mis‐ not answer requests from lenges a decision that was bots screw up.” port obtained last week. ver, says Ottawa’s extensive represent their banking, pro‐ media outlets about the auto‐ made in whole or in part by PDN January 13, 2020_Layout 1 1/16/2020 9:17 AM Page 4 PDN January 13, 2020_Layout 1 1/16/2020 9:17 AM Page 5 Jan. 16, 2020 | PEEL WEEKLY NEWS | NEWS5 STAY IN Housing update posts "middling results" of 632 TOUCH affordable units PEEL WEEKLY NEWS by Catherine Soplet 306 Lakeshore Rd. E., Lower Level In 2017, when Missis‐ has been a shift in the de‐ are not eligible for regional National Housing Strategy suggested 0.5 per cent levy sauga launched its "Mak‐ velopment community," affordable housing sup‐ in Apr. 2019, the Ontario on property tax. Also in the Mississauga, Ontario ing Room for the Middle: said Parrish, noting new ports. government took an in‐ works are new financing L5G 1G9 Housing Strategy for Mis‐ applications for purpose‐ Housing is considered verse stance by introducing products for mortgage‐like Direct: 905-990-0932 sissauga", it set out four built rentals. affordable when it costs 30 Bill 108: More Housing, holdbacks so that surplus goals to guide 40 actions "We are charting new per cent or less of annual More Choice. value aggregated in afford‐ www.peeldailynews.com aimed to ensure middle‐ territory," said Andrew gross household income. In Among other changes, able units can be leveraged class households could re‐ Whittemore, Mississauga's 2017, that translated into Bill 108 curtailed munici‐ to finance future develop‐ PUBLISHER main housed in the city. Commissioner for Planning monthly rents of $1,200 or pal ability to collect devel‐ ment. Peter Whitaker "We have moved the nee‐ and Building. home ownership capping a opment charges for soft Advocacy will also con‐ [email protected] dle," said Mississauga Whittemore said that purchase of $412,000 re‐ and hard infrastructure, tinue for Mississauga to ac‐ Mayor Bonnie Crombie. Mississauga's focus to ex‐ stricting choice to smaller and limited Inclusionary cess the Land Transfer Tax In total, 632 new afford‐ pand affordable housing condo apartments or per‐ Zoning tool to increase af‐ tool currently only avail‐ NEWS/INFO DESK able units came online in supply is unique in Canada haps townhouse units. fordable housing to build‐ able to City of Toronto. [email protected] the third year of the 2017‐ for two complex reasons. The ’Making Room for ings erected at transit Mississauga CAO Janice 2019 Housing Strategy, in a First, as a lower tier mu‐ the Middle’ housing strat‐ nodes. Baker said, "if we had the COMMUNITY DESK report presented by the nicipality, Mississauga can‐ egy was conceived "in a In setting next steps for same offer as Toronto over Planning Department not assume jurisdictional perfect storm," said Whit‐ the 2020‐2022 Housing the last five‐to‐six years, [email protected] Wednesday at their bi‐ responsibilities for re‐ taker. In 2017, as Missis‐ Strategy, Ward 6 Council‐ we would have collected weekly general committee gional low‐income housing sauga resolved to increase lor Ron Starr sounded the $75 million in revenue." PEEL WEEKLY NEWS meeting. or pay tenant subsidy for its stock of purpose‐built alarm. Other options to comple‐ MANAGING EDITOR In developing “Making market rents. rental housing, both the "We are slipping in to the ment the Housing Strategy Room for the Middle”, Second, Mississauga provincial and federal gov‐ abyss... it is time to do are to encourage more sec‐ Alex Gregory Ward 5 Councillor Carolyn seeks to improve housing ernments reinvigorated something. We are able to ondary units with grant [email protected] Parrish has championed a options for middle‐income commitments to invest in work with developers ‐ but and loans programs. In the negotiation standard in families who could pay housing. we do not have the author‐ past four years, approxi‐ DIGITAL MEDIA/WRITER new residential develop‐ market prices but have dif‐ Subsequent to 2018 On‐ ity to get the money to mately 1,000 such units ments that 5‐10 per cent ficulty finding units that tario and 2019 federal elec‐ manage the targets." have come onto the market Jonathan Giggs units be designated as af‐ suit their needs. tions, housing policy has Staff will report back to in Mississauga. Alex Gregory fordable. Families earning be‐ diverged. While the federal Council on revenue tools "In recent years, there tween $55,000 ‐ $100,000 government legislated the such as a vacancy tax and a SPORTS CONTRIBUTORS Provincial Catholic teachers Brampton man arrested Dave