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PWN January 21, 2021_Layout 1 1/21/2021 10:31 AM Page 1 Jan. 21, 2021 121 employees by Alex Gregory at Canada Post facility positive for COVID NEWS Pg 4 Rizzi tapped as Mississauga’s new fire chief No charges to be laid in NEWS Pg 11 Walmart Francique shooting: SIU Canada teams with Thrive to boost morale A new report by the province’s Special Investigations Unit, released Wednesday afternoon, states that there are no reasonable grounds to charge the subject oﬃcer at the centre of the police‐involved shooting of Jamal Fran‐ cique (above), who died from injuries sustained during an incident on Jan. 7, 2020. (Submitted/Francique Family) Over a year after a death his Mississauga home after subsequent struck in the BUSINESS Pg 16 that shocked a community, conducting ongoing surveil- head, and remained on life police have cleared the offi- lance due to apparent infor- support until Jan. 10, when Pandemic event cers at the centre of a SIU in- mation that Francique had he succumbed to his injuries. vestigation. breached bail conditions, was According to the report, po- aims to reduce The province's Special In- trafficking drugs and had ac- lice did not directly engage vestigations Unit released a cess to a firearm. Francique because they isolation among report Wednesday indicating During the attempted ar- feared that he was armed -- a that there were no reasonable rest, Francique get into his car later search of his vehicle re- grounds to charge a Peel Po- and managed to reverse out of vealed a semi-automatic pis- elderly lice officer involved in the his driveway, despite at- tol inside the vehicle. shooting of 28 year-old Jamal tempts to impede him with a Martino said that the officer LIFESTYLE Pg 20 Francique on Jan. 7, 2020, deflation device placed under who shot Francique, who has during an incident that oc- his tires and multiple units not been identified publicly, curred as officers tried to ar- stationed in the area. In the feared an "imminent risk" to Wellspring of a rest him in front of his family ensuing confrontation, Fran- his safety during the incident, home. cique reportedly accelerated which was the reason why he Creative According to the SIU report, into a police cruiser and discharged his firearm -- but written by director Joseph nearly hit an officer before at- that wasn't good enough for Spirit Martino, officers from Peel tempting to leave the area, the lawyer representing Fran- Police's Street Level Organ- leading said officer to fire four cique's family. ized Crime Unit planned to rounds in the direction of the Continued Pg 5 LIFESTYLE Pg 22 arrest Francique in front of driver's seat. Francique was PWN January 21, 2021_Layout 1 1/21/2021 10:31 AM Page 2 PWN January 21, 2021_Layout 1 1/21/2021 10:31 AM Page 3 Want to join the Premium Membership Program? Here’s how! JOIN AND WIN! Interested in becoming a Premium Member? 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Click the link below to be need to give our local advertisers a way to effec- taken directly to our purchase page! tively communicate their message on a budget. Welcome to the future of Peel Weekly News! PWN January 21, 2021_Layout 1 1/21/2021 10:31 AM Page 4 Jan. 21, 2021 | PEEL WEEKLY NEWS | NEWS 4 Mail facility impacted as 121 employees test positive for COVID by Alex Gregory Residents in son said late evening regarding testing is expected tion as we work to Health to ensure Mississauga are Wednesday. the facility, which to make a dent in do our very best to “the health and unlikely to hear “The (facility) is is located near the service levels, he keep our people safety of our “the postman ring central to our en- corner of Dixie confirmed. and Canadians members.” twice’” this week, tire national deliv- and Eglinton Av- "These meas- safe." Last year, the fa- as a mail facility is ery and enue. ures, combined A union repre- cility faces a simi- undergoing major processing net- Peel Public with record- sentative with the lar outbreak, testing after a work, and the Health began test- breaking volumes, Canadian Union when eight em- COVID-19 out- safety measured ing of affected em- will continue to of Postal Workers ployees were con- break. we have imple- ployees Tuesday, have an impact on also confirmed to firmed to have the Officials at mented nation- but has not shut- service," said Peel Weekly News virus in April, Canada Post re- wide are having down the facility Legault. that it is working prompting “pre- vealed Wednesday an impact on our and will allow op- "Canada