Protests outside Brampton City Hall have continued this month, led by Azad Goyat and Raj Ghuman, who have positioned themselves as opponents of the city’s Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) pilot program. But public support for their campaign is dwindling, as the city remains firm in its efforts to crack down on unsafe and illegal rental units.
Azad Goyat, a two-time unsuccessful candidate for public office in Brampton, has emerged as a vocal critic of the program. Despite his electoral defeats — including losing his own poll — Goyat has rebranded himself as a landlord advocate, now spearheading a protest campaign many say is driven more by self-interest than genuine concern for residents. Alongside him is Raj Ghuman, also linked to ongoing controversy and part of what some describe as a misinformation campaign.
Their central argument — that rental licensing is too costly for landlords — has already been rendered moot. The 2025 Brampton City budget waived all RRL fees. There is no cost to participate in the program, no hidden bureaucracy — only a requirement for landlords to meet minimum safety and legal standards.
Since its launch, the RRL pilot has achieved measurable success. Thousands of properties have been inspected, with life-threatening violations identified and addressed. Hundreds of licences have been issued under a strategy that rolled out cautiously across five high-complaint wards. Based on public feedback, the City improved the intake process, waived fees entirely, and expanded communications to reach landlords in multiple languages. Legal and responsible landlords remain unaffected, while problem units are being addressed directly.
The protesters, usually no more than 50 individuals with placards and megaphones, claim to represent the wider housing community. But Brampton’s population of 800,000 tells a different story. The program has wide public support — especially among students, new immigrants, women, and working families who’ve long voiced concerns about the exploitation rampant in the underground rental market.
This so-called movement is not a grassroots campaign but a coordinated pushback from those who stand to lose when housing standards are enforced. Goyat and Ghuman are not standing up for fairness — they’re defending a system that allowed unsafe living conditions to persist in vulnerable communities.
City Council’s commitment to the RRL pilot is based on data, feedback, and the safety of residents. The city’s message is clear: rental units must be safe, legal, and fair — and enforcing that standard is not up for debate.