Robinson Benedict Rhodes set to strike next week after shooting Brendan Lang BUSINESS/LIFESTYLE EDITOR As rotating strikes On the same day, Ed‐ Federation (OSSTF) A Brampton resident is under dram, fled from the scene be‐ continue to affect local ucation Minister also announced one‐ arrest in connection with a fore police arrived. Alex Gregory school boards in Peel Stephen Lecce, he said day strikes in some shooting that occurred near the Rajendram was arrested on and beyond, Ontario's he was “disappointed” Ontario school boards city’s courthouse late last week. Tuesday and charged a number CONTRIBUTORS English Catholic sys‐ with the teachers' next Tuesday, Jan. 21,, Peel Police’s Criminal Investi‐ of offences, including unautho‐ tem's teachers have union's focus on con‐ unless progress is Elizabeth Banfalvi gation responded to the County rized possession of a firearm, announced a one‐day tinued growth. He said made in provincial Dmytro Basmat Court Boulevard and Blooming‐ mischief over $5,000, failing to strike on Jan. 21. in the statement that bargaining. The president of the after a five‐hour Work In a statement, the dale Drive area around 2:25 comply with recognizance and J. Alex Coulson Ontario English to Rule campaign, the Peel District School a.m. on Jan. 10 after receiving recklessly discharging a Surjit Singh Flora Catholic Teachers As‐ OCTA decided to hold Board said it will not reports of shots fired. firearm. Pat Graham sociation (AECTA) said a day strike in the be impacted by the po‐ Upon reaching the scene, offi‐ He appeared in Brampton Kelsey Lusk this week this will be province which would tential strike. cers located several shell cas‐ court, located near the scene of the first time in the have a negative impact “Peel board staff are ings and a damaged vehicle the crime, on Tuesday for a bail Marc Patrone past 20 years that the on our students. reviewing this infor‐ near a residential property. Ac‐ hearing. Heather Raithby OCTA has fully with‐ As of Wednesday mation for impacts on cording to police, the vehicle Residents with additional in‐ Catherine Soplet drawn its services, evening, the Dufferin‐ students and will con‐ had been damaged to gunfire. formation regarding the case after talks with the Peel Catholic Services tinue to monitor,” the province broke down School Board did not board wrote in a state‐ No injuries were reported in are asked to call 22 Division at last week. have any updates as to ment earlier this the incident, while the suspect, (905) 453‐2121, ext. 2233. The strike includes direction regarding week. 30 year‐old Jehroomien Rajen‐ not participating in strike action next Lecce said that par‐ standardized testing, week. ents are frustrated by writing report cards, Meanwhile, public teacher union escala‐ and not being involved elementary teachers tion every few years, in Ministry of Educa‐ have intensified their and that it is unac‐ tion initiatives. It will Work to Rule cam‐ ceptable that OSSTF also have an impact on paign and are plan‐ would ramp up strike elementary and high ning to hold a series of action at a time when school wages. strikes from next high school students AECTA president Liz week onwards, while are preparing for Stewart said Monday public high school exams. that the government's teachers are planning “I will continue to negotiating team had a series of strikes from focus on reaching vol‐ made it clear that it Wednesday. Lecce is untary agreements could not reach an urging other teachers' with the teachers' agreement that did not unions not to do so. unions, so Ontario stu‐ include significant and The Ontario Second‐ dents stay in class permanent cuts. ary School Teachers' where they belong." PDN January 13, 2020_Layout 1 1/16/2020 9:17 AM Page 6 Jan. 16, 2020 | PEEL WEEKLY NEWS | NEWS6 Opinion Is criticism “dishonest and weak”, or is it the antidote? stick their neck out and We have seen this in Most people have a rected if no shortcom‐ criticize his work assume their approval recent days and habit of saying bad ings or omissions are should be to help him. is so necessary. months, with U.S Pres‐ things about the critic, made known to the A teacher tries to im‐ In our lives, we are ident Donald Trump and they find satisfac‐ human being? prove his students by faced with thousands recently tweeting tion in doing so. The That is to say, every criticizing their wrong‐ of people who criticize about Prime Minister purpose of criticism is criticism made is part doing. us for being the basis Justin Trudeau as "two not harmful all the of the correction of Your words and