Post to ensure the cautionary deep evening that Peel delivery service,” erations to con- will continue to safety of its em- cleaning” of the Public Health is spokesperson Phil tinue, Legault work with Peel ployees, and will facility, which em- now testing nu- Legault said confirmed. How- Public Health and be working closely ploys more than merous employees W e d n e d a y ever, the impact of take their direc- with Peel Public 3,500 workers. at its Dixie Road sorting facility The Canada Post Gate‐ after a major out- way East facility, located at 4567 Dixie Road, as break, with 121 seen in an undated pho‐ employees testing tograph. positive for COVID within the past three weeks. Testing is being offered voluntarily at the site for employees, while all workers who tested positive for the virus being or- dered to go into isolation, a company spokesper- Community in shock as one left dead after Staff looks for input on Bolton shooting outdoor rinks after report Residents in and another in- ports of gun- was sent to hos- A community pe- As covered last the Harvest jured. shots, and dis- pital with un- tition over the re- week in peel Moon Drive area Caledon OPP covered two known injuries. moval of a Weekly News, local witnessed a said in a brief male victims at a Neither the vic- long-time outdoor resident Joe Galati flurry of activity statement Tues- residence in the tims’ names nor rink has prompted created a commu- the City of Missis- nity petition to Monday after- day that officers area. additional infor- sauga to direct protest the demoli- noon after police were called to One victim was mation regard- staff to investigate tion of the rink, at- cruisers re- the area around p r o n o u n c e d ing the incident the matter further, tracting major sponded after a 12:30 p.m. Mon- dead at the has been re- counillors decided interest and sup- shooting that left day afternoon in scene, while the vealed, though Wednesday during port from resi- one victim dead response to re- second victim the area was their regular meet- dents who shut down for ing. requested that the City staff were di- rink, one of only several hours as rected to bring three outdoor sites officers investi- back a report on in the GTA, remain gated the prop- the feasibility of open. erty and addding outdoor City staff had surrounding refrigerated rinks previously stated area. in the city in re- that the rink was Anyone with sponse to the reac- due to be removed tion over the due to the design additional infor- redevelopment of of the project not mation regard- the Burn- being able to ac- ing the incident hamthorpe Com- commodate an is asked to call munity Centre, outdoor rink. Caledon OPP’s which included Look for addi- Major Crime plans to remove an tional coverage on Unit at (905) outdoor covered this story in next rink. week’s edition of 584-2241. Peel Weekly News. PWN January 21, 2021_Layout 1 1/21/2021 10:31 AM Page 5 Jan. 21, 2020 | PEEL WEEKLY NEWS | NEWS 5 STAY IN Peel ramps up vaccination schedule as province TOUCH touts milestone PEEL WEEKLY NEWS As Peel Region care home and all locations, includ- province’s long- More must be 321B Lakeshore Rd. E., pushes for an ac- Ontarians have ing Century Gar- term care minis- done to protect Mississauga, Ontario celeration of vac- had the opportu- dens Community ter. the province’s L5G 1H3 c i n a t i o n s nity to get a vac- Centre, Caledon "We must re- most vulnerable Direct: (647) 6489241 throughout key cine,” Ford said East Community member that our residents, repre- sites, the province during a news Complex and long-term care sentatives of the www.peelweeklynews.com announced Tues- conference. “Only River Grove Com- homes are still at official opposition day that it had then will we be munity Centre are risk from commu- said last week. PUBLISHER completed the able to get our targeted to open nity spread... it's “People are first round of vac- lives back and re- this spring. important that all doing everything Peter Whitaker cinations at LTC turn to normal." “(This) is a testa- of us continue to they can to stay publisher@ homes throughout The news comes ment to the hard stay home as home and keep peeldailynews.com the region and as public health work and collabo- much as possible people safe — but s u r r o u n d i n g officials in Peel ration of our team and follow the Peel families, in- areas. push for a com- with our many public health cluding all the es- NEWS/INFO DESK Premier Doug munity mass vac- partners, all while measures so we sential workers Ford said Tuesday cination plan, with