Call it The Sheen Test.
At a council meeting on Tuesday in Caledon, Councillor Dave Sheen will face the fallout of two Integrity Commission rulings, triggered by Mayor Annette Groves and CAO Nathan Hyde. Complaint I. Complaint II.
They come from remarks Sheen made during a May meeting, which investigations later deemed to be “impugning [to] the professional reputation and credibility” of Groves and two senior bureaucrats, Chief Planning Officer Eric Lucic and Director of Engineering Solmaz Zia, in breach of the town's code of conduct.
As a penalty, Sheen could lose a month’s pay and be required to apologize to both parties for his remarks.
“I know in my heart I wasn’t aiming my criticism at staff,” Sheen told The Report. He repeated the same argument throughout a summer-long back-and-forth with Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian, but came up short.
It’s not Sheen’s first time being called out for a lapse in “decorum” at a town meeting. But it lines up with a two-year trend of Integrity Commission reports targeting councillors who’ve publicly challenged the scope of Groves’ strong mayor powers.
What happened: In one of the earliest chapters of Caledon’s ongoing Swan Lake saga, Sheen spoke out against the Groves’ move to approve a contentious by-law alteration that would allow construction dumping into the 44-acre Greenbelt-protected lake.
More than six hours into a heated meeting, Sheen let it rip, arguing that “in a strong mayor environment [...] there is an enormous pressure on staff to give the mayor what she wants.”
When Groves ruled Sheen out of order, he refused to retract his remarks, insisting that staff “[couldn’t] ignore” they were working under a strong mayor system. “That is a factor at play here,” he said.
For context: Armed with the strong-mayor powers granted by the Ford government two years ago, Groves has pursued an ambitious infrastructure agenda and a sweeping overhaul at Town Hall — including replacing former CAO Carey Herd with Nathan Hyde, all without Council’s approval.
Sheen was among the earliest critics on Council, filing a Freedom of Information request that revealed Hyde’s unusually lucrative contract with the Town.
He also challenged the Groves’ November appointment of Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian — made without Council’s input — blasting the procurement report prepared by Hyde and presented to Council as “flawed.”
So: Sheen has a history of speaking his mind at council meetings — a habit that’s landed him in the Integrity Commission’s crosshairs more than once.
At a meeting on local park strategy last year, Sheen made remarks a member of the Sikh community found culturally offensive — prompting a complaint to Boghosian. He issued an apology a few months later. “I have no problem admitting when I’ve made a mistake,” Sheen said. But with the new complaints from the Mayor and Hyde, he insists his intention was to comment on the impact of strong mayor powers — not to single out or attack anyone.
The ruling: In his investigation, Boghosian concluded that Sheen’s blunt words at the May meeting “went beyond the protection” of free political speech, breaching multiple sections of the code of conduct.
He’s not the only one: Councillor Lynn Kiernan faced her own reprimand from the Integrity Commission last April.
At a Planning and Development meeting, councillors and community members pushed back on Mayor Groves’ bid to fast-track 12 new zoning by-laws to advance her housing agenda.
Kiernan took issue with the “fact sheets” scattered across Council Chambers, remarking they reminded her of “German propaganda during World War II.”
That remark prompted a resident’s complaint and an investigation by Boghosian, who found Kiernan in violation of the Code of Conduct’s requirement that members “conduct themselves with decorum.” (Kiernan could not be reached for comment before deadline.)
What’s next: Groves’ successful complaint against Sheen on those same grounds will likely see him docked a month’s pay and forced to apologize, pending the passage of two resolutions at Tuesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, Swan Lake’s fate is still up in the air.
Keirstyn Parfitt, the Town’s loudest voice against the construction fill plans, says she’ll delegate at Tuesday’s meeting on Sheen’s behalf, arguing he shouldn’t be penalized for calling out Groves’ actions.
“We need to stand up and speak out for councillors who stand up for residents,” she said. “[Councillor Sheen] has been doing that for as long as I’ve watched this Council.”
Mayor Groves did not respond to a request for comment.
Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Caledon's Town Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Reviewing reports on a Notice of Motion to Designate 12711 McLaughlin Road; Renewing a Development Charges By-Law on Simpson Road; an Italy Trade Delegation and Sister City Report for Isola del Liri; and a Rehabilitation for Old King Road.
— A motion from Doug Maskell to prepare a report on the implications of the termination of the ASE Program, and a motion from Nick de Boer requesting an Erosion Risk Management Program and Remediation Efforts for 5 Carroll Court.
— Two integrity reports concerning Dave Sheen and amendments to the Residential Rental License By-Law.
— A trove of by-laws, including:
Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. — A council meeting in Mississauga. On the agenda:
— Parrish will present Heather Stockley with a key to the city in honour of Lloyd Stockley, for his contributions to the City of Mississauga Minor Hockey.
— A delegation from Jason Hanna, C.O.O. of the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, about community initiatives and safety concerns.
— A request for a special occasion permit for the Small Arms Inspection building for an event supporting the Compass Food Bank.
— Reviewing correspondence from Parrish regarding the AMO Conference.
— A motion from Brad Butt about funding for Christmas in the Village, Stephen Dasko on promoting plant-based food locally and Alvin Tedjo on Clarkson Village development.
— Motions to express condolences to the families of former city employees: Michael Oliver, Manager of Civic Precinct, and Elizabeth-Hewner McGee, Manager of Financial Strategies.
— By-laws to adopt a Mississauga Official Plan Amendment and associated Zoning By-law.
— An amendment to the Traffic and Private Tree Protection By-laws.
Thursday at 9:30 a.m. — Peel Regional Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Steve Jacques will present two Institute of Public Administration Canada (IPAC) awards.
— Ralph Beaumont will discuss the “Railways of Peel” exhibit at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.
— Jackie Franklin and Gerry Kupferschmidt from Sheridan Villa will discuss emotion-based care at Adult Day Services.
— Azhar Karim will discuss the TransHelp Service Review Study report.
— By-Laws to create a new multi-residential property subclass, and new application and borrowing features for the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC).
Patrick Brown — On Friday, he spoke at Brampton's Food and Beverage Processing Summit, alongside Labour Minister David Piccini and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. Later that night, he dropped the puck at a Steelheads game. He helped launch Brampton’s Culture Days Festival and then joined local Navratri celebrations.
— On Saturday, Brown joined the Canada Africa Economic and Culture Show with Rod Power and Paul Vicente.
— He handed out volunteer awards at the Nelson West Resident Association street party with Rowena Santos.
— He joined the Peel Region First Responder Appreciation BBQ.
— He cut the ribbon at the opening of the Big M Stone and Tiles Store, alongside Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh and Gurpartap Singh Toor.
Carolyn Parrish — On Saturday, she got a personal shout-out from new Mississauga Legends Row inductee Nav Bhatia.
Annette Groves — In an interview with CBC Toronto, Caledon's mayor said the accusations of her favoritism in dealing with Swan Lake’s land plan are “disheartening.”
— More Metrolinx drama: The Taste of Cooksville took place this weekend, albeit scaled back due to Metrolinx’s ongoing construction. The Cooksville Business Improvement Area is billing them for recompensation.
According to the group: As a result of ongoing construction, the BIA “has lost vendor spots and had to reroute emergency lanes to ensure [the festival] can execute flawlessly.”
Said Dipika Damerla: “I remain deeply concerned that Metrolinx's delays have forced the loss of various vendor spots — despite repeated assurances that LRT construction in the area would be completed in advance of the festival. I sincerely hope Metrolinx will take responsibility and reimburse the festival for this loss — which impacts not only the event but also the small businesses counting on it.”
— Earlier this month, Brampton cleared nearly $800,000 in “uncollectable” provincial fines tied to two defunct companies and one deceased debtor.
— The city’s by-law department has ramped up parking fines and towings over the past year.
— At Sheridan College, college support workers continue to picket in response to provincial funding cuts.
— A local advocacy group rallied against Bill 33 — which would bring police into schools — at 10 Peel Centre Drive. “Any form of policing in schools causes harm. It doesn’t actually create safety,” one advocate argued.
— The Credit Valley Conservation group is making moves to buy Caledon’s Swan Lake and preserve the environmental land at the centre of town controversy.
— Town advocates hosted a solidarity gathering on Friday. David Sheen, Lynn Kiernan and Christina Early were there.
— “A large crowd of close to 2,000 people marched through downtown Toronto Saturday afternoon as part of Canada-wide protests calling on the new Liberal government to prioritize the climate, Indigenous rights, migrants and workers ahead of the fall budget.”
— Bad news for Olivia Chow? More than half of Torontonians want a change in the city’s leadership, according to a new poll.
— Expect a more multicultural soundtrack when you dial Mississauga’s 311 service.
— Canada has recognized the State of Palestine.
“In a statement, Carney said [the possibility of a two-state solution] has ’steadily and gravely eroded.’ ‘The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established. It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law,’ Carney said Sunday in a statement.” More from POLITICO.
Parrish says: “... Returns to the position held by Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a two-state solution by recognizing Palestine,” she posted to X. “Resources, diplomatic assistance, peacekeeping action on the ground — all Canada’s strengths.”
Save the date: Alvin Tedjo is co-hosting a fundraising gala for Gaza on Monday, September 29. “The evening will feature reflections and words of encouragement… alongside a warm community gathering dedicated to hope and resilience,” according to ISNA Canada. RSVP.
— The Pointer has more on how Algoma University’s new Brampton campus is in financial jeopardy, reeling from a loss of “cash cow” international students from India.
— Martin Regg Cohn hosted a talk at Toronto Metropolitan University with AI Minister Evan Solomon. “There’s a technological revolution, and you’re very much part of it,” said Solomon. More from Regg Cohn.
— The Star asked locals to grade living in Toronto — it scored high on culture and community, less so on the cost of living and safety.
Got a sighting, a move or a promotion worth noting? Is your birthday coming up? Reach out.
— On Thursday, Mississauga won an Award of Excellence at the Ontario Professional Planners’ Institute Awards.
— Nav Bhatia, Frank Giannone, Annie Parker and Susanne Hou were inducted into Mississauga's Legends Row at a City Hall ceremony on Saturday.
Thank you for reading The Peel Report. Have a story idea? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox on Friday.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Ahmad Elbayoumi. Have feedback? Send us an email.
Call it The Sheen Test.
At a council meeting on Tuesday in Caledon, Councillor Dave Sheen will face the fallout of two Integrity Commission rulings, triggered by Mayor Annette Groves and CAO Nathan Hyde. Complaint I. Complaint II.
They come from remarks Sheen made during a May meeting, which investigations later deemed to be “impugning [to] the professional reputation and credibility” of Groves and two senior bureaucrats, Chief Planning Officer Eric Lucic and Director of Engineering Solmaz Zia, in breach of the town's code of conduct.
As a penalty, Sheen could lose a month’s pay and be required to apologize to both parties for his remarks.
“I know in my heart I wasn’t aiming my criticism at staff,” Sheen told The Report. He repeated the same argument throughout a summer-long back-and-forth with Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian, but came up short.
It’s not Sheen’s first time being called out for a lapse in “decorum” at a town meeting. But it lines up with a two-year trend of Integrity Commission reports targeting councillors who’ve publicly challenged the scope of Groves’ strong mayor powers.
What happened: In one of the earliest chapters of Caledon’s ongoing Swan Lake saga, Sheen spoke out against the Groves’ move to approve a contentious by-law alteration that would allow construction dumping into the 44-acre Greenbelt-protected lake.
More than six hours into a heated meeting, Sheen let it rip, arguing that “in a strong mayor environment [...] there is an enormous pressure on staff to give the mayor what she wants.”