your of something. faced" and "very dis‐ time. Sometimes, the that error. Fine arts circle should be taken Criticism makes Clearly, no one likes honest and weak." objection is also made have always needed into account when crit‐ many people angry and to listen to their criti‐ Not only did the U.S. to correct mistakes. critics, because view‐ icizing them. upset these days, it cism, and criticism President criticize It depends on us how ers can understand Criticism is like giv‐ seems. makes many people Trudeau, but economic we take our criticism. what could be done in ing medicine to a sick The ego is part of the angry and upset. adviser Larry Kudlow Mahatma Gandhi had art and where it is patient. Excessive drug human condition. You We get angry when told CNN that Trudeau said that it is more im‐ lacking if the critics intake will be harmful, have it, just like every‐ criticized because we "stabbed us in the portant than criticism, know that I am not and small doses will body else. When any‐ crave approval. It likely back.” to listen to your criti‐ going to make this crit‐ not be beneficial, so one picks at it, the ego points to a level of in‐ In such a situation, cism and to improve icism any less. positive criticism in the becomes inflamed. security around the one feels that this per‐ yourself. On the other hand, to right dose may prove This is truer for some subject area of criti‐ son, without any spe‐ Each person owns a fix the mistake, to a helpful in the future. people than others. It's cism. cial authority, is trying different personality, great extent, problems In every case, human natural. It takes a long We don't always to demean him by of‐ so it is up to the person can be solved. shouldn’t be disturbed time to find out who enjoy having ourselves fering an idea of h is to take his criticism It is imperative to at all, nor to withdraw you are. It is up to no reflected back. We personality. negatively or posi‐ give immediate sugges‐ from its purpose, but one else. don't concern our‐ Criticism also affects tively. tions when making to carry out a mission People with a weak or selves with criticism a person's physical and What kind of re‐ criticisms. One impor‐ for itself by saying the rigid sense of identity from people whose mental health. It is an sponse does a human tant thing to keep in things that have been are easily bothered. opinions we don't indisputable fact that have after hearing his mind is to criticize a criticized. The vision is People trying to "find value, so for whatever the person who hears critique? Most criti‐ person's wrongdoing to work with a positive themselves" would be reason, the person(s) the blame does not say cism is viewed nega‐ and not to that per‐ attitude so that the ob‐ angered by criticism. criticizing you are im‐ always say something tively because the son's feelings if we jective can be achieved. To them, a lot of criti‐ portant to you. Ask to the critic, for some cause of the criticism is criticize him person‐ Now it is up to us. cism is an invasion of yourself if their views reason, but the inner deficiency, error, or ally. Back off from fear of spiritual privacy and are valid and really human mind is badly negligence, but how The primary purpose criticism so we can assumption of superi‐ that important. burned. can the error be cor‐ of any human being to achieve our goals. ority, when people PDN January 13, 2020_Layout 1 1/16/2020 9:17 AM Page 7 PDN January 13, 2020_Layout 1 1/16/2020 9:17 AM Page 8 Jan. 16, 2020 | PEEL WEEKLY NEWS | NEWS8 Police searching for Local entrepreneur launches Driver dead after campaign to raise funds for missing resident tractor‐trailer crash families of Flight 752 victims 11 Division’s Criminal 5’7”, 165 pounds, with A new campaign is dent. All 176 passengers Drivers passing by the into a sedan that was head‐ Investigation Bureau are short straight black hair, looking to raise funds for and crew, including 57 Esso station near the cor‐ ing south on Mavis, which asking for the public’s brown eyes and has a the families of victims in Canadians, died when the ner of Mavis and Eglinton caused another collision help seeking a missing goatee. It is unknown the fatal Ukraine Interna‐ plane crashed near early Monday morning between the sedan and a Mississauga man. what he was last seen tional Airlines flight that Tehran. were in for a surprise, as a nearby SUV on the road. Cresente Abad was last wearing. crashed in Iran last week. The fund will be run by tractor‐trailer was seen Soon after, the vehicle seen on Sunday, Dec. 22, In a statement, police