continuing to sup- can stay safe and that live here — newsdesk@ that Peel was one a proposal outlin- port our broader save lives," said won’t be able to peeldailynews.com of four regions, ing key metrics pandemic re- Minister Merillee solve this problem along with and guidelines sponse to help Fullerton. without more Toronto, York and being approved keep people safe,” The province has help,” said Bramp- COMMUNITY DESK Windsor-Essex, to Wednesday. the region said in also run into snags ton North NDP finish the first Peel’s vaccina- a statement last securing addi- MPP Kevin Yarde. catherine@ round of vaccination plan is aimed week. tional doses of the “(The Premier) peeldailynews.com tions on residents at getting commu- As of Tuesday, Pfizer vaccine, as must provide the — as part of a push nity clinics up and 83,000 LTC resi- the federal gov- region with the to target regions running as soon as dents, staff mem- ernment revealed vaccines we need PEEL WEEKLY NEWS with the highest possible, with two bers and on Jan. 15 that to meet the de- MANAGING EDITOR COVID-19 trans- clinics (located at caregivers had production at the mands of our pop- mission rates in Region of Peel fa- been vaccinated drugmaker’s Eu- ulation, and he Alex Gregory the province. cilities at 7120 with the first dose ropean production needs to provide newsdesk@ “We are making Hurontario Street of the Pfizer facility had been paid sick days, on- steady progress, and 10 Peel Centre COVID-19 vac- delayed, and that site workplace peeldailynews.com but we will not Drive) targeted to cine, though more shipments of the testing, and more rest until the resi- open early next work remains to vaccine would be isolation centres.” DIGITAL dents and staff of month. stop community reduced through MEDIA/WRITER every long-term Three additional spread, said the February. Jonathan Giggs Alex Gregory Family asks for accountability after police shooting SPORTS Continued from Pg 1 a confrontation in hands, because an interaction volving alleged CONTRIBUTORS front of his family instead of helping with police, it is a police violence in "(There is) a Dave Robinson heavy reliance on home. The inci- us and giving us a tragedy that all the community, dents prompted reason to feel involved wish and requested bias leaning to- community vigils safe, you leave the could have been criminal charges BUSINESS/ wards clearing and protests to families in incom- averted. Family be brought police officers LIFESTYLE EDITOR bring attention to plete shambles." and loved ones against the officer when admittedly Alex Gregory perceived imbal- Derek, who par- are left behind involved in Fran- directors com- ances in policing ticipated several with questions cique’s shooting, ment on the fact CONTRIBUTORS that (they) could and arrests, with vigils and protests and the officers as well as Camp- members of Fran- at Peel Police involved are bell and other Elizabeth Banfalvi have done some- cique's family properties last forced to deal high-profile cases. Dmytro Basmat thing different, continuing to year, said that the with the realities “Peel Regional yet still always Surjit Singh Flora fight for further family has still of the stress these Police has blood rule in their Pat Graham investigation re- not received perti- outcomes cause.” on its hands,” favor," said Singh, E.C. Munson who publicly rep- garding the trend nent information Last year, pro- members of a they see. about the case, testors taped group calling David Robinson resents the fam- "This report has and is requesting signs and threw themselves the Catherine Soplet ily. left my family in more accountabil- red paint onto the Malton People’s The incident was Clover Sterling further disbelief ity on the part of windows and Movement said one of several in the SIU and the the force. walls at 11 Divi- on Dec. 13. “These high-profile inci- police force," Peel Police Chief sion, located near families have dents involving Derek Francique, Nishan Duraiap- the corner of been waiting for police and mem- Jamal's father, pah, commenting Dundas and Erin answers, yet all bers of the Black said in a prepared on the matter Mills Parkway, in they’ve received is community, in- s t a t e m e n t Wednesday, told mid-December as empty promises cluding the po- Wednesday after- Peel Weekly News part of an effort to and criminaliza- lice-involved noon. "We do not in a statement raise concerns tion.” shooting of D'An- want to leave our that, "Any time a about the han- - With PWN dre Campbell in lives in your life is lost due to dling of cases