Addressing the Rise in Crime in our Community... Brampton is a great City, but it is also a community in transition, and in this regard we have to very quickly get a handle on the rise in crime which all of us have been observing.  By this I mean the full spectrum of crime ranging from property vandalism right through to violent crime.  No longer can we point to other communities in the GTA as crime centres, the problem is at our doorstep and we need to act. The issue of rising crime rates needs to be addressed by City Council because it will not be solved by merely putting more police officers on patrols.  I suggest that they are really about having proper community plans in place.  Plans for our City need to consider such elements as sizing the density of development, providing community and recreation centres with programming that encompass physical activities as well as opportunities for our residents to learn new skills, practice and express their unique cultural backgrounds, or to simply “hang out” with friends.  These are just some of the elements that need to be addressed in consultation with the Peel Police Services Board, City Council, Social Services and many others. In terms of what I can specifically do to as City Councillor I would say this … the issue of crime I believe has to start with providing real opportunities for Brampton’s youth; they need to have alternatives.  Brampton needs to develop this shared vision where our Residents from all age groups and backgrounds feel a sense of engagement with the community.  As a member of City Council I would take a leadership role in the process that develops this shared vision.

Development of High-rise Residential units at Sandalwood Parkway and Loafers Lake

Loafer's Lake is one of the true gems of this City. The community centre, library and park are perfectly sized to the needs of the Heart Lake community.   This, combined with the already overtaxed road system in the area of Sandalwood Parkway and Conestoga Drive, makes the development of high-rise apartments incompatible with the existing community.  While I support the idea of the City’s attempt to assist the developer to search for opportunities to "land swap" into other parts of the City I have a concern that in the end this could come at the expense of Brampton taxpayers or simply end up transferring the problem to another part of our City.  What is important is to ensure that lands are zoned appropriately in the first place; this is the job of Council and an issue I am committed to work on.

Doug attends Information update meeting at Loafers
Lake for the proposed Heart Lake High Rise Condos