Peel ACORN’s Rally to Demand Healthy Homes
Posted November 16, 2023
We had an amazing crew of Acorn members gathered for the March for the MARC program (bylaw enforcement) action today. Peel ACORN fought for proactive inspection bylaw similar to Toronto Rentsafe. The city of Mississauga started implementing the 5-year pilot program (called the MARC program) in July 2022.
The action today was to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the pilot program and to remind the city that the program needs to be evaluated and calls for improvements.
Members gathered at a small park near Sheridan College, where we started our march through Square One and burst through the doors of Mississauga City Hall. Members were joined by councillors Deepika Damerla and Alvin Tedjo.
Acorn leader Marcia Bryan spoke about the key findings of the survey, and gave testimony of her poor building conditions and then April Johnston presented the key demands concerning the improvement of the Marc program, based on the report’s findings.
Both councillors were very receptive to the report and speeches from the Acorn members and agreed to pass a motion to integrate ACORN’s demands. Councillor Damerla promised that she would be sharing the draft motion with ACORN for input before it is tabled. Councillor Tedjo offered to second the changes that will be introduced.