in- Files Aug. 2020 during PWN January 21, 2021_Layout 1 1/21/2021 10:31 AM Page 6 Jan. 21, 2021 | PEEL WEEKLY NEWS | NEWS 6 Opinion Will Biden live up to everyone’s expectations? He will have a staff harms American China wants to end the United States Under current member who sends manufacturers — the trade war started will take the same policies, thousands official social media some detained as al- by Trump and lift steps to improve re- of people seeking updates that are leged spies by the sanctions on Chi- lations in the Gulf, asylum in the United checked for accuracy Chinese government nese tech company as it has taken in ties States have to live in and meet adminis- in retaliation for rul- Huawei in addition with Israel, the dangerous areas of tration guidelines. ing against Huawei. to U.S. sanctions United Arab Emi- Mexico on the U.S. There won't be In short, the and cuts on Chinese rates and Bahrain. border until their Washington D.C. many of them - cer- Trump administra- goods. Some Gulf states applications are was on high alert tainly not dozens in tion was not very China is also keen fear that Biden could processed. Wednesday morn- a single day. Tweets popular with Cana- to work with the move in the direc- Citizens of Latin ing, with all 50 U.S. will never be in all dians. United States on cli- tion of the 2015 Iran America hope that states on watch, as caps. Former President mate change and the nuclear deal. They Biden will impose Joe Biden replaced From an interna- Barack Obama has COVID-19 epidemic. hope to talk to other strict sanctions Donald Trump as tional perspective, mentioned multiple Besides, China countries before tak- against Nicolas the 46th President leaders worldwide times how PM hopes that the ad- ing any step in this Maduro in of the United States. are already trying to Trudeau had a great ministration of Joe direction and bring- Venezuela. At the As Biden became find ways to move relationship with Biden will play a ing them into confi- same time, the peo- President, the forward with Biden. him. Biden was more effective role dence. ple's eyes here are world's eyes were fo- All the global pow- Obama's vice presi- in its interests in in- The Biden admin- on how Biden deals cused on him and ers crave stability, dent at the time. ternal national secu- istration also ex- with Brazilian Presi- his working style. and for the first time This should sug- rity and human pects these countries dent Jair Bolsonaro, On one hand, in four years, they gest a return to rights matters. to play a positive who is considered a Americans have might have a partner friendly cooperative Countries in the role in human rights staunch supporter of high hopes for him in the U.S. that uses relationships, but it Middle East expect and refugee issues in Trump. to deal with the influence rather may be too much ex- the Biden adminis- Yemen and Syria. However, analysts COVID-19 epidemic, than threats to pectation, even tration to do more to Mexico hopes that believe that it will and for peace and achieve strategic hope. improve relations Biden will change not be easy for Joe improvement in the goals. Biden made it between the Gulf the immigration pol- Biden to live up to economic situation. Canada's relation- clear this week that states. They hope icy for Mexicans and everyone's expecta- One thing for sure ship with the Trump he swears to nix the that under Biden, give them relief. tions. is that, with an end administration can Keystone pipeline, a of the Trump era, at best be called major Canadian Biden's cabinet must thorny. Trump said multi-billion-dollar be knowledgeable, Canada was a poten- economic initiative. qualified people and tial threat when he Killing a pipeline key leadership posi- cut off PPE supplies can be risky, as tions. enroute to Canada, many kilometres of He will show up to only to back down pipes have already work early in the afterwards. been laid and would morning, listen to He is well docu- have to be torn up. his advisors, read his mented at targeting But so far, news daily briefings, at- Canadian Prime that leaked has indi- tend meetings, and Minister Justin cated that Biden has delegate tasks to the Trudeau, who is pushed for plans to right people. about to be cancel the Keystone He will hold press scammed following XL pipeline permit conferences where a G7 meeting. via executive action he answers ques- Trump has im- on his first day in of- tions fairly consis- posed tariffs on fice. tently; none of the Canada on steel and In short, that will media will be ac- aluminum, which