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Advocates flag contributions, not costs, of newcomers in Alberta referendum aftermath
Alberta vote raises labour shortage concerns
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A union representative for a beef processing plant south of Calgary is warning of worsening labour shortages if immigration policy proposals that narrowly passed in Alberta's referendum are enacted.
"These are tough and high turnover jobs with few candidates lining up to fill them," said Faduma Ahmed, with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401 at Cargill's abattoir in High River, Alta.
With 98 per cent of polls reporting in Monday's referendum, a slim majority of votes were cast in favour of limiting access to or charging a fee for provincially funded services based on immigration status. Premier Danielle Smith's government had argued that the cost to provide health care and education to temporary Alberta residents amounts to $1 billion a year and that a surge in newcomers has strained affordability and services.
But critics have warned that the referendum's outcome could make Alberta less attractive to newcomers at a time when jobs desperately need to be filled.
At the Cargill plant, temporary foreign workers, refugees, permanent residents and citizens from all over the globe work side by side and all pay taxes, said Ahmed. It's back-breaking work, with staffers often having to hoist whole carcasses.
"When we sit down to eat, we rarely think about the intense and the gruelling labour it takes to get the food onto our tables, right on our plate," she said, adding that workers have come to her concerned about their ability to pay for health care and school for their children.
"They are foundational to keeping our economy moving, and they are navigating the exact same punishing affordability crisis as every other Albertan."
Ahmed said the union will draw a "hard line" if the proposals become law.
"We will fight to ensure immigrant workers receive the same services they do today, up to and including making the employers pay at the bargaining table to fund the differences."
Another sector that relies heavily on immigration is health care for seniors.
"Often we'll find they'll work in roles that maybe some Canadians may not be interested in," said Leah Lechelt, executive director of the Christian Health Association of Alberta, which represents non-profits that employ 22,000 staff across the province.
She said some college programs for health-care aides have closed or reduced their enrolment simply because there haven't been enough applications domestically.
The workforce hails from around the world, and are mostly health-care aides, but also cleaning and food-service staff, Lechelt said. They deal with vulnerable patients, so regulations largely limit those jobs to permanent residents and citizens.
"It's really a very attractive role for somebody who is fairly new to Canada and sometimes is working on some English language proficiency skills."
The association has established an apprenticeship program that enables those in entry-level jobs, like housekeeping, to train on-site to become health-care aides and pursue a better-paying career path.
"And then we can backfill those positions with other newcomers, maybe starting out in their journey in Canada."
One of the referendum proposals asked whether Albertans would support the province taking more control of immigration from the federal government.
It was an idea the Business Council of Alberta has long advocated, said president Adam Legge.
"There's a bit of a better on-the-ground intel perspective compared to a centralized decision in Ottawa," he said.
"Oftentimes there are some skills and geographic mismatches between what Ottawa approves on an immigration basis and what is needed."
For instance, he said there's a huge demand for workers in the skilled trades, like heavy-duty mechanics, welders and electricians.
He said he heard from members generally that they don't want to see anything deter people from choosing to live in Alberta.
Research by University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe commissioned by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce found immigrants paid an estimated $4.1 billion in Alberta personal income taxes in 2026.
It also found immigrants younger than 40 had a net fiscal contribution of almost $1 billion, after the cost of provincial family programs, workers' compensation and social assistance are accounted for.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026.
By Lauren Krugel | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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Caledon’s next mayor inherits a town divided over how far growth should go
Annette Groves retired after backlash over rezoning plans that opened the door to 35,000 homes.
On a chilly Monday at the beginning of October, Caledon resident Al Axworthy carefully drove past a line of trucks to one of the 12 parcels of land former mayor Annette Groves prematurely rezoned using her strong mayor powers, opening the door to 35,000 new homes — three times the provincial target — with little public consultation.
As he passed the intersection of Queen and King streets in Bolton, Axworthy recalled standing there with Groves in 2022, protesting Highway 413.
“And now she’s been out there with Doug Ford saying this is the greatest thing; we need this,” he said. He paused, before continuing: “I voted for her.”
In the 2022 municipal election, voters were desperate for change, having witnessed the damage done by previous mayor Allan Thompson, who had quietly pushed warehouse development in the Greenbelt, violating several environmental and land-use planning policies.
Thompson was part of a majority group of pro-development council members that included Jennifer Innis. Both of their families have significant land interests and will profit handsomely from the construction of sprawling subdivisions on vast tracts of farmland.