When Groves ruled Sheen out of order, he refused to retract his remarks, insisting that staff “[couldn’t] ignore” they were working under a strong mayor system. “That is a factor at play here,” he said.
For context: Armed with the strong-mayor powers granted by the Ford government two years ago, Groves has pursued an ambitious infrastructure agenda and a sweeping overhaul at Town Hall — including replacing former CAO Carey Herd with Nathan Hyde, all without Council’s approval.
Sheen was among the earliest critics on Council, filing a Freedom of Information request that revealed Hyde’s unusually lucrative contract with the Town.
He also challenged the Groves’ November appointment of Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian — made without Council’s input — blasting the procurement report prepared by Hyde and presented to Council as “flawed.”
So: Sheen has a history of speaking his mind at council meetings — a habit that’s landed him in the Integrity Commission’s crosshairs more than once.
At a meeting on local park strategy last year, Sheen made remarks a member of the Sikh community found culturally offensive — prompting a complaint to Boghosian. He issued an apology a few months later. “I have no problem admitting when I’ve made a mistake,” Sheen said. But with the new complaints from the Mayor and Hyde, he insists his intention was to comment on the impact of strong mayor powers — not to single out or attack anyone.
The ruling: In his investigation, Boghosian concluded that Sheen’s blunt words at the May meeting “went beyond the protection” of free political speech, breaching multiple sections of the code of conduct.
He’s not the only one: Councillor Lynn Kiernan faced her own reprimand from the Integrity Commission last April.
At a Planning and Development meeting, councillors and community members pushed back on Mayor Groves’ bid to fast-track 12 new zoning by-laws to advance her housing agenda.
Kiernan took issue with the “fact sheets” scattered across Council Chambers, remarking they reminded her of “German propaganda during World War II.”
That remark prompted a resident’s complaint and an investigation by Boghosian, who found Kiernan in violation of the Code of Conduct’s requirement that members “conduct themselves with decorum.” (Kiernan could not be reached for comment before deadline.)
What’s next: Groves’ successful complaint against Sheen on those same grounds will likely see him docked a month’s pay and forced to apologize, pending the passage of two resolutions at Tuesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, Swan Lake’s fate is still up in the air.
Keirstyn Parfitt, the Town’s loudest voice against the construction fill plans, says she’ll delegate at Tuesday’s meeting on Sheen’s behalf, arguing he shouldn’t be penalized for calling out Groves’ actions.
“We need to stand up and speak out for councillors who stand up for residents,” she said. “[Councillor Sheen] has been doing that for as long as I’ve watched this Council.”
Mayor Groves did not respond to a request for comment.
Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Caledon's Town Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Reviewing reports on a Notice of Motion to Designate 12711 McLaughlin Road; Renewing a Development Charges By-Law on Simpson Road; an Italy Trade Delegation and Sister City Report for Isola del Liri; and a Rehabilitation for Old King Road.
— A motion from Doug Maskell to prepare a report on the implications of the termination of the ASE Program, and a motion from Nick de Boer requesting an Erosion Risk Management Program and Remediation Efforts for 5 Carroll Court.
— Two integrity reports concerning Dave Sheen and amendments to the Residential Rental License By-Law.
— A trove of by-laws, including:
Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. — A council meeting in Mississauga. On the agenda:
— Parrish will present Heather Stockley with a key to the city in honour of Lloyd Stockley, for his contributions to the City of Mississauga Minor Hockey.
— A delegation from Jason Hanna, C.O.O. of the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, about community initiatives and safety concerns.
— A request for a special occasion permit for the Small Arms Inspection building for an event supporting the Compass Food Bank.
— Reviewing correspondence from Parrish regarding the AMO Conference.
— A motion from Brad Butt about funding for Christmas in the Village, Stephen Dasko on promoting plant-based food locally and Alvin Tedjo on Clarkson Village development.
— Motions to express condolences to the families of former city employees: Michael Oliver, Manager of Civic Precinct, and Elizabeth-Hewner McGee, Manager of Financial Strategies.
— By-laws to adopt a Mississauga Official Plan Amendment and associated Zoning By-law.
— An amendment to the Traffic and Private Tree Protection By-laws.
Thursday at 9:30 a.m. — Peel Regional Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Steve Jacques will present two Institute of Public Administration Canada (IPAC) awards.
— Ralph Beaumont will discuss the “Railways of Peel” exhibit at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.
— Jackie Franklin and Gerry Kupferschmidt from Sheridan Villa will discuss emotion-based care at Adult Day Services.
— Azhar Karim will discuss the TransHelp Service Review Study report.
— By-Laws to create a new multi-residential property subclass, and new application and borrowing features for the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC).
Patrick Brown — On Friday, he spoke at Brampton's Food and Beverage Processing Summit, alongside Labour Minister David Piccini and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. Later that night, he dropped the puck at a Steelheads game. He helped launch Brampton’s Culture Days Festival and then joined local Navratri celebrations.
— On Saturday, Brown joined the Canada Africa Economic and Culture Show with Rod Power and Paul Vicente.
— He handed out volunteer awards at the Nelson West Resident Association street party with Rowena Santos.
— He joined the Peel Region First Responder Appreciation BBQ.
— He cut the ribbon at the opening of the Big M Stone and Tiles Store, alongside Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh and Gurpartap Singh Toor.
Carolyn Parrish — On Saturday, she got a personal shout-out from new Mississauga Legends Row inductee Nav Bhatia.
Annette Groves — In an interview with CBC Toronto, Caledon's mayor said the accusations of her favoritism in dealing with Swan Lake’s land plan are “disheartening.”
— More Metrolinx drama: The Taste of Cooksville took place this weekend, albeit scaled back due to Metrolinx’s ongoing construction. The Cooksville Business Improvement Area is billing them for recompensation.
According to the group: As a result of ongoing construction, the BIA “has lost vendor spots and had to reroute emergency lanes to ensure [the festival] can execute flawlessly.”
Said Dipika Damerla: “I remain deeply concerned that Metrolinx's delays have forced the loss of various vendor spots — despite repeated assurances that LRT construction in the area would be completed in advance of the festival. I sincerely hope Metrolinx will take responsibility and reimburse the festival for this loss — which impacts not only the event but also the small businesses counting on it.”
— Earlier this month, Brampton cleared nearly $800,000 in “uncollectable” provincial fines tied to two defunct companies and one deceased debtor.
— The city’s by-law department has ramped up parking fines and towings over the past year.
— At Sheridan College, college support workers continue to picket in response to provincial funding cuts.
— A local advocacy group rallied against Bill 33 — which would bring police into schools — at 10 Peel Centre Drive. “Any form of policing in schools causes harm. It doesn’t actually create safety,” one advocate argued.
— The Credit Valley Conservation group is making moves to buy Caledon’s Swan Lake and preserve the environmental land at the centre of town controversy.
— Town advocates hosted a solidarity gathering on Friday. David Sheen, Lynn Kiernan and Christina Early were there.
— “A large crowd of close to 2,000 people marched through downtown Toronto Saturday afternoon as part of Canada-wide protests calling on the new Liberal government to prioritize the climate, Indigenous rights, migrants and workers ahead of the fall budget.”
— Bad news for Olivia Chow? More than half of Torontonians want a change in the city’s leadership, according to a new poll.
— Expect a more multicultural soundtrack when you dial Mississauga’s 311 service.
— Canada has recognized the State of Palestine.
“In a statement, Carney said [the possibility of a two-state solution] has ’steadily and gravely eroded.’ ‘The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established. It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law,’ Carney said Sunday in a statement.” More from POLITICO.
Parrish says: “... Returns to the position held by Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a two-state solution by recognizing Palestine,” she posted to X. “Resources, diplomatic assistance, peacekeeping action on the ground — all Canada’s strengths.”
Save the date: Alvin Tedjo is co-hosting a fundraising gala for Gaza on Monday, September 29. “The evening will feature reflections and words of encouragement… alongside a warm community gathering dedicated to hope and resilience,” according to ISNA Canada. RSVP.
— The Pointer has more on how Algoma University’s new Brampton campus is in financial jeopardy, reeling from a loss of “cash cow” international students from India.
— Martin Regg Cohn hosted a talk at Toronto Metropolitan University with AI Minister Evan Solomon. “There’s a technological revolution, and you’re very much part of it,” said Solomon. More from Regg Cohn.
— The Star asked locals to grade living in Toronto — it scored high on culture and community, less so on the cost of living and safety.
Got a sighting, a move or a promotion worth noting? Is your birthday coming up? Reach out.
— On Thursday, Mississauga won an Award of Excellence at the Ontario Professional Planners’ Institute Awards.
— Nav Bhatia, Frank Giannone, Annie Parker and Susanne Hou were inducted into Mississauga's Legends Row at a City Hall ceremony on Saturday.
Thank you for reading The Peel Report. Have a story idea? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox on Friday.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Ahmad Elbayoumi. Have feedback? Send us an email.
Call it The Sheen Test.
At a council meeting on Tuesday in Caledon, Councillor Dave Sheen will face the fallout of two Integrity Commission rulings, triggered by Mayor Annette Groves and CAO Nathan Hyde. Complaint I. Complaint II.
They come from remarks Sheen made during a May meeting, which investigations later deemed to be “impugning [to] the professional reputation and credibility” of Groves and two senior bureaucrats, Chief Planning Officer Eric Lucic and Director of Engineering Solmaz Zia, in breach of the town's code of conduct.
As a penalty, Sheen could lose a month’s pay and be required to apologize to both parties for his remarks.
“I know in my heart I wasn’t aiming my criticism at staff,” Sheen told The Report. He repeated the same argument throughout a summer-long back-and-forth with Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian, but came up short.
It’s not Sheen’s first time being called out for a lapse in “decorum” at a town meeting. But it lines up with a two-year trend of Integrity Commission reports targeting councillors who’ve publicly challenged the scope of Groves’ strong mayor powers.
What happened: In one of the earliest chapters of Caledon’s ongoing Swan Lake saga, Sheen spoke out against the Groves’ move to approve a contentious by-law alteration that would allow construction dumping into the 44-acre Greenbelt-protected lake.
More than six hours into a heated meeting, Sheen let it rip, arguing that “in a strong mayor environment [...] there is an enormous pressure on staff to give the mayor what she wants.”
When Groves ruled Sheen out of order, he refused to retract his remarks, insisting that staff “[couldn’t] ignore” they were working under a strong mayor system. “That is a factor at play here,” he said.
For context: Armed with the strong-mayor powers granted by the Ford government two years ago, Groves has pursued an ambitious infrastructure agenda and a sweeping overhaul at Town Hall — including replacing former CAO Carey Herd with Nathan Hyde, all without Council’s approval.
Sheen was among the earliest critics on Council, filing a Freedom of Information request that revealed Hyde’s unusually lucrative contract with the Town.
He also challenged the Groves’ November appointment of Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian — made without Council’s input — blasting the procurement report prepared by Hyde and presented to Council as “flawed.”
So: Sheen has a history of speaking his mind at council meetings — a habit that’s landed him in the Integrity Commission’s crosshairs more than once.
At a meeting on local park strategy last year, Sheen made remarks a member of the Sikh community found culturally offensive — prompting a complaint to Boghosian. He issued an apology a few months later. “I have no problem admitting when I’ve made a mistake,” Sheen said. But with the new complaints from the Mayor and Hyde, he insists his intention was to comment on the impact of strong mayor powers — not to single out or attack anyone.