Paramount Fine Foods the Toronto Community rolled over, having plowed rolled over and smashed into the gas station’s sign into the sign at the Esso president Mohamed Foundation, said Tory, at approximately 7 a.m., said Abad’s family are in the early hours. station, “causing signifi‐ Faikh announced Sunday who indicated it was the in the Aztec Hill and concerned for his well‐ The driver of the tractor‐ cant damage”, according to that he has launched the same fund used to raise Knotty Pine Grove area being. trailer was killed after a source familiar with the “Canada Strong Cam‐ funds for the families of in Mississauga. He was Anyone with informa‐ crasing into two vehicles investigation. paign”, which seeks to victims in the 2018 Dan‐ believed to have trav‐ tion is asked to call in‐ and plowing into the sign, The vehicle was believed raise $1.5 million in funds forth Avenue shooting elled to the City of Niag‐ vestigators with the 11 Peel Police reported Tues‐ to be moving at high speed for the families of those and Yonge Street van at‐ day. at the time of the crash ara Falls on or about Division Criminal Inves‐ who were on Flight tack incidents. The incident happened into the sign. Wednesday, Dec. 25. tigation Bureau at (905) PS752, which included Faikh committed to do‐ just after 12 a.m. Monday The driver succumbed to Abad is described as 453–2121, ext. 1133. Canadians who lived, nating $30,000 to the morning. The driver, who his injuries after the crash. male, medium build, worked in or had ties to fund, and said that he had not been identified by A subsequent investiga‐ Peel Region. would pay administrative police as of Wednesday tion revealed that the trac‐ “If there was ever a expenses for future dona‐ evening, stole the tractor‐ tor‐trailer was stolen from time, the time is now,” tions to the families. trailer, which was filled a Mississauga property the said Faikh, who spoke “We are one big family, with meat, and began trav‐ day beforehand. alongside Toronto Mayor the Canadian family,” said elling eastbound on Eglin‐ Witnesses who may have John Tory. “It’s time for Faikh, who called on indi‐ ton Avenue West. additional information re‐ all of us to come together viduals throughout the In the course of the trip, garding the investigation the tractor‐trailer crashed are asked to call police. and support one another. country to support the Regardless of race, reli‐ families. gion or background, we As of Wednesday are all Canadian, and we evening, the campaign have that in common.” had raised more than The flight was downed $325,000. by a ground‐to‐air missile For more information on Jan. 8, purportedly or to donate, visit fired by Iranian forces, torontofoundation.ca/can who later claimed re‐ adastrongcampaign. sponsibility for the inci‐ Does the province and teachers’ unions have the benefit of children and parens? by Surjit Singh Flora For the first time in more on the one hand, and on budget by the government. is not a basic waiver for That way, the govern‐ place, but the truth is that than two decades, all four the other side are taking According to the Finan‐ teachers. ment will spend $48 mil‐ the harm to children and teachers’ unions in Ontario action from work to the cial Accountability Office Where unions are fo‐ lion a day while salaries of parents is happening to have landed in strike ac‐ 'work to rule', one‐day of Ontario, the tax credit cused on generating $60 million a day are them. tion because of the unease strikes, etc. for children that is sup‐ headaches for the govern‐ saved if teachers strike. The only thing both par‐ with the government. A role in the stand taken posed to forfeited is $435 ment, the government has The government and the ties have to agree on one The Elementary Teach‐ by the unions may be their million. come up with a unique teachers' unions claim to day is just the point of ers' Federation of Ontario anti‐Conservative stance. One issue is to increase plan that may make many have the benefit of chil‐ who's ready to step back. also announced yesterday On the other hand, the the size of the classes, parents happy, but there dren and parents in their that its members will go government has also taken which leads to a larger are other problems for on a rotating strike every several steps that are number of roles needed to teachers. Monday. aimed at attracting teach‐ be filled by the same (or The government has an‐ According to the Federa‐ ers. less) teachers. It is esti‐ nounced for those parents tion, in the first round, the In order to understand mated that 10,054 jobs whose