Patrick Brown says Mississauga and Brampton need to stick together to get COVID restrictions lifted

 

Mississauga and Brampton need to stick together if both cities want strict COVID restrictions lifted, says Patrick Brown.

The mayor of Brampton says the provincial government is still looking at Peel Region as a whole, and he believes attempts to separate each municipality — as Mississauga has suggested — will not make it any easier for either city to move from the restrictive grey zone into the more lenient red zone in the province’s framework for gradual re-opening.

Brown was responding to reports that Mississauga wanted to be “carved out” of Peel because of its lower caseload when Queen’s Park considers re-opening plans

“I worry that when Mississauga and Brampton look dysfunctional and are pointing fingers it affects our ability to get re-open,” said Brown. “Our message should be clear. Peel is ready to re-open. Caledon is ready to re-open. Brampton is ready to re-open. Mississauga is ready to re-open. We need to stick together and show the province that we are all ready.”

Brown went on to say that simple data on COVID-19 doesn’t always explain the full story and while it shows there are more cases of the virus in Brampton, Mississauga has had a more dire response when it comes to deaths. “The province looks at that,” he said.

He said the province has been given a clear indication of where each municipality stands as councillors in Mississauga, Brampton and Peel Region have all voted unanimously in favour of having restrictions lifted.

The mayor said that being in the grey zone for such a long time has made it almost impossible for businesses to survive. He said it has also affected the psyche of Peel residents who have been cooped up for too long and are craving physical activity outdoors and in gyms.

Brown also called in into question the provincial plan that has cut up various municipalities in the GTA into different zones which he suggests has been both unfair and counterproductive as people are allowed to flow into each area.

“The fact that Halton and Vaughan are open now means that people in Mississauga and Brampton are just taking their wallets there,” he said. “It really doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

However, Brown remains optimistic that Peel will be able to re-open soon as he says several health indicators show we are heading in the right direction.