Brampton residents are set to gather outside City Hall this Saturday, July 12, to protest rising property taxes, skyrocketing city fees, and what organizers call unfair enforcement of speed cameras. The demonstration, organized by local advocate Azad Goyat, aims to spotlight financial pressures facing homeowners amid a growing sense of discontent with city priorities.
The protest, scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m., will include a town hall-style discussion where residents can voice their concerns about what they see as excessive taxation and a lack of transparency in municipal spending.
A key flashpoint is the city’s recent hike in minor variance application fees — which have jumped from $720 to nearly $12,000 for some residential applicants. City officials argue the fee increases are necessary to recover processing costs, but residents and some councillors worry the new rates are simply unaffordable for average homeowners.
This protest follows Brampton council’s approval earlier this year of a 2.9 per cent municipal property tax increase, part of a total 8.4 per cent hike when the Region of Peel’s portion is included. Goyat is calling for clearer accounting on how this money is being used, particularly in a city still lacking essential infrastructure such as a fully operational second hospital and a publicly funded university.
Frustrations are also mounting over the use of automated speed enforcement cameras in school zones during hours when schools are closed. Goyat argues this approach amounts to revenue generation rather than a genuine safety initiative.
Saturday’s protest will be the third such event led by Goyat in recent weeks. The former candidate for Brampton regional council and Brampton East MPP said he has extended invitations to all city and regional councillors as well as Mayor Patrick Brown. As of publication, he had yet to receive a response.
Residents attending the rally hope to send a strong message to city leadership: rising costs and limited services are making it harder for Brampton families to keep up — and they want change.