children will stay Toronto District School the issue correctly, we will be reduced, which will home due to the teacher Board, the Toronto need to find answers to save the government $900 strike that they will re‐ Catholic School Board, the some basic questions. million in budget balances. ceive $60 a day for chil‐ York Region School Board This year, the govern‐ At the time of the Liberal dren under the age of six. and the Ottawa‐Carlton ment plans to spend $29.9 government, the focus was The amount is for children School Board will strike. billion on education, which not on budget balancing, who are not yet enrolled in The unions must give a is up 1.6 billion, up 4.3 per and the Tories were afraid school, but are based in a five‐day advance notice to cent from last year. to regress back to the po‐ school‐based child. strike, which was given Of course, the increase in litical death they had Go to a care centre. Most last Monday. dollars for education ap‐ feared. cost around $40 per day The teachers' rapproche‐ pears on paper, but in real‐ Similarly, the govern‐ for kindergarten children, ment with the government ity, the extra money is not ment has reduced the $25 per day for children in has been in place since last for the schools, but the salaries of all government grades 1 through 7, and year's budget presenta‐ new tax credits applied to employees, including $40 per day for kinder‐ tion. The unions are in children, which were in‐ teachers, at 1 per cent for garten students with spe‐ talks with the government cluded in the education the next three years, which cial needs. PDN January 13, 2020_Layout 1 1/16/2020 9:17 AM Page 9 Jan. 16, 2020 | PEEL WEEKLY NEWS | NEWS9 Opinion It’s time to stop obstructing community safety, and get on with it by Cody Vatcher Wards 7 & 8 Brampton won’t permanently message out. Never did it city employee arbitrarily City Councillor Char‐ change behaviours or occur to us that we were removing private prop‐ maine Williams remains solve all of our problems. “on the wrong side” or erty from private prop‐ firm in her stance on These signs are way of re‐ breaking the law. erty without laying any keeping your kids safe. minding drivers to drive We weren’t. charge. A few years ago, she with care. Then came the gut It can’t possibly be legal. launched an awareness We should be devoting punch. Signs went miss‐ Following a legal opin‐ campaign focused on get‐ our time to finding con‐ ing on a number of streets ion obtained by Char‐ ting drivers to think twice crete changes to traffic and residents were angry maine Williams, they before putting kids at calming, driver aware‐ — rightfully so. We talked walked back their posi‐ risk. All it requires from ness, and criminal justice. to many of them and tion, and allowed the residents is to take a lawn The goal of this cam‐ some saw By‐law remov‐ signs during a review of sign that says “Please paign was to point out ing signs, some woke up the bylaw. Which proves Slow Down” and put it on those Facts. The same old to find their signs vanish‐ all along that they had no their lawn. approach isn’t working ing without explanation. choice to drop any A mother lost her child and we have to show By‐Law Enforcement re‐ charges that could have to a speeding car, and in‐ elected leaders that resi‐ moved signs, stating that been drafted, and that stead of holding a town‐ dents want action. they were “illegal” signs. their interpretation was hall and sending her We did just that. They never laid any wrong. condolences, she wanted When I heard that my charges — nor will they — I could see how this was to engage the community. City Councillor was taking and they never provided going to go all along. First She continued that idea a stand, I too wanted to their interpretation of the it was her approach, then into her term as a city do my part. I signed up as by‐law. It wasn’t hard to the legality, now it’ll be councillor. As simple as it a volunteer and went find out who took the her integrity, and finally may seem, certain oppo‐ door‐to‐door with her signs, because I had wit‐ they’ll run out of steam nents of the idea accusing team. nessed it myself. and cook up another her of wasting taxpayer We spent many week‐ I witnessed this by‐law story. dollars in an act that ends speaking with her officer driving car 347 re‐ It’s time to stop ob‐ won’t stop speeders. constituents, knocking moving signs. It was structing community They’re right. Signs doors and getting the heartbreaking to see a safety, and get on with it. PDN January 13, 2020_Layout 1 1/16/2020 9:17 AM Page 10