not be healthy news cused of being fake hurts Canada and for Canadians. or insulted. PWN January 21, 2021_Layout 1 1/21/2021 10:31 AM Page 7 Jan. 21, 2021 | PEEL WEEKLY NEWS | NEWS 7 Opinion In a democratic society, what goes around comes around by Vidya Gopaul After what hap- country, one that is wrong. miliated and let In the eyes of the or any group so far. pened on Capitol calls itself the “land In this case, both down every chance rest of the world, There is a limit, Hill in the U.S. on of the free,” would the Democratic the opposition gets, they are just ruth- and if that limit is Jan. 6, it shows have a massive bar- Party and the Re- that will for sure less leaders, but crossed, violent in- that when people ricade of security publican Party are anger their sup- they do have faith- cidents like the one are angry, they do services, military at fault. porters, irregard- ful and steadfast at the Capitol Hill care whether it is a troops and what Since the day that less of whether that supporters in their will happen over Democratic, Social- seems like the en- Americans voted leader is a leader of own country, irre- and over again, ist or Communist tirety of Washing- for a Republican a Democratic, So- gardless what you whether it is a government to ton locked down President four cialist or Commu- and I think of Democratic, Com- protest against. for the inaugura- years ago, the nist country. them. munist or Socialist Whether the tion of a free Democratic Party Also, it does mat- Therefore, when country. protest is justified elected president has been chasing ter whether that the President of Today, it is the or not is a very sub- by a democratic po- him like a hound leader is good or United States was Republicans who jective opinion, and litical system. dog. bad or corrupt in troubled at every are crying foul, but we’ll let that be a It is unthinkable. Day after day, the eyes of the pub- corner by the De- tomorrow, it could discussion for an- The only specta- month after month, lic or the world - mocrats, his sup- be the Democrats other day. tors during that they were criticiz- more than you porters, who also who will be crying I did not think ceremony will be ing what he said, think. believed that the foul. that in this modern the 25,000 military accusing the Russ- Just look around Democrats stole Do you remember day and age, such a troops and no pub- ian government of the world and look the election, theu when they tried to violent protest lic audience, who, helping him win at the countless could not take it impeach the Dem- would have taken by the way, ironi- the election, and leaders who are anymore and that ocratic President, place in the United cally elected the trying to impeach ruthless, autocratic led to the violent Bill Clinton? States Of America - president. him multiple times, and dictatorial — storming of Capitol All the Democrats - a country that sets You would think just to name a few and yet they have Hill — an icon and were livid, angry the example of how of such a military- instances. loyal supporters. symbol of true and felt intimi- Democracy is im- style inauguration To his last day, Take as an exam- democracy. dated by the Re- plemented. in a communist the Democrats did ple the President of The only way to publicans. His wife, Such a vicious re- country or in Bagh- not let him go with Russia, Vladimir resolve any dispute Hillary Clinton ac- volt would nor- dad, but not in the peace. They will Putin, the Presi- is to give all parties cused the Republi- mally occur in US. impeach him while dent of Venezuela, concerned the ben- cans of playing some of the Euro- But then again, he is gone from the Nicolas Maduro, efit of doubt to conspiracy theory. pean, South Amer- times have White House. the President of prove their cases. That's what I call ican, Far Eastern or changed. That not only in- China, Xi Jinping You cannot just -- politics! Middle Eastern When there is a furiated him, but and the President take your own side In the great game countries. conflict, both sides enraged his sup- of North Korea, and say, "We are of democracy, what Moreover, it is are at fault, and it porters. When you Kim Jong-un; they right and you are goes around comes unfathomable to does not matter see your leader is all have loyal sup- wrong." You can around. think that in a who is right or who being harassed, hu- porters. only push anyone PWN January 21, 2021_Layout 1 1/21/2021 10:31 AM Page 8 PWN January 21, 2021_Layout 1 1/21/2021 10:31 AM Page 9 PWN January 21, 2021_Layout 1 1/21/2021 10:31 AM Page 10