The ruling: In his investigation, Boghosian concluded that Sheen’s blunt words at the May meeting “went beyond the protection” of free political speech, breaching multiple sections of the code of conduct.
He’s not the only one: Councillor Lynn Kiernan faced her own reprimand from the Integrity Commission last April.
At a Planning and Development meeting, councillors and community members pushed back on Mayor Groves’ bid to fast-track 12 new zoning by-laws to advance her housing agenda.
Kiernan took issue with the “fact sheets” scattered across Council Chambers, remarking they reminded her of “German propaganda during World War II.”
That remark prompted a resident’s complaint and an investigation by Boghosian, who found Kiernan in violation of the Code of Conduct’s requirement that members “conduct themselves with decorum.” (Kiernan could not be reached for comment before deadline.)
What’s next: Groves’ successful complaint against Sheen on those same grounds will likely see him docked a month’s pay and forced to apologize, pending the passage of two resolutions at Tuesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, Swan Lake’s fate is still up in the air.
Keirstyn Parfitt, the Town’s loudest voice against the construction fill plans, says she’ll delegate at Tuesday’s meeting on Sheen’s behalf, arguing he shouldn’t be penalized for calling out Groves’ actions.
“We need to stand up and speak out for councillors who stand up for residents,” she said. “[Councillor Sheen] has been doing that for as long as I’ve watched this Council.”
Mayor Groves did not respond to a request for comment.
Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Caledon's Town Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Reviewing reports on a Notice of Motion to Designate 12711 McLaughlin Road; Renewing a Development Charges By-Law on Simpson Road; an Italy Trade Delegation and Sister City Report for Isola del Liri; and a Rehabilitation for Old King Road.
— A motion from Doug Maskell to prepare a report on the implications of the termination of the ASE Program, and a motion from Nick de Boer requesting an Erosion Risk Management Program and Remediation Efforts for 5 Carroll Court.
— Two integrity reports concerning Dave Sheen and amendments to the Residential Rental License By-Law.
— A trove of by-laws, including:
Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. — A council meeting in Mississauga. On the agenda:
— Parrish will present Heather Stockley with a key to the city in honour of Lloyd Stockley, for his contributions to the City of Mississauga Minor Hockey.
— A delegation from Jason Hanna, C.O.O. of the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, about community initiatives and safety concerns.
— A request for a special occasion permit for the Small Arms Inspection building for an event supporting the Compass Food Bank.
— Reviewing correspondence from Parrish regarding the AMO Conference.
— A motion from Brad Butt about funding for Christmas in the Village, Stephen Dasko on promoting plant-based food locally and Alvin Tedjo on Clarkson Village development.
— Motions to express condolences to the families of former city employees: Michael Oliver, Manager of Civic Precinct, and Elizabeth-Hewner McGee, Manager of Financial Strategies.
— By-laws to adopt a Mississauga Official Plan Amendment and associated Zoning By-law.
— An amendment to the Traffic and Private Tree Protection By-laws.
Thursday at 9:30 a.m. — Peel Regional Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Steve Jacques will present two Institute of Public Administration Canada (IPAC) awards.
— Ralph Beaumont will discuss the “Railways of Peel” exhibit at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.
— Jackie Franklin and Gerry Kupferschmidt from Sheridan Villa will discuss emotion-based care at Adult Day Services.
— Azhar Karim will discuss the TransHelp Service Review Study report.
— By-Laws to create a new multi-residential property subclass, and new application and borrowing features for the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC).
Patrick Brown — On Friday, he spoke at Brampton's Food and Beverage Processing Summit, alongside Labour Minister David Piccini and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. Later that night, he dropped the puck at a Steelheads game. He helped launch Brampton’s Culture Days Festival and then joined local Navratri celebrations.
— On Saturday, Brown joined the Canada Africa Economic and Culture Show with Rod Power and Paul Vicente.
— He handed out volunteer awards at the Nelson West Resident Association street party with Rowena Santos.
— He joined the Peel Region First Responder Appreciation BBQ.
— He cut the ribbon at the opening of the Big M Stone and Tiles Store, alongside Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh and Gurpartap Singh Toor.
Carolyn Parrish — On Saturday, she got a personal shout-out from new Mississauga Legends Row inductee Nav Bhatia.
Annette Groves — In an interview with CBC Toronto, Caledon's mayor said the accusations of her favoritism in dealing with Swan Lake’s land plan are “disheartening.”
— More Metrolinx drama: The Taste of Cooksville took place this weekend, albeit scaled back due to Metrolinx’s ongoing construction. The Cooksville Business Improvement Area is billing them for recompensation.
According to the group: As a result of ongoing construction, the BIA “has lost vendor spots and had to reroute emergency lanes to ensure [the festival] can execute flawlessly.”
Said Dipika Damerla: “I remain deeply concerned that Metrolinx's delays have forced the loss of various vendor spots — despite repeated assurances that LRT construction in the area would be completed in advance of the festival. I sincerely hope Metrolinx will take responsibility and reimburse the festival for this loss — which impacts not only the event but also the small businesses counting on it.”
— Earlier this month, Brampton cleared nearly $800,000 in “uncollectable” provincial fines tied to two defunct companies and one deceased debtor.
— The city’s by-law department has ramped up parking fines and towings over the past year.
— At Sheridan College, college support workers continue to picket in response to provincial funding cuts.
— A local advocacy group rallied against Bill 33 — which would bring police into schools — at 10 Peel Centre Drive. “Any form of policing in schools causes harm. It doesn’t actually create safety,” one advocate argued.
— The Credit Valley Conservation group is making moves to buy Caledon’s Swan Lake and preserve the environmental land at the centre of town controversy.
— Town advocates hosted a solidarity gathering on Friday. David Sheen, Lynn Kiernan and Christina Early were there.
— “A large crowd of close to 2,000 people marched through downtown Toronto Saturday afternoon as part of Canada-wide protests calling on the new Liberal government to prioritize the climate, Indigenous rights, migrants and workers ahead of the fall budget.”
— Bad news for Olivia Chow? More than half of Torontonians want a change in the city’s leadership, according to a new poll.
— Expect a more multicultural soundtrack when you dial Mississauga’s 311 service.
— Canada has recognized the State of Palestine.
“In a statement, Carney said [the possibility of a two-state solution] has ’steadily and gravely eroded.’ ‘The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established. It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law,’ Carney said Sunday in a statement.” More from POLITICO.
Parrish says: “... Returns to the position held by Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a two-state solution by recognizing Palestine,” she posted to X. “Resources, diplomatic assistance, peacekeeping action on the ground — all Canada’s strengths.”
Save the date: Alvin Tedjo is co-hosting a fundraising gala for Gaza on Monday, September 29. “The evening will feature reflections and words of encouragement… alongside a warm community gathering dedicated to hope and resilience,” according to ISNA Canada. RSVP.
— The Pointer has more on how Algoma University’s new Brampton campus is in financial jeopardy, reeling from a loss of “cash cow” international students from India.
— Martin Regg Cohn hosted a talk at Toronto Metropolitan University with AI Minister Evan Solomon. “There’s a technological revolution, and you’re very much part of it,” said Solomon. More from Regg Cohn.
— The Star asked locals to grade living in Toronto — it scored high on culture and community, less so on the cost of living and safety.
Got a sighting, a move or a promotion worth noting? Is your birthday coming up? Reach out.
— On Thursday, Mississauga won an Award of Excellence at the Ontario Professional Planners’ Institute Awards.
— Nav Bhatia, Frank Giannone, Annie Parker and Susanne Hou were inducted into Mississauga's Legends Row at a City Hall ceremony on Saturday.
Thank you for reading The Peel Report. Have a story idea? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox on Friday.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Ahmad Elbayoumi. Have feedback? Send us an email.
Call it The Sheen Test.
At a council meeting on Tuesday in Caledon, Councillor Dave Sheen will face the fallout of two Integrity Commission rulings, triggered by Mayor Annette Groves and CAO Nathan Hyde. Complaint I. Complaint II.
They come from remarks Sheen made during a May meeting, which investigations later deemed to be “impugning [to] the professional reputation and credibility” of Groves and two senior bureaucrats, Chief Planning Officer Eric Lucic and Director of Engineering Solmaz Zia, in breach of the town's code of conduct.
As a penalty, Sheen could lose a month’s pay and be required to apologize to both parties for his remarks.
“I know in my heart I wasn’t aiming my criticism at staff,” Sheen told The Report. He repeated the same argument throughout a summer-long back-and-forth with Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian, but came up short.
It’s not Sheen’s first time being called out for a lapse in “decorum” at a town meeting. But it lines up with a two-year trend of Integrity Commission reports targeting councillors who’ve publicly challenged the scope of Groves’ strong mayor powers.
What happened: In one of the earliest chapters of Caledon’s ongoing Swan Lake saga, Sheen spoke out against the Groves’ move to approve a contentious by-law alteration that would allow construction dumping into the 44-acre Greenbelt-protected lake.
More than six hours into a heated meeting, Sheen let it rip, arguing that “in a strong mayor environment [...] there is an enormous pressure on staff to give the mayor what she wants.”
When Groves ruled Sheen out of order, he refused to retract his remarks, insisting that staff “[couldn’t] ignore” they were working under a strong mayor system. “That is a factor at play here,” he said.
For context: Armed with the strong-mayor powers granted by the Ford government two years ago, Groves has pursued an ambitious infrastructure agenda and a sweeping overhaul at Town Hall — including replacing former CAO Carey Herd with Nathan Hyde, all without Council’s approval.
Sheen was among the earliest critics on Council, filing a Freedom of Information request that revealed Hyde’s unusually lucrative contract with the Town.
He also challenged the Groves’ November appointment of Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian — made without Council’s input — blasting the procurement report prepared by Hyde and presented to Council as “flawed.”
So: Sheen has a history of speaking his mind at council meetings — a habit that’s landed him in the Integrity Commission’s crosshairs more than once.
At a meeting on local park strategy last year, Sheen made remarks a member of the Sikh community found culturally offensive — prompting a complaint to Boghosian. He issued an apology a few months later. “I have no problem admitting when I’ve made a mistake,” Sheen said. But with the new complaints from the Mayor and Hyde, he insists his intention was to comment on the impact of strong mayor powers — not to single out or attack anyone.
The ruling: In his investigation, Boghosian concluded that Sheen’s blunt words at the May meeting “went beyond the protection” of free political speech, breaching multiple sections of the code of conduct.
He’s not the only one: Councillor Lynn Kiernan faced her own reprimand from the Integrity Commission last April.
At a Planning and Development meeting, councillors and community members pushed back on Mayor Groves’ bid to fast-track 12 new zoning by-laws to advance her housing agenda.
Kiernan took issue with the “fact sheets” scattered across Council Chambers, remarking they reminded her of “German propaganda during World War II.”
That remark prompted a resident’s complaint and an investigation by Boghosian, who found Kiernan in violation of the Code of Conduct’s requirement that members “conduct themselves with decorum.” (Kiernan could not be reached for comment before deadline.)
What’s next: Groves’ successful complaint against Sheen on those same grounds will likely see him docked a month’s pay and forced to apologize, pending the passage of two resolutions at Tuesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, Swan Lake’s fate is still up in the air.
Keirstyn Parfitt, the Town’s loudest voice against the construction fill plans, says she’ll delegate at Tuesday’s meeting on Sheen’s behalf, arguing he shouldn’t be penalized for calling out Groves’ actions.
“We need to stand up and speak out for councillors who stand up for residents,” she said. “[Councillor Sheen] has been doing that for as long as I’ve watched this Council.”
Mayor Groves did not respond to a request for comment.
Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Caledon's Town Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Reviewing reports on a Notice of Motion to Designate 12711 McLaughlin Road; Renewing a Development Charges By-Law on Simpson Road; an Italy Trade Delegation and Sister City Report for Isola del Liri; and a Rehabilitation for Old King Road.
— A motion from Doug Maskell to prepare a report on the implications of the termination of the ASE Program, and a motion from Nick de Boer requesting an Erosion Risk Management Program and Remediation Efforts for 5 Carroll Court.
— Two integrity reports concerning Dave Sheen and amendments to the Residential Rental License By-Law.
— A trove of by-laws, including:
Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. — A council meeting in Mississauga. On the agenda:
— Parrish will present Heather Stockley with a key to the city in honour of Lloyd Stockley, for his contributions to the City of Mississauga Minor Hockey.
— A delegation from Jason Hanna, C.O.O. of the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, about community initiatives and safety concerns.
— A request for a special occasion permit for the Small Arms Inspection building for an event supporting the Compass Food Bank.
— Reviewing correspondence from Parrish regarding the AMO Conference.
— A motion from Brad Butt about funding for Christmas in the Village, Stephen Dasko on promoting plant-based food locally and Alvin Tedjo on Clarkson Village development.
— Motions to express condolences to the families of former city employees: Michael Oliver, Manager of Civic Precinct, and Elizabeth-Hewner McGee, Manager of Financial Strategies.
— By-laws to adopt a Mississauga Official Plan Amendment and associated Zoning By-law.
— An amendment to the Traffic and Private Tree Protection By-laws.
Thursday at 9:30 a.m. — Peel Regional Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Steve Jacques will present two Institute of Public Administration Canada (IPAC) awards.
— Ralph Beaumont will discuss the “Railways of Peel” exhibit at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.
— Jackie Franklin and Gerry Kupferschmidt from Sheridan Villa will discuss emotion-based care at Adult Day Services.
— Azhar Karim will discuss the TransHelp Service Review Study report.
— By-Laws to create a new multi-residential property subclass, and new application and borrowing features for the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC).
Patrick Brown — On Friday, he spoke at Brampton's Food and Beverage Processing Summit, alongside Labour Minister David Piccini and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. Later that night, he dropped the puck at a Steelheads game. He helped launch Brampton’s Culture Days Festival and then joined local Navratri celebrations.
— On Saturday, Brown joined the Canada Africa Economic and Culture Show with Rod Power and Paul Vicente.
— He handed out volunteer awards at the Nelson West Resident Association street party with Rowena Santos.
— He joined the Peel Region First Responder Appreciation BBQ.
— He cut the ribbon at the opening of the Big M Stone and Tiles Store, alongside Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh and Gurpartap Singh Toor.
Carolyn Parrish — On Saturday, she got a personal shout-out from new Mississauga Legends Row inductee Nav Bhatia.
Annette Groves — In an interview with CBC Toronto, Caledon's mayor said the accusations of her favoritism in dealing with Swan Lake’s land plan are “disheartening.”
— More Metrolinx drama: The Taste of Cooksville took place this weekend, albeit scaled back due to Metrolinx’s ongoing construction. The Cooksville Business Improvement Area is billing them for recompensation.
According to the group: As a result of ongoing construction, the BIA “has lost vendor spots and had to reroute emergency lanes to ensure [the festival] can execute flawlessly.”
Said Dipika Damerla: “I remain deeply concerned that Metrolinx's delays have forced the loss of various vendor spots — despite repeated assurances that LRT construction in the area would be completed in advance of the festival. I sincerely hope Metrolinx will take responsibility and reimburse the festival for this loss — which impacts not only the event but also the small businesses counting on it.”
— Earlier this month, Brampton cleared nearly $800,000 in “uncollectable” provincial fines tied to two defunct companies and one deceased debtor.
— The city’s by-law department has ramped up parking fines and towings over the past year.
— At Sheridan College, college support workers continue to picket in response to provincial funding cuts.
— A local advocacy group rallied against Bill 33 — which would bring police into schools — at 10 Peel Centre Drive. “Any form of policing in schools causes harm. It doesn’t actually create safety,” one advocate argued.
— The Credit Valley Conservation group is making moves to buy Caledon’s Swan Lake and preserve the environmental land at the centre of town controversy.
— Town advocates hosted a solidarity gathering on Friday. David Sheen, Lynn Kiernan and Christina Early were there.
— “A large crowd of close to 2,000 people marched through downtown Toronto Saturday afternoon as part of Canada-wide protests calling on the new Liberal government to prioritize the climate, Indigenous rights, migrants and workers ahead of the fall budget.”
— Bad news for Olivia Chow? More than half of Torontonians want a change in the city’s leadership, according to a new poll.
— Expect a more multicultural soundtrack when you dial Mississauga’s 311 service.
— Canada has recognized the State of Palestine.
“In a statement, Carney said [the possibility of a two-state solution] has ’steadily and gravely eroded.’ ‘The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established. It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law,’ Carney said Sunday in a statement.” More from POLITICO.
Parrish says: “... Returns to the position held by Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a two-state solution by recognizing Palestine,” she posted to X. “Resources, diplomatic assistance, peacekeeping action on the ground — all Canada’s strengths.”
Save the date: Alvin Tedjo is co-hosting a fundraising gala for Gaza on Monday, September 29. “The evening will feature reflections and words of encouragement… alongside a warm community gathering dedicated to hope and resilience,” according to ISNA Canada. RSVP.
— The Pointer has more on how Algoma University’s new Brampton campus is in financial jeopardy, reeling from a loss of “cash cow” international students from India.
— Martin Regg Cohn hosted a talk at Toronto Metropolitan University with AI Minister Evan Solomon. “There’s a technological revolution, and you’re very much part of it,” said Solomon. More from Regg Cohn.
— The Star asked locals to grade living in Toronto — it scored high on culture and community, less so on the cost of living and safety.
Got a sighting, a move or a promotion worth noting? Is your birthday coming up? Reach out.
— On Thursday, Mississauga won an Award of Excellence at the Ontario Professional Planners’ Institute Awards.
— Nav Bhatia, Frank Giannone, Annie Parker and Susanne Hou were inducted into Mississauga's Legends Row at a City Hall ceremony on Saturday.
Thank you for reading The Peel Report. Have a story idea? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox on Friday.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Ahmad Elbayoumi. Have feedback? Send us an email.
Call it The Sheen Test.
At a council meeting on Tuesday in Caledon, Councillor Dave Sheen will face the fallout of two Integrity Commission rulings, triggered by Mayor Annette Groves and CAO Nathan Hyde. Complaint I. Complaint II.
They come from remarks Sheen made during a May meeting, which investigations later deemed to be “impugning [to] the professional reputation and credibility” of Groves and two senior bureaucrats, Chief Planning Officer Eric Lucic and Director of Engineering Solmaz Zia, in breach of the town's code of conduct.
As a penalty, Sheen could lose a month’s pay and be required to apologize to both parties for his remarks.
“I know in my heart I wasn’t aiming my criticism at staff,” Sheen told The Report. He repeated the same argument throughout a summer-long back-and-forth with Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian, but came up short.
It’s not Sheen’s first time being called out for a lapse in “decorum” at a town meeting. But it lines up with a two-year trend of Integrity Commission reports targeting councillors who’ve publicly challenged the scope of Groves’ strong mayor powers.
What happened: In one of the earliest chapters of Caledon’s ongoing Swan Lake saga, Sheen spoke out against the Groves’ move to approve a contentious by-law alteration that would allow construction dumping into the 44-acre Greenbelt-protected lake.
More than six hours into a heated meeting, Sheen let it rip, arguing that “in a strong mayor environment [...] there is an enormous pressure on staff to give the mayor what she wants.”
When Groves ruled Sheen out of order, he refused to retract his remarks, insisting that staff “[couldn’t] ignore” they were working under a strong mayor system. “That is a factor at play here,” he said.
For context: Armed with the strong-mayor powers granted by the Ford government two years ago, Groves has pursued an ambitious infrastructure agenda and a sweeping overhaul at Town Hall — including replacing former CAO Carey Herd with Nathan Hyde, all without Council’s approval.
Sheen was among the earliest critics on Council, filing a Freedom of Information request that revealed Hyde’s unusually lucrative contract with the Town.
He also challenged the Groves’ November appointment of Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian — made without Council’s input — blasting the procurement report prepared by Hyde and presented to Council as “flawed.”
So: Sheen has a history of speaking his mind at council meetings — a habit that’s landed him in the Integrity Commission’s crosshairs more than once.
At a meeting on local park strategy last year, Sheen made remarks a member of the Sikh community found culturally offensive — prompting a complaint to Boghosian. He issued an apology a few months later. “I have no problem admitting when I’ve made a mistake,” Sheen said. But with the new complaints from the Mayor and Hyde, he insists his intention was to comment on the impact of strong mayor powers — not to single out or attack anyone.
The ruling: In his investigation, Boghosian concluded that Sheen’s blunt words at the May meeting “went beyond the protection” of free political speech, breaching multiple sections of the code of conduct.
He’s not the only one: Councillor Lynn Kiernan faced her own reprimand from the Integrity Commission last April.
At a Planning and Development meeting, councillors and community members pushed back on Mayor Groves’ bid to fast-track 12 new zoning by-laws to advance her housing agenda.
Kiernan took issue with the “fact sheets” scattered across Council Chambers, remarking they reminded her of “German propaganda during World War II.”
That remark prompted a resident’s complaint and an investigation by Boghosian, who found Kiernan in violation of the Code of Conduct’s requirement that members “conduct themselves with decorum.” (Kiernan could not be reached for comment before deadline.)
What’s next: Groves’ successful complaint against Sheen on those same grounds will likely see him docked a month’s pay and forced to apologize, pending the passage of two resolutions at Tuesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, Swan Lake’s fate is still up in the air.
Keirstyn Parfitt, the Town’s loudest voice against the construction fill plans, says she’ll delegate at Tuesday’s meeting on Sheen’s behalf, arguing he shouldn’t be penalized for calling out Groves’ actions.
“We need to stand up and speak out for councillors who stand up for residents,” she said. “[Councillor Sheen] has been doing that for as long as I’ve watched this Council.”
Mayor Groves did not respond to a request for comment.
Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Caledon's Town Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Reviewing reports on a Notice of Motion to Designate 12711 McLaughlin Road; Renewing a Development Charges By-Law on Simpson Road; an Italy Trade Delegation and Sister City Report for Isola del Liri; and a Rehabilitation for Old King Road.
— A motion from Doug Maskell to prepare a report on the implications of the termination of the ASE Program, and a motion from Nick de Boer requesting an Erosion Risk Management Program and Remediation Efforts for 5 Carroll Court.
— Two integrity reports concerning Dave Sheen and amendments to the Residential Rental License By-Law.
— A trove of by-laws, including:
Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. — A council meeting in Mississauga. On the agenda:
— Parrish will present Heather Stockley with a key to the city in honour of Lloyd Stockley, for his contributions to the City of Mississauga Minor Hockey.
— A delegation from Jason Hanna, C.O.O. of the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, about community initiatives and safety concerns.
— A request for a special occasion permit for the Small Arms Inspection building for an event supporting the Compass Food Bank.
— Reviewing correspondence from Parrish regarding the AMO Conference.
— A motion from Brad Butt about funding for Christmas in the Village, Stephen Dasko on promoting plant-based food locally and Alvin Tedjo on Clarkson Village development.
— Motions to express condolences to the families of former city employees: Michael Oliver, Manager of Civic Precinct, and Elizabeth-Hewner McGee, Manager of Financial Strategies.
— By-laws to adopt a Mississauga Official Plan Amendment and associated Zoning By-law.
— An amendment to the Traffic and Private Tree Protection By-laws.
Thursday at 9:30 a.m. — Peel Regional Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Steve Jacques will present two Institute of Public Administration Canada (IPAC) awards.
— Ralph Beaumont will discuss the “Railways of Peel” exhibit at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.
— Jackie Franklin and Gerry Kupferschmidt from Sheridan Villa will discuss emotion-based care at Adult Day Services.
— Azhar Karim will discuss the TransHelp Service Review Study report.
— By-Laws to create a new multi-residential property subclass, and new application and borrowing features for the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC).
Patrick Brown — On Friday, he spoke at Brampton's Food and Beverage Processing Summit, alongside Labour Minister David Piccini and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. Later that night, he dropped the puck at a Steelheads game. He helped launch Brampton’s Culture Days Festival and then joined local Navratri celebrations.
— On Saturday, Brown joined the Canada Africa Economic and Culture Show with Rod Power and Paul Vicente.
— He handed out volunteer awards at the Nelson West Resident Association street party with Rowena Santos.
— He joined the Peel Region First Responder Appreciation BBQ.
— He cut the ribbon at the opening of the Big M Stone and Tiles Store, alongside Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh and Gurpartap Singh Toor.
Carolyn Parrish — On Saturday, she got a personal shout-out from new Mississauga Legends Row inductee Nav Bhatia.
Annette Groves — In an interview with CBC Toronto, Caledon's mayor said the accusations of her favoritism in dealing with Swan Lake’s land plan are “disheartening.”
— More Metrolinx drama: The Taste of Cooksville took place this weekend, albeit scaled back due to Metrolinx’s ongoing construction. The Cooksville Business Improvement Area is billing them for recompensation.
According to the group: As a result of ongoing construction, the BIA “has lost vendor spots and had to reroute emergency lanes to ensure [the festival] can execute flawlessly.”
Said Dipika Damerla: “I remain deeply concerned that Metrolinx's delays have forced the loss of various vendor spots — despite repeated assurances that LRT construction in the area would be completed in advance of the festival. I sincerely hope Metrolinx will take responsibility and reimburse the festival for this loss — which impacts not only the event but also the small businesses counting on it.”
— Earlier this month, Brampton cleared nearly $800,000 in “uncollectable” provincial fines tied to two defunct companies and one deceased debtor.
— The city’s by-law department has ramped up parking fines and towings over the past year.
— At Sheridan College, college support workers continue to picket in response to provincial funding cuts.
— A local advocacy group rallied against Bill 33 — which would bring police into schools — at 10 Peel Centre Drive. “Any form of policing in schools causes harm. It doesn’t actually create safety,” one advocate argued.
— The Credit Valley Conservation group is making moves to buy Caledon’s Swan Lake and preserve the environmental land at the centre of town controversy.
— Town advocates hosted a solidarity gathering on Friday. David Sheen, Lynn Kiernan and Christina Early were there.
— “A large crowd of close to 2,000 people marched through downtown Toronto Saturday afternoon as part of Canada-wide protests calling on the new Liberal government to prioritize the climate, Indigenous rights, migrants and workers ahead of the fall budget.”
— Bad news for Olivia Chow? More than half of Torontonians want a change in the city’s leadership, according to a new poll.
— Expect a more multicultural soundtrack when you dial Mississauga’s 311 service.
— Canada has recognized the State of Palestine.
“In a statement, Carney said [the possibility of a two-state solution] has ’steadily and gravely eroded.’ ‘The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established. It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law,’ Carney said Sunday in a statement.” More from POLITICO.
Parrish says: “... Returns to the position held by Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a two-state solution by recognizing Palestine,” she posted to X. “Resources, diplomatic assistance, peacekeeping action on the ground — all Canada’s strengths.”
Save the date: Alvin Tedjo is co-hosting a fundraising gala for Gaza on Monday, September 29. “The evening will feature reflections and words of encouragement… alongside a warm community gathering dedicated to hope and resilience,” according to ISNA Canada. RSVP.
— The Pointer has more on how Algoma University’s new Brampton campus is in financial jeopardy, reeling from a loss of “cash cow” international students from India.
— Martin Regg Cohn hosted a talk at Toronto Metropolitan University with AI Minister Evan Solomon. “There’s a technological revolution, and you’re very much part of it,” said Solomon. More from Regg Cohn.
— The Star asked locals to grade living in Toronto — it scored high on culture and community, less so on the cost of living and safety.
Got a sighting, a move or a promotion worth noting? Is your birthday coming up? Reach out.
— On Thursday, Mississauga won an Award of Excellence at the Ontario Professional Planners’ Institute Awards.
— Nav Bhatia, Frank Giannone, Annie Parker and Susanne Hou were inducted into Mississauga's Legends Row at a City Hall ceremony on Saturday.
Thank you for reading The Peel Report. Have a story idea? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox on Friday.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Ahmad Elbayoumi. Have feedback? Send us an email.
Call it The Sheen Test.
At a council meeting on Tuesday in Caledon, Councillor Dave Sheen will face the fallout of two Integrity Commission rulings, triggered by Mayor Annette Groves and CAO Nathan Hyde. Complaint I. Complaint II.
They come from remarks Sheen made during a May meeting, which investigations later deemed to be “impugning [to] the professional reputation and credibility” of Groves and two senior bureaucrats, Chief Planning Officer Eric Lucic and Director of Engineering Solmaz Zia, in breach of the town's code of conduct.
As a penalty, Sheen could lose a month’s pay and be required to apologize to both parties for his remarks.
“I know in my heart I wasn’t aiming my criticism at staff,” Sheen told The Report. He repeated the same argument throughout a summer-long back-and-forth with Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian, but came up short.
It’s not Sheen’s first time being called out for a lapse in “decorum” at a town meeting. But it lines up with a two-year trend of Integrity Commission reports targeting councillors who’ve publicly challenged the scope of Groves’ strong mayor powers.
What happened: In one of the earliest chapters of Caledon’s ongoing Swan Lake saga, Sheen spoke out against the Groves’ move to approve a contentious by-law alteration that would allow construction dumping into the 44-acre Greenbelt-protected lake.
More than six hours into a heated meeting, Sheen let it rip, arguing that “in a strong mayor environment [...] there is an enormous pressure on staff to give the mayor what she wants.”
When Groves ruled Sheen out of order, he refused to retract his remarks, insisting that staff “[couldn’t] ignore” they were working under a strong mayor system. “That is a factor at play here,” he said.
For context: Armed with the strong-mayor powers granted by the Ford government two years ago, Groves has pursued an ambitious infrastructure agenda and a sweeping overhaul at Town Hall — including replacing former CAO Carey Herd with Nathan Hyde, all without Council’s approval.
Sheen was among the earliest critics on Council, filing a Freedom of Information request that revealed Hyde’s unusually lucrative contract with the Town.
He also challenged the Groves’ November appointment of Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian — made without Council’s input — blasting the procurement report prepared by Hyde and presented to Council as “flawed.”
So: Sheen has a history of speaking his mind at council meetings — a habit that’s landed him in the Integrity Commission’s crosshairs more than once.
At a meeting on local park strategy last year, Sheen made remarks a member of the Sikh community found culturally offensive — prompting a complaint to Boghosian. He issued an apology a few months later. “I have no problem admitting when I’ve made a mistake,” Sheen said. But with the new complaints from the Mayor and Hyde, he insists his intention was to comment on the impact of strong mayor powers — not to single out or attack anyone.
The ruling: In his investigation, Boghosian concluded that Sheen’s blunt words at the May meeting “went beyond the protection” of free political speech, breaching multiple sections of the code of conduct.
He’s not the only one: Councillor Lynn Kiernan faced her own reprimand from the Integrity Commission last April.
At a Planning and Development meeting, councillors and community members pushed back on Mayor Groves’ bid to fast-track 12 new zoning by-laws to advance her housing agenda.
Kiernan took issue with the “fact sheets” scattered across Council Chambers, remarking they reminded her of “German propaganda during World War II.”
That remark prompted a resident’s complaint and an investigation by Boghosian, who found Kiernan in violation of the Code of Conduct’s requirement that members “conduct themselves with decorum.” (Kiernan could not be reached for comment before deadline.)
What’s next: Groves’ successful complaint against Sheen on those same grounds will likely see him docked a month’s pay and forced to apologize, pending the passage of two resolutions at Tuesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, Swan Lake’s fate is still up in the air.
Keirstyn Parfitt, the Town’s loudest voice against the construction fill plans, says she’ll delegate at Tuesday’s meeting on Sheen’s behalf, arguing he shouldn’t be penalized for calling out Groves’ actions.
“We need to stand up and speak out for councillors who stand up for residents,” she said. “[Councillor Sheen] has been doing that for as long as I’ve watched this Council.”
Mayor Groves did not respond to a request for comment.
Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Caledon's Town Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Reviewing reports on a Notice of Motion to Designate 12711 McLaughlin Road; Renewing a Development Charges By-Law on Simpson Road; an Italy Trade Delegation and Sister City Report for Isola del Liri; and a Rehabilitation for Old King Road.
— A motion from Doug Maskell to prepare a report on the implications of the termination of the ASE Program, and a motion from Nick de Boer requesting an Erosion Risk Management Program and Remediation Efforts for 5 Carroll Court.
— Two integrity reports concerning Dave Sheen and amendments to the Residential Rental License By-Law.
— A trove of by-laws, including:
Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. — A council meeting in Mississauga. On the agenda:
— Parrish will present Heather Stockley with a key to the city in honour of Lloyd Stockley, for his contributions to the City of Mississauga Minor Hockey.
— A delegation from Jason Hanna, C.O.O. of the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, about community initiatives and safety concerns.
— A request for a special occasion permit for the Small Arms Inspection building for an event supporting the Compass Food Bank.
— Reviewing correspondence from Parrish regarding the AMO Conference.
— A motion from Brad Butt about funding for Christmas in the Village, Stephen Dasko on promoting plant-based food locally and Alvin Tedjo on Clarkson Village development.
— Motions to express condolences to the families of former city employees: Michael Oliver, Manager of Civic Precinct, and Elizabeth-Hewner McGee, Manager of Financial Strategies.
— By-laws to adopt a Mississauga Official Plan Amendment and associated Zoning By-law.
— An amendment to the Traffic and Private Tree Protection By-laws.
Thursday at 9:30 a.m. — Peel Regional Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Steve Jacques will present two Institute of Public Administration Canada (IPAC) awards.
— Ralph Beaumont will discuss the “Railways of Peel” exhibit at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.
— Jackie Franklin and Gerry Kupferschmidt from Sheridan Villa will discuss emotion-based care at Adult Day Services.
— Azhar Karim will discuss the TransHelp Service Review Study report.
— By-Laws to create a new multi-residential property subclass, and new application and borrowing features for the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC).
Patrick Brown — On Friday, he spoke at Brampton's Food and Beverage Processing Summit, alongside Labour Minister David Piccini and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. Later that night, he dropped the puck at a Steelheads game. He helped launch Brampton’s Culture Days Festival and then joined local Navratri celebrations.
— On Saturday, Brown joined the Canada Africa Economic and Culture Show with Rod Power and Paul Vicente.
— He handed out volunteer awards at the Nelson West Resident Association street party with Rowena Santos.
— He joined the Peel Region First Responder Appreciation BBQ.
— He cut the ribbon at the opening of the Big M Stone and Tiles Store, alongside Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh and Gurpartap Singh Toor.
Carolyn Parrish — On Saturday, she got a personal shout-out from new Mississauga Legends Row inductee Nav Bhatia.
Annette Groves — In an interview with CBC Toronto, Caledon's mayor said the accusations of her favoritism in dealing with Swan Lake’s land plan are “disheartening.”
— More Metrolinx drama: The Taste of Cooksville took place this weekend, albeit scaled back due to Metrolinx’s ongoing construction. The Cooksville Business Improvement Area is billing them for recompensation.
According to the group: As a result of ongoing construction, the BIA “has lost vendor spots and had to reroute emergency lanes to ensure [the festival] can execute flawlessly.”
Said Dipika Damerla: “I remain deeply concerned that Metrolinx's delays have forced the loss of various vendor spots — despite repeated assurances that LRT construction in the area would be completed in advance of the festival. I sincerely hope Metrolinx will take responsibility and reimburse the festival for this loss — which impacts not only the event but also the small businesses counting on it.”
— Earlier this month, Brampton cleared nearly $800,000 in “uncollectable” provincial fines tied to two defunct companies and one deceased debtor.
— The city’s by-law department has ramped up parking fines and towings over the past year.
— At Sheridan College, college support workers continue to picket in response to provincial funding cuts.
— A local advocacy group rallied against Bill 33 — which would bring police into schools — at 10 Peel Centre Drive. “Any form of policing in schools causes harm. It doesn’t actually create safety,” one advocate argued.
— The Credit Valley Conservation group is making moves to buy Caledon’s Swan Lake and preserve the environmental land at the centre of town controversy.
— Town advocates hosted a solidarity gathering on Friday. David Sheen, Lynn Kiernan and Christina Early were there.
— “A large crowd of close to 2,000 people marched through downtown Toronto Saturday afternoon as part of Canada-wide protests calling on the new Liberal government to prioritize the climate, Indigenous rights, migrants and workers ahead of the fall budget.”
— Bad news for Olivia Chow? More than half of Torontonians want a change in the city’s leadership, according to a new poll.
— Expect a more multicultural soundtrack when you dial Mississauga’s 311 service.
— Canada has recognized the State of Palestine.
“In a statement, Carney said [the possibility of a two-state solution] has ’steadily and gravely eroded.’ ‘The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established. It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law,’ Carney said Sunday in a statement.” More from POLITICO.
Parrish says: “... Returns to the position held by Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a two-state solution by recognizing Palestine,” she posted to X. “Resources, diplomatic assistance, peacekeeping action on the ground — all Canada’s strengths.”
Save the date: Alvin Tedjo is co-hosting a fundraising gala for Gaza on Monday, September 29. “The evening will feature reflections and words of encouragement… alongside a warm community gathering dedicated to hope and resilience,” according to ISNA Canada. RSVP.
— The Pointer has more on how Algoma University’s new Brampton campus is in financial jeopardy, reeling from a loss of “cash cow” international students from India.
— Martin Regg Cohn hosted a talk at Toronto Metropolitan University with AI Minister Evan Solomon. “There’s a technological revolution, and you’re very much part of it,” said Solomon. More from Regg Cohn.
— The Star asked locals to grade living in Toronto — it scored high on culture and community, less so on the cost of living and safety.
Got a sighting, a move or a promotion worth noting? Is your birthday coming up? Reach out.
— On Thursday, Mississauga won an Award of Excellence at the Ontario Professional Planners’ Institute Awards.
— Nav Bhatia, Frank Giannone, Annie Parker and Susanne Hou were inducted into Mississauga's Legends Row at a City Hall ceremony on Saturday.
Thank you for reading The Peel Report. Have a story idea? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox on Friday.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Ahmad Elbayoumi. Have feedback? Send us an email.
Call it The Sheen Test.
At a council meeting on Tuesday in Caledon, Councillor Dave Sheen will face the fallout of two Integrity Commission rulings, triggered by Mayor Annette Groves and CAO Nathan Hyde. Complaint I. Complaint II.
They come from remarks Sheen made during a May meeting, which investigations later deemed to be “impugning [to] the professional reputation and credibility” of Groves and two senior bureaucrats, Chief Planning Officer Eric Lucic and Director of Engineering Solmaz Zia, in breach of the town's code of conduct.
As a penalty, Sheen could lose a month’s pay and be required to apologize to both parties for his remarks.
“I know in my heart I wasn’t aiming my criticism at staff,” Sheen told The Report. He repeated the same argument throughout a summer-long back-and-forth with Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian, but came up short.
It’s not Sheen’s first time being called out for a lapse in “decorum” at a town meeting. But it lines up with a two-year trend of Integrity Commission reports targeting councillors who’ve publicly challenged the scope of Groves’ strong mayor powers.
What happened: In one of the earliest chapters of Caledon’s ongoing Swan Lake saga, Sheen spoke out against the Groves’ move to approve a contentious by-law alteration that would allow construction dumping into the 44-acre Greenbelt-protected lake.
More than six hours into a heated meeting, Sheen let it rip, arguing that “in a strong mayor environment [...] there is an enormous pressure on staff to give the mayor what she wants.”
When Groves ruled Sheen out of order, he refused to retract his remarks, insisting that staff “[couldn’t] ignore” they were working under a strong mayor system. “That is a factor at play here,” he said.
For context: Armed with the strong-mayor powers granted by the Ford government two years ago, Groves has pursued an ambitious infrastructure agenda and a sweeping overhaul at Town Hall — including replacing former CAO Carey Herd with Nathan Hyde, all without Council’s approval.
Sheen was among the earliest critics on Council, filing a Freedom of Information request that revealed Hyde’s unusually lucrative contract with the Town.
He also challenged the Groves’ November appointment of Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian — made without Council’s input — blasting the procurement report prepared by Hyde and presented to Council as “flawed.”
So: Sheen has a history of speaking his mind at council meetings — a habit that’s landed him in the Integrity Commission’s crosshairs more than once.
At a meeting on local park strategy last year, Sheen made remarks a member of the Sikh community found culturally offensive — prompting a complaint to Boghosian. He issued an apology a few months later. “I have no problem admitting when I’ve made a mistake,” Sheen said. But with the new complaints from the Mayor and Hyde, he insists his intention was to comment on the impact of strong mayor powers — not to single out or attack anyone.
The ruling: In his investigation, Boghosian concluded that Sheen’s blunt words at the May meeting “went beyond the protection” of free political speech, breaching multiple sections of the code of conduct.
He’s not the only one: Councillor Lynn Kiernan faced her own reprimand from the Integrity Commission last April.
At a Planning and Development meeting, councillors and community members pushed back on Mayor Groves’ bid to fast-track 12 new zoning by-laws to advance her housing agenda.
Kiernan took issue with the “fact sheets” scattered across Council Chambers, remarking they reminded her of “German propaganda during World War II.”
That remark prompted a resident’s complaint and an investigation by Boghosian, who found Kiernan in violation of the Code of Conduct’s requirement that members “conduct themselves with decorum.” (Kiernan could not be reached for comment before deadline.)
What’s next: Groves’ successful complaint against Sheen on those same grounds will likely see him docked a month’s pay and forced to apologize, pending the passage of two resolutions at Tuesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, Swan Lake’s fate is still up in the air.
Keirstyn Parfitt, the Town’s loudest voice against the construction fill plans, says she’ll delegate at Tuesday’s meeting on Sheen’s behalf, arguing he shouldn’t be penalized for calling out Groves’ actions.
“We need to stand up and speak out for councillors who stand up for residents,” she said. “[Councillor Sheen] has been doing that for as long as I’ve watched this Council.”
Mayor Groves did not respond to a request for comment.
Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Caledon's Town Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Reviewing reports on a Notice of Motion to Designate 12711 McLaughlin Road; Renewing a Development Charges By-Law on Simpson Road; an Italy Trade Delegation and Sister City Report for Isola del Liri; and a Rehabilitation for Old King Road.
— A motion from Doug Maskell to prepare a report on the implications of the termination of the ASE Program, and a motion from Nick de Boer requesting an Erosion Risk Management Program and Remediation Efforts for 5 Carroll Court.
— Two integrity reports concerning Dave Sheen and amendments to the Residential Rental License By-Law.
— A trove of by-laws, including:
Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. — A council meeting in Mississauga. On the agenda:
— Parrish will present Heather Stockley with a key to the city in honour of Lloyd Stockley, for his contributions to the City of Mississauga Minor Hockey.
— A delegation from Jason Hanna, C.O.O. of the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, about community initiatives and safety concerns.
— A request for a special occasion permit for the Small Arms Inspection building for an event supporting the Compass Food Bank.
— Reviewing correspondence from Parrish regarding the AMO Conference.
— A motion from Brad Butt about funding for Christmas in the Village, Stephen Dasko on promoting plant-based food locally and Alvin Tedjo on Clarkson Village development.
— Motions to express condolences to the families of former city employees: Michael Oliver, Manager of Civic Precinct, and Elizabeth-Hewner McGee, Manager of Financial Strategies.
— By-laws to adopt a Mississauga Official Plan Amendment and associated Zoning By-law.
— An amendment to the Traffic and Private Tree Protection By-laws.
Thursday at 9:30 a.m. — Peel Regional Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Steve Jacques will present two Institute of Public Administration Canada (IPAC) awards.
— Ralph Beaumont will discuss the “Railways of Peel” exhibit at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.
— Jackie Franklin and Gerry Kupferschmidt from Sheridan Villa will discuss emotion-based care at Adult Day Services.
— Azhar Karim will discuss the TransHelp Service Review Study report.
— By-Laws to create a new multi-residential property subclass, and new application and borrowing features for the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC).
Patrick Brown — On Friday, he spoke at Brampton's Food and Beverage Processing Summit, alongside Labour Minister David Piccini and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. Later that night, he dropped the puck at a Steelheads game. He helped launch Brampton’s Culture Days Festival and then joined local Navratri celebrations.
— On Saturday, Brown joined the Canada Africa Economic and Culture Show with Rod Power and Paul Vicente.
— He handed out volunteer awards at the Nelson West Resident Association street party with Rowena Santos.
— He joined the Peel Region First Responder Appreciation BBQ.
— He cut the ribbon at the opening of the Big M Stone and Tiles Store, alongside Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh and Gurpartap Singh Toor.
Carolyn Parrish — On Saturday, she got a personal shout-out from new Mississauga Legends Row inductee Nav Bhatia.
Annette Groves — In an interview with CBC Toronto, Caledon's mayor said the accusations of her favoritism in dealing with Swan Lake’s land plan are “disheartening.”
— More Metrolinx drama: The Taste of Cooksville took place this weekend, albeit scaled back due to Metrolinx’s ongoing construction. The Cooksville Business Improvement Area is billing them for recompensation.
According to the group: As a result of ongoing construction, the BIA “has lost vendor spots and had to reroute emergency lanes to ensure [the festival] can execute flawlessly.”
Said Dipika Damerla: “I remain deeply concerned that Metrolinx's delays have forced the loss of various vendor spots — despite repeated assurances that LRT construction in the area would be completed in advance of the festival. I sincerely hope Metrolinx will take responsibility and reimburse the festival for this loss — which impacts not only the event but also the small businesses counting on it.”
— Earlier this month, Brampton cleared nearly $800,000 in “uncollectable” provincial fines tied to two defunct companies and one deceased debtor.
— The city’s by-law department has ramped up parking fines and towings over the past year.
— At Sheridan College, college support workers continue to picket in response to provincial funding cuts.
— A local advocacy group rallied against Bill 33 — which would bring police into schools — at 10 Peel Centre Drive. “Any form of policing in schools causes harm. It doesn’t actually create safety,” one advocate argued.
— The Credit Valley Conservation group is making moves to buy Caledon’s Swan Lake and preserve the environmental land at the centre of town controversy.
— Town advocates hosted a solidarity gathering on Friday. David Sheen, Lynn Kiernan and Christina Early were there.
— “A large crowd of close to 2,000 people marched through downtown Toronto Saturday afternoon as part of Canada-wide protests calling on the new Liberal government to prioritize the climate, Indigenous rights, migrants and workers ahead of the fall budget.”
— Bad news for Olivia Chow? More than half of Torontonians want a change in the city’s leadership, according to a new poll.
— Expect a more multicultural soundtrack when you dial Mississauga’s 311 service.
— Canada has recognized the State of Palestine.
“In a statement, Carney said [the possibility of a two-state solution] has ’steadily and gravely eroded.’ ‘The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established. It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law,’ Carney said Sunday in a statement.” More from POLITICO.
Parrish says: “... Returns to the position held by Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a two-state solution by recognizing Palestine,” she posted to X. “Resources, diplomatic assistance, peacekeeping action on the ground — all Canada’s strengths.”
Save the date: Alvin Tedjo is co-hosting a fundraising gala for Gaza on Monday, September 29. “The evening will feature reflections and words of encouragement… alongside a warm community gathering dedicated to hope and resilience,” according to ISNA Canada. RSVP.
— The Pointer has more on how Algoma University’s new Brampton campus is in financial jeopardy, reeling from a loss of “cash cow” international students from India.
— Martin Regg Cohn hosted a talk at Toronto Metropolitan University with AI Minister Evan Solomon. “There’s a technological revolution, and you’re very much part of it,” said Solomon. More from Regg Cohn.
— The Star asked locals to grade living in Toronto — it scored high on culture and community, less so on the cost of living and safety.
Got a sighting, a move or a promotion worth noting? Is your birthday coming up? Reach out.
— On Thursday, Mississauga won an Award of Excellence at the Ontario Professional Planners’ Institute Awards.
— Nav Bhatia, Frank Giannone, Annie Parker and Susanne Hou were inducted into Mississauga's Legends Row at a City Hall ceremony on Saturday.
Thank you for reading The Peel Report. Have a story idea? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox on Friday.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Ahmad Elbayoumi. Have feedback? Send us an email.
Call it The Sheen Test.
At a council meeting on Tuesday in Caledon, Councillor Dave Sheen will face the fallout of two Integrity Commission rulings, triggered by Mayor Annette Groves and CAO Nathan Hyde. Complaint I. Complaint II.
They come from remarks Sheen made during a May meeting, which investigations later deemed to be “impugning [to] the professional reputation and credibility” of Groves and two senior bureaucrats, Chief Planning Officer Eric Lucic and Director of Engineering Solmaz Zia, in breach of the town's code of conduct.
As a penalty, Sheen could lose a month’s pay and be required to apologize to both parties for his remarks.
“I know in my heart I wasn’t aiming my criticism at staff,” Sheen told The Report. He repeated the same argument throughout a summer-long back-and-forth with Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian, but came up short.
It’s not Sheen’s first time being called out for a lapse in “decorum” at a town meeting. But it lines up with a two-year trend of Integrity Commission reports targeting councillors who’ve publicly challenged the scope of Groves’ strong mayor powers.
What happened: In one of the earliest chapters of Caledon’s ongoing Swan Lake saga, Sheen spoke out against the Groves’ move to approve a contentious by-law alteration that would allow construction dumping into the 44-acre Greenbelt-protected lake.
More than six hours into a heated meeting, Sheen let it rip, arguing that “in a strong mayor environment [...] there is an enormous pressure on staff to give the mayor what she wants.”
When Groves ruled Sheen out of order, he refused to retract his remarks, insisting that staff “[couldn’t] ignore” they were working under a strong mayor system. “That is a factor at play here,” he said.
For context: Armed with the strong-mayor powers granted by the Ford government two years ago, Groves has pursued an ambitious infrastructure agenda and a sweeping overhaul at Town Hall — including replacing former CAO Carey Herd with Nathan Hyde, all without Council’s approval.
Sheen was among the earliest critics on Council, filing a Freedom of Information request that revealed Hyde’s unusually lucrative contract with the Town.
He also challenged the Groves’ November appointment of Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian — made without Council’s input — blasting the procurement report prepared by Hyde and presented to Council as “flawed.”
So: Sheen has a history of speaking his mind at council meetings — a habit that’s landed him in the Integrity Commission’s crosshairs more than once.
At a meeting on local park strategy last year, Sheen made remarks a member of the Sikh community found culturally offensive — prompting a complaint to Boghosian. He issued an apology a few months later. “I have no problem admitting when I’ve made a mistake,” Sheen said. But with the new complaints from the Mayor and Hyde, he insists his intention was to comment on the impact of strong mayor powers — not to single out or attack anyone.
The ruling: In his investigation, Boghosian concluded that Sheen’s blunt words at the May meeting “went beyond the protection” of free political speech, breaching multiple sections of the code of conduct.
He’s not the only one: Councillor Lynn Kiernan faced her own reprimand from the Integrity Commission last April.
At a Planning and Development meeting, councillors and community members pushed back on Mayor Groves’ bid to fast-track 12 new zoning by-laws to advance her housing agenda.
Kiernan took issue with the “fact sheets” scattered across Council Chambers, remarking they reminded her of “German propaganda during World War II.”
That remark prompted a resident’s complaint and an investigation by Boghosian, who found Kiernan in violation of the Code of Conduct’s requirement that members “conduct themselves with decorum.” (Kiernan could not be reached for comment before deadline.)
What’s next: Groves’ successful complaint against Sheen on those same grounds will likely see him docked a month’s pay and forced to apologize, pending the passage of two resolutions at Tuesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, Swan Lake’s fate is still up in the air.
Keirstyn Parfitt, the Town’s loudest voice against the construction fill plans, says she’ll delegate at Tuesday’s meeting on Sheen’s behalf, arguing he shouldn’t be penalized for calling out Groves’ actions.
“We need to stand up and speak out for councillors who stand up for residents,” she said. “[Councillor Sheen] has been doing that for as long as I’ve watched this Council.”
Mayor Groves did not respond to a request for comment.
Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Caledon's Town Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Reviewing reports on a Notice of Motion to Designate 12711 McLaughlin Road; Renewing a Development Charges By-Law on Simpson Road; an Italy Trade Delegation and Sister City Report for Isola del Liri; and a Rehabilitation for Old King Road.
— A motion from Doug Maskell to prepare a report on the implications of the termination of the ASE Program, and a motion from Nick de Boer requesting an Erosion Risk Management Program and Remediation Efforts for 5 Carroll Court.
— Two integrity reports concerning Dave Sheen and amendments to the Residential Rental License By-Law.
— A trove of by-laws, including:
Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. — A council meeting in Mississauga. On the agenda:
— Parrish will present Heather Stockley with a key to the city in honour of Lloyd Stockley, for his contributions to the City of Mississauga Minor Hockey.
— A delegation from Jason Hanna, C.O.O. of the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, about community initiatives and safety concerns.
— A request for a special occasion permit for the Small Arms Inspection building for an event supporting the Compass Food Bank.
— Reviewing correspondence from Parrish regarding the AMO Conference.
— A motion from Brad Butt about funding for Christmas in the Village, Stephen Dasko on promoting plant-based food locally and Alvin Tedjo on Clarkson Village development.
— Motions to express condolences to the families of former city employees: Michael Oliver, Manager of Civic Precinct, and Elizabeth-Hewner McGee, Manager of Financial Strategies.
— By-laws to adopt a Mississauga Official Plan Amendment and associated Zoning By-law.
— An amendment to the Traffic and Private Tree Protection By-laws.
Thursday at 9:30 a.m. — Peel Regional Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Steve Jacques will present two Institute of Public Administration Canada (IPAC) awards.
— Ralph Beaumont will discuss the “Railways of Peel” exhibit at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.
— Jackie Franklin and Gerry Kupferschmidt from Sheridan Villa will discuss emotion-based care at Adult Day Services.
— Azhar Karim will discuss the TransHelp Service Review Study report.
— By-Laws to create a new multi-residential property subclass, and new application and borrowing features for the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC).
Patrick Brown — On Friday, he spoke at Brampton's Food and Beverage Processing Summit, alongside Labour Minister David Piccini and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. Later that night, he dropped the puck at a Steelheads game. He helped launch Brampton’s Culture Days Festival and then joined local Navratri celebrations.
— On Saturday, Brown joined the Canada Africa Economic and Culture Show with Rod Power and Paul Vicente.
— He handed out volunteer awards at the Nelson West Resident Association street party with Rowena Santos.
— He joined the Peel Region First Responder Appreciation BBQ.
— He cut the ribbon at the opening of the Big M Stone and Tiles Store, alongside Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh and Gurpartap Singh Toor.
Carolyn Parrish — On Saturday, she got a personal shout-out from new Mississauga Legends Row inductee Nav Bhatia.
Annette Groves — In an interview with CBC Toronto, Caledon's mayor said the accusations of her favoritism in dealing with Swan Lake’s land plan are “disheartening.”
— More Metrolinx drama: The Taste of Cooksville took place this weekend, albeit scaled back due to Metrolinx’s ongoing construction. The Cooksville Business Improvement Area is billing them for recompensation.
According to the group: As a result of ongoing construction, the BIA “has lost vendor spots and had to reroute emergency lanes to ensure [the festival] can execute flawlessly.”
Said Dipika Damerla: “I remain deeply concerned that Metrolinx's delays have forced the loss of various vendor spots — despite repeated assurances that LRT construction in the area would be completed in advance of the festival. I sincerely hope Metrolinx will take responsibility and reimburse the festival for this loss — which impacts not only the event but also the small businesses counting on it.”
— Earlier this month, Brampton cleared nearly $800,000 in “uncollectable” provincial fines tied to two defunct companies and one deceased debtor.
— The city’s by-law department has ramped up parking fines and towings over the past year.
— At Sheridan College, college support workers continue to picket in response to provincial funding cuts.
— A local advocacy group rallied against Bill 33 — which would bring police into schools — at 10 Peel Centre Drive. “Any form of policing in schools causes harm. It doesn’t actually create safety,” one advocate argued.
— The Credit Valley Conservation group is making moves to buy Caledon’s Swan Lake and preserve the environmental land at the centre of town controversy.
— Town advocates hosted a solidarity gathering on Friday. David Sheen, Lynn Kiernan and Christina Early were there.
— “A large crowd of close to 2,000 people marched through downtown Toronto Saturday afternoon as part of Canada-wide protests calling on the new Liberal government to prioritize the climate, Indigenous rights, migrants and workers ahead of the fall budget.”
— Bad news for Olivia Chow? More than half of Torontonians want a change in the city’s leadership, according to a new poll.
— Expect a more multicultural soundtrack when you dial Mississauga’s 311 service.
— Canada has recognized the State of Palestine.
“In a statement, Carney said [the possibility of a two-state solution] has ’steadily and gravely eroded.’ ‘The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established. It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law,’ Carney said Sunday in a statement.” More from POLITICO.
Parrish says: “... Returns to the position held by Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a two-state solution by recognizing Palestine,” she posted to X. “Resources, diplomatic assistance, peacekeeping action on the ground — all Canada’s strengths.”
Save the date: Alvin Tedjo is co-hosting a fundraising gala for Gaza on Monday, September 29. “The evening will feature reflections and words of encouragement… alongside a warm community gathering dedicated to hope and resilience,” according to ISNA Canada. RSVP.
— The Pointer has more on how Algoma University’s new Brampton campus is in financial jeopardy, reeling from a loss of “cash cow” international students from India.
— Martin Regg Cohn hosted a talk at Toronto Metropolitan University with AI Minister Evan Solomon. “There’s a technological revolution, and you’re very much part of it,” said Solomon. More from Regg Cohn.
— The Star asked locals to grade living in Toronto — it scored high on culture and community, less so on the cost of living and safety.
Got a sighting, a move or a promotion worth noting? Is your birthday coming up? Reach out.
— On Thursday, Mississauga won an Award of Excellence at the Ontario Professional Planners’ Institute Awards.
— Nav Bhatia, Frank Giannone, Annie Parker and Susanne Hou were inducted into Mississauga's Legends Row at a City Hall ceremony on Saturday.
Thank you for reading The Peel Report. Have a story idea? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox on Friday.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Ahmad Elbayoumi. Have feedback? Send us an email.
Call it The Sheen Test.
At a council meeting on Tuesday in Caledon, Councillor Dave Sheen will face the fallout of two Integrity Commission rulings, triggered by Mayor Annette Groves and CAO Nathan Hyde. Complaint I. Complaint II.
They come from remarks Sheen made during a May meeting, which investigations later deemed to be “impugning [to] the professional reputation and credibility” of Groves and two senior bureaucrats, Chief Planning Officer Eric Lucic and Director of Engineering Solmaz Zia, in breach of the town's code of conduct.
As a penalty, Sheen could lose a month’s pay and be required to apologize to both parties for his remarks.
“I know in my heart I wasn’t aiming my criticism at staff,” Sheen told The Report. He repeated the same argument throughout a summer-long back-and-forth with Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian, but came up short.
It’s not Sheen’s first time being called out for a lapse in “decorum” at a town meeting. But it lines up with a two-year trend of Integrity Commission reports targeting councillors who’ve publicly challenged the scope of Groves’ strong mayor powers.
What happened: In one of the earliest chapters of Caledon’s ongoing Swan Lake saga, Sheen spoke out against the Groves’ move to approve a contentious by-law alteration that would allow construction dumping into the 44-acre Greenbelt-protected lake.
More than six hours into a heated meeting, Sheen let it rip, arguing that “in a strong mayor environment [...] there is an enormous pressure on staff to give the mayor what she wants.”
When Groves ruled Sheen out of order, he refused to retract his remarks, insisting that staff “[couldn’t] ignore” they were working under a strong mayor system. “That is a factor at play here,” he said.
For context: Armed with the strong-mayor powers granted by the Ford government two years ago, Groves has pursued an ambitious infrastructure agenda and a sweeping overhaul at Town Hall — including replacing former CAO Carey Herd with Nathan Hyde, all without Council’s approval.
Sheen was among the earliest critics on Council, filing a Freedom of Information request that revealed Hyde’s unusually lucrative contract with the Town.
He also challenged the Groves’ November appointment of Integrity Commissioner David Boghosian — made without Council’s input — blasting the procurement report prepared by Hyde and presented to Council as “flawed.”
So: Sheen has a history of speaking his mind at council meetings — a habit that’s landed him in the Integrity Commission’s crosshairs more than once.
At a meeting on local park strategy last year, Sheen made remarks a member of the Sikh community found culturally offensive — prompting a complaint to Boghosian. He issued an apology a few months later. “I have no problem admitting when I’ve made a mistake,” Sheen said. But with the new complaints from the Mayor and Hyde, he insists his intention was to comment on the impact of strong mayor powers — not to single out or attack anyone.
The ruling: In his investigation, Boghosian concluded that Sheen’s blunt words at the May meeting “went beyond the protection” of free political speech, breaching multiple sections of the code of conduct.
He’s not the only one: Councillor Lynn Kiernan faced her own reprimand from the Integrity Commission last April.
At a Planning and Development meeting, councillors and community members pushed back on Mayor Groves’ bid to fast-track 12 new zoning by-laws to advance her housing agenda.
Kiernan took issue with the “fact sheets” scattered across Council Chambers, remarking they reminded her of “German propaganda during World War II.”
That remark prompted a resident’s complaint and an investigation by Boghosian, who found Kiernan in violation of the Code of Conduct’s requirement that members “conduct themselves with decorum.” (Kiernan could not be reached for comment before deadline.)
What’s next: Groves’ successful complaint against Sheen on those same grounds will likely see him docked a month’s pay and forced to apologize, pending the passage of two resolutions at Tuesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, Swan Lake’s fate is still up in the air.
Keirstyn Parfitt, the Town’s loudest voice against the construction fill plans, says she’ll delegate at Tuesday’s meeting on Sheen’s behalf, arguing he shouldn’t be penalized for calling out Groves’ actions.
“We need to stand up and speak out for councillors who stand up for residents,” she said. “[Councillor Sheen] has been doing that for as long as I’ve watched this Council.”
Mayor Groves did not respond to a request for comment.
Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. — Caledon's Town Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Reviewing reports on a Notice of Motion to Designate 12711 McLaughlin Road; Renewing a Development Charges By-Law on Simpson Road; an Italy Trade Delegation and Sister City Report for Isola del Liri; and a Rehabilitation for Old King Road.
— A motion from Doug Maskell to prepare a report on the implications of the termination of the ASE Program, and a motion from Nick de Boer requesting an Erosion Risk Management Program and Remediation Efforts for 5 Carroll Court.
— Two integrity reports concerning Dave Sheen and amendments to the Residential Rental License By-Law.
— A trove of by-laws, including:
Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. — A council meeting in Mississauga. On the agenda:
— Parrish will present Heather Stockley with a key to the city in honour of Lloyd Stockley, for his contributions to the City of Mississauga Minor Hockey.
— A delegation from Jason Hanna, C.O.O. of the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, about community initiatives and safety concerns.
— A request for a special occasion permit for the Small Arms Inspection building for an event supporting the Compass Food Bank.
— Reviewing correspondence from Parrish regarding the AMO Conference.
— A motion from Brad Butt about funding for Christmas in the Village, Stephen Dasko on promoting plant-based food locally and Alvin Tedjo on Clarkson Village development.
— Motions to express condolences to the families of former city employees: Michael Oliver, Manager of Civic Precinct, and Elizabeth-Hewner McGee, Manager of Financial Strategies.
— By-laws to adopt a Mississauga Official Plan Amendment and associated Zoning By-law.
— An amendment to the Traffic and Private Tree Protection By-laws.
Thursday at 9:30 a.m. — Peel Regional Council will meet. On the agenda:
— Steve Jacques will present two Institute of Public Administration Canada (IPAC) awards.
— Ralph Beaumont will discuss the “Railways of Peel” exhibit at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives.
— Jackie Franklin and Gerry Kupferschmidt from Sheridan Villa will discuss emotion-based care at Adult Day Services.
— Azhar Karim will discuss the TransHelp Service Review Study report.
— By-Laws to create a new multi-residential property subclass, and new application and borrowing features for the Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC).
Patrick Brown — On Friday, he spoke at Brampton's Food and Beverage Processing Summit, alongside Labour Minister David Piccini and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu. Later that night, he dropped the puck at a Steelheads game. He helped launch Brampton’s Culture Days Festival and then joined local Navratri celebrations.
— On Saturday, Brown joined the Canada Africa Economic and Culture Show with Rod Power and Paul Vicente.
— He handed out volunteer awards at the Nelson West Resident Association street party with Rowena Santos.
— He joined the Peel Region First Responder Appreciation BBQ.
— He cut the ribbon at the opening of the Big M Stone and Tiles Store, alongside Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh and Gurpartap Singh Toor.
Carolyn Parrish — On Saturday, she got a personal shout-out from new Mississauga Legends Row inductee Nav Bhatia.
Annette Groves — In an interview with CBC Toronto, Caledon's mayor said the accusations of her favoritism in dealing with Swan Lake’s land plan are “disheartening.”
— More Metrolinx drama: The Taste of Cooksville took place this weekend, albeit scaled back due to Metrolinx’s ongoing construction. The Cooksville Business Improvement Area is billing them for recompensation.
According to the group: As a result of ongoing construction, the BIA “has lost vendor spots and had to reroute emergency lanes to ensure [the festival] can execute flawlessly.”
Said Dipika Damerla: “I remain deeply concerned that Metrolinx's delays have forced the loss of various vendor spots — despite repeated assurances that LRT construction in the area would be completed in advance of the festival. I sincerely hope Metrolinx will take responsibility and reimburse the festival for this loss — which impacts not only the event but also the small businesses counting on it.”
— Earlier this month, Brampton cleared nearly $800,000 in “uncollectable” provincial fines tied to two defunct companies and one deceased debtor.
— The city’s by-law department has ramped up parking fines and towings over the past year.
— At Sheridan College, college support workers continue to picket in response to provincial funding cuts.
— A local advocacy group rallied against Bill 33 — which would bring police into schools — at 10 Peel Centre Drive. “Any form of policing in schools causes harm. It doesn’t actually create safety,” one advocate argued.
— The Credit Valley Conservation group is making moves to buy Caledon’s Swan Lake and preserve the environmental land at the centre of town controversy.
— Town advocates hosted a solidarity gathering on Friday. David Sheen, Lynn Kiernan and Christina Early were there.
— “A large crowd of close to 2,000 people marched through downtown Toronto Saturday afternoon as part of Canada-wide protests calling on the new Liberal government to prioritize the climate, Indigenous rights, migrants and workers ahead of the fall budget.”
— Bad news for Olivia Chow? More than half of Torontonians want a change in the city’s leadership, according to a new poll.
— Expect a more multicultural soundtrack when you dial Mississauga’s 311 service.
— Canada has recognized the State of Palestine.
“In a statement, Carney said [the possibility of a two-state solution] has ’steadily and gravely eroded.’ ‘The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established. It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law,’ Carney said Sunday in a statement.” More from POLITICO.
Parrish says: “... Returns to the position held by Prime Minister Jean Chretien on a two-state solution by recognizing Palestine,” she posted to X. “Resources, diplomatic assistance, peacekeeping action on the ground — all Canada’s strengths.”
Save the date: Alvin Tedjo is co-hosting a fundraising gala for Gaza on Monday, September 29. “The evening will feature reflections and words of encouragement… alongside a warm community gathering dedicated to hope and resilience,” according to ISNA Canada. RSVP.
— The Pointer has more on how Algoma University’s new Brampton campus is in financial jeopardy, reeling from a loss of “cash cow” international students from India.
— Martin Regg Cohn hosted a talk at Toronto Metropolitan University with AI Minister Evan Solomon. “There’s a technological revolution, and you’re very much part of it,” said Solomon. More from Regg Cohn.
— The Star asked locals to grade living in Toronto — it scored high on culture and community, less so on the cost of living and safety.
Got a sighting, a move or a promotion worth noting? Is your birthday coming up? Reach out.
— On Thursday, Mississauga won an Award of Excellence at the Ontario Professional Planners’ Institute Awards.
— Nav Bhatia, Frank Giannone, Annie Parker and Susanne Hou were inducted into Mississauga's Legends Row at a City Hall ceremony on Saturday.
Thank you for reading The Peel Report. Have a story idea? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back in your inbox on Friday.
Today’s newsletter was edited by Ahmad Elbayoumi. Have feedback? Send us an email.