Innis ran for mayor in 2022 to replace Thompson, with his blessing, but was quickly confronted by a fierce anti-sprawl, anti-413 Highway, anti-freight village campaign that swept Groves into the mayor’s office.
Groves and Innis had opposed each other on growth-related votes for more than a decade, and the rookie mayor vowed four years ago to make good on her sacred campaign vow to keep development in check and protect Caledon’s verdant stretches of beloved greenspace from rapacious developers. Groves seemed like an obvious choice to lead Caledon with diametrically opposing views to Innis: One promised more walkable communities, transit, climate-conscious planning and protection for rural and environmentally sensitive lands. The other favoured a more conventional suburban expansion, with sprawling subdivisions, car-dependent neighbourhoods and Highway 413 cutting through the Greenbelt.
“I will ensure that developers do not plan our community but the people plan our own community and our future,” Groves said, pledging “growth will pay for growth” and infrastructure will be “in place before development happens”.
Using her past record of voting on key council land use issues, she promised to continue pushing back against urban sprawl-inducing ministerial zoning orders (MZO). She described the provincial government tool that overrides local planning authority as an “undemocratic” approach that “circumvents the public process”. Groves said the use of MZOs leads to poor planning that favours private interests, pushing warehousing and distribution centers and a stifling “freight village” future for Caledon that would force large property tax increases.
Almost immediately after her election, with Caledon voters filled with hope for their future, Groves tore up her sacred promises and threw them in the dust bin.
Her four-year tenure was effectively managed by a group of powerful developers, who literally wrote Caledon’s planning policies, under Annette Groves’ name.
Following intense public backlash, Groves announced her retirement on April 24, leaving behind a “legacy undone by terrible decisions” that failed to guard the unique character of the rustic villages and hamlets and rolling spaces she once vowed to protect.
“They [council] gifted the Town of Caledon to the developers…She ran on a strong public interest platform, and to do the exact opposite was such a betrayal to so many people,” Cheryl Connors, running to be the next Councillor for Ward 4, told The Pointer.
“It also makes it really hard for anyone who wants to enter public service in the future because it feeds this jaded sentiment that politicians just say whatever it takes to get elected.”
In a move that stunned residents across Caledon who had just voted for her, Groves brought forward 13 bylaw amendments shortly after her election. Without any public consultation, the zoning changes would add about 100,000 residents to the town, more than doubling Caledon’s current population.
It was a jaw-dropping move that left the mayor’s supporters feeling utterly betrayed after they had been led to believe Groves would do the exact opposite. Instead of standing up to developers, she was suddenly taking her marching orders from them.
It was soon learned that the amendments Groves dropped from nowhere onto the legislative agenda had not been written by planning staff governed by the Town’s official plan and the Region of Peel’s growth master plans. They were written by a development lawyer representing one of the building consortiums that stands to make huge profits from the construction of residential subdivisions.
Axworthy shook his head that day, two weeks ago. He recalled the faith he put in Groves. He continued driving along Columbia Way toward the A8 parcel, one of the dozen that was eventually approved for massive new development. He passed the site without realizing it—something was different.
“Is that a new building?” He seemed astounded, his eyes wide with confusion.
The once-green, open farmland had become ‘unrecognizable’, with trees cleared away to make room for a Solmar development office suddenly standing next to the road.
“It was completely different.”
Just as a bulldozer’s engine rumbled on the site, its warning beeps piercing the air, its metal bucket scraping and digging into the ground, Bolton resident Marnie Singleton, who lives steps away from the A8 parcel, joined Axworthy.
Singleton, who has lived in the area since 2009, recently retired. After years of work and time spent away from home, she was looking forward to enjoying the changing fall colours from her window: “That’s always been a beautiful part of my life.”
She had little idea what was coming until one day while driving home, she noticed that the row of trees on the A8 parcel had disappeared.
“That broke my heart.”
“I know it will provide homes for a lot of people…I just don’t understand why they have to take the trees down outside the tree line or outside the fence line.”
Her biggest concern? “Losing farmland”.
While she understands Caledon needs new housing to accommodate the projected 300,000 residents by 2051, Singleton questions whether the town’s existing infrastructure can cope with the cumulative demands of development.
“Further down this road is the Townline between Caledon and Vaughan, and there’s an intersection there that they’re [Town staff] predicting is going to be overwhelmed by the volume of traffic that this site [A8] is going to create,” Axworthy noted.
There is already congestion along Townