Uh, well, thank you for tuning in to our back to school uh, press conference with all the kids uh, going to school this morning. I hope they have a great first day. Um, we wanted to outline some themes today about what the city of Brampton is doing uh, to ensure road safety. Um, it's an exciting time for students and families, but it's also an important reminder for every driver in our city, slow down, stay alert, and put safety first. When you enter a school zone, take your foot put your phone away, watch for children crossing the street, and respect our crossing guards. I'm joined by one of them here today, uh, Cheryl. Um, when a school bus stops, it's um, red lights start flashing and the stop arm comes out, you stop. There is nowhere you need to be worth putting a child's safety at risk. As students prepare to travel to and from school, I would like to remind parents that e-scooter and e-bike riders must be 16 years of age or older, and only regulated e-scooters and e-bikes are permitted in Brampton. You know, when it comes to road safety, this is something our council takes very seriously, and I'm joined by Councillor Vicente, Councillor Keenan, Councillor Santos, and Councillor Medeiros. We take road safety as a paramount responsibility um, in our city. We have 254 crossing guards at 200 school crossing locations, 210 community safety zones, 15 neighborhood speed safety zones, more than 150 streets with speed cushions, and 42 pedestrian crossovers. We have 116 accessible pedestrian signals, helping make our intersections safer and more accessible. We've made significant investments in road safety. The first one I want to talk about in terms of us using new technology is our red light cameras. This is a new initiative uh, to Brampton. Running a red light is dangerous, but modern technology has given us new tools to curb that practice. You know, when we see someone run a red light, it can result in some of the most egregious collisions. Brampton currently is um launching 15 red light cameras, and by uh 2028 we'll have 35 red light cameras in the city. So, we're starting with our first 15, um and then we're going to roll out an additional 20. Now, the data on this elsewhere has been pretty impressive. Uh we'll look at collision history, driver compliance, traffic volumes, and road design to identify intersections where these cameras will make the most impact. So, if we have some bad intersections in Brampton, those are the type of intersections we'd put red light cameras. This isn't about catching people. Frankly, our goal would be we don't have to give out um a high volume of tickets for people running red lights. The goal is that people adjust their behavior. I don't want to see videos shared on WhatsApp of someone running a red light that's going to put a student at risk. We want to change behavior. It's about getting drivers to stop at red lights and preventing collisions before they happen. Also, beginning in 2027, the city will process red light cameras at our Sandalwood Operations Centre for the cameras across Peel Region. Um that's a motion that was passed at Regional Council. We're also looking at new technology for school bus safety. Every driver should know the law. When a school bus stops, its red lights start flashing, the stop arm will be extended. You stop. Children may be entering the roadway, crossing in front of the bus, or boarding safely. These moments are very important. It's why we're looking at this new technology that can help capture of someone who who doesn't uh honor that basic safety responsibility. And these cameras can also be used to make sure that reckless, dangerous driver who speeds by a bus will face the financial consequences for their actions. And this is a motion that our council passed as well. We're working with the school boards and the region of Peel on implementing. We've also launched this year our automated license plate recognition. We have seven automated license plate recognition enforcement vehicles. And for those who think they can park everywhere around a school during drop-off, blocking the road, creating chaos, and frankly creating unsafe conditions, we'll be using these enforcement vehicles to make sure those uh cars are held financially responsible. Cars stop where they shouldn't. Sightlines get blocked, congestion builds up, and that can create dangerous uh situations for children trying to cross the street. Our ALPR allows our enforcement officers to identify parking violations more efficiently and faster, helping create safe conditions. So, please don't put convenience ahead of safety. Park legally, take the extra minute, walk a few extra steps. Road safety is everyone's responsibility. We can install cameras, we can add speed cushions, we can create community safety zones, we can deploy new technology, and we can strengthen enforcement. But at the end of the day, this is my ask of Brampton residents. Road safety comes down to the choices we make. It comes down to you. Every time you get behind the wheel, you have a responsibility to the people around you. And the responsibility is even greater when you're driving by a school. So, knowing that children will be back at school every day right now, Monday to Friday, a few seconds saved by speeding, rolling through a red light, parking illegally, or passing a stopped school bus are never worth someone's life. So, as we as we begin another school year, I'm asking every driver in Brampton to make a simp- simple commitment. Slow down, stay alert, follow the rules, and look out for our kids. To all of our students, teachers, school staff, and families, I wish you a safe, successful, and enjoyable school year. And I want to say a special thank you to our 254 crossing guards, who are unsung heroes when it comes to school and student safety in our city. They are out there every school day in every kind of weather. Well, helping our children get to and from school. Whether it's raining, whether the sun's coming down, they are there for our children. Please respect them. Please follow their direction, and please give them the space they need to do their jobs. Working together, we can make a safe school year for every child in Brampton. That's the goal. So, why we're bringing in these new initiatives. Because when it comes to the safety of our kids, there is no higher priority. And we'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. And I've got the counselors here, as well, who are sharing some of the committees that spearheaded these initiatives. >> Thank you. Just a reminder, the microphone is here. Please state your name and outlet. It's one question, one follow-up. >> Uh, Jerome from Omni. Uh, with the province taking away the speeding cameras, are you noticing any trends speeding-wise? [snorts] >> Yeah, unfortunately, we have seen increased speeding. We did keep the data for a period of time. What I would say is that you can't go backwards, you can only go forwards. I felt that the speed cameras were a useful tool, but it's a democracy. The province, you know, made a a choice that barred their use in Ontario. And so, we've adapted. And one of the areas that we're allowed to utilize camera technology is for running red lights. And so, we've got permission from MTO to do so. And we're also, I should note, we've given a number of the cameras to the Peel police, who are now using them for helping adhere to public safety. And so, there's those are two areas where the cameras have been repurposed. I would also note, we're in conversations with the province on uh a decibel reading. There are some cameras that have the ability to catch you know with the souped-up mufflers that make that race sometimes at night and so we're looking at at that capacity for the cameras as well. But as of today red light cameras and community safety are the re-purpose uses of cameras. >> Good morning Mayor Nitin from Hashtag. We have all the laws in the city but the previous years the issue was of the enforcement. What steps city has taken to enhance the enforcement because if any calls come it has to be addressed it has to be tackled in same as my previous colleague has asked. The cameras are there in the city with huge budget but any public data record available and does the Peel police has increased the enforcement? >> So you've sort of touched on number of topics there. Has Peel police increased enforcement? We have more frontline officers than any time in our history and the greatest expansion of policing in Canada has taken place in Peel police. We went from having one of the worst ratios of police to population to now we've caught up to the provincial average. So we've made tremendous progress in the last five years. In terms of other enforcement efforts obviously the new technology we have for bylaw allows them to more efficiently through automated license plate recognition ALPR enforcement vehicles give tickets to the bad actors. What we're launching this year with the red light cameras is another tool to combat dangerous drivers and I would note that we do have the 50 high resolution intersection cameras that work directly with the police as well for those more dangerous crimes that are taking place. >> Off the topic of trade war between US and Canada. Now the Bramptonians or Canadians they are struggling and the ground situation is small business owners, the residents, the families they are struggling and we have we had this talent is here. So what is the situation real situation is any Chinese company they are offering for that plant or is this talent is coming back? Because yesterday President Trump announced that no more sale of Bombardier in US. So what next if they stopped or hit us back with the Google meta because all government officials are using all the US services. We have a three four trillion economy they are 40 trillion economy. The ground realities are total different because when Canadians see the our leaders can we fight? Can we survive if the next step come after Bombardier? >> Well first I think I'd say is never underestimate the resilience, innovation, and tenacity of Canadians. And certainly we are up against a president who has shown chose to be engaged in a war of economic aggression against Canadians based on a complete disconnect with the wishes of the American people. One thing that I find heartening is if you look at any poll in the United States, the vast vast majority of Americans do not support these tariffs, do not support the direction of this US administration attacking their closest ally and friend. And there's going to be a reckoning to that. There are midterms coming up where we are projected to see historic losses for the current government because frankly it is costing American jobs and prosperity. If you look at some of the commentary in the border states, it's going to cause massive economic decline. Michigan being an example. They're calling this US commentators are causing calling this the largest tax on the US automotive industry. And that's just one illustration. Um obviously we want to get a deal done as Canadians. We want to continue to build great products together with um our allies in the United States. Uh but at the end of the day, um this administration has to decide. Do they want to work together to build great products or do they want to create economic chaos North America that will drive us backwards? In terms of your specific question um about Stellantis, we want Stellantis to bring back product. We got a great team there with Unifor Local 1285 that have con- contributed to the company's prosperity. Our council actually passed a motion saying that they can't sell the plant. They can't um run away from their obligations in Canada and think they can make a quick buck on the on the plant. That's a non-starter. There was a media report suggesting um a Chinese um company uh was um interested in the plant. that was more of a conversation about a company being interested in bus production in Brampton, not specific to the Stellantis plant. What I would say is there are um large defense contractors who are ready to take up that plant, bring immediate jobs um to uh to Brampton. Um there's one company that I've spoken to that builds drones that are ready to move in. There's another company that builds light armored utility vehicles that are ready to move in. Having said that, I think what the federal government wants to see is a commitment to Unifor, um a commitment to production in Canada. We like to see Canadian owned companies also operating there given uh the way we saw Stellantis um bullied. I'd also note Stellantis has a joint venture with a Chinese company called Leap Motors. And they had made a proposal to the province and the federal government, which was deemed not acceptable, to bring in some assembly jobs. I think it was only 800 jobs, and it simply wasn't what we were looking for. We want to see all those great, talented, hard-working Unifor workers back to work using their talents. Um these are highly skilled um group of individuals who have been frankly mistreated uh by Stellantis. >> Thank you. >> Next question. >> Yeah, I'm Grant Cameron with the Brampton Guardian. So, I got here late, so hopefully I don't overlap here what you already said, but uh I just wanted to ask you about the the provincial funding. I mean, I think we got 6 or 7 million dollars to sort of replace the cameras and that kind of thing. And there was other initiatives you guys talked about speed bumps and that kind of thing in certain areas. Um so, I'm just wondering what the update on that is. Like, um is there more money coming in that regard? Um and sort of what are some of the ideas you guys are looking at to use that money? >> Yeah, it was actually a much larger allocation. We got the largest allocation um in the province. Uh the way that the the way the province set up the program is that their their compensation was based on the number of cameras, and because Brampton had invested into our um in uh speed processing facility and into our cameras, we got a much larger allocation. And I think if I have staff here, they can verify the actual number. >> Just under 35 million. >> Just under 35 million. Um we also had a number of meetings with the province about how we can repurpose those cameras. And so, a number of the cameras um and the cost of those cameras have gone to the Peel Police and is now being used every day to aid in criminal investigations. And you know, I had Deputy Menalovich give me examples of ways these cameras have made a remarkable difference. One in getting individuals who committed crimes, being able to actually catch them. We've also had some um you know, instances where there was um lost loved ones, issues of Alzheimer's and dementia, children um where these cameras have helped locate vulnerable um individuals. And so, a number of cameras are already being used very effectively, impactfully by the Peel police. And now, today we've launched a number of cameras, uh, repurposed for the purpose of a red lights. So, if you're running a red light, we can give you a ticket, a big fat ticket. Don't red red red lights in Brampton because you're going to get caught. Um, and so, you know, obviously the provincial decision was not one that we supported, but you can't go backwards. It's a democracy. We've respected their decision to move forward in a way that I think, um, uh, protects our residents the best we can. >> And, um, sorry, so the cameras that the Peel police are using now, are they still sort of where they were in the community zones, or have they been removed around, or How does that work? >> The cameras will be used, um, in locations that the Peel police feels most valuable. And so, they have taken, um, a large number of those cameras, um, but obviously for operational purposes, that's not something that is advertised in terms of where they're used. And I could also say, you know, they have the ability to move them, um, where where warranted. But really, it's about how how to how can it aid, um, in their investigations, um, as a community safety tool. >> Thank you. >> Thanks so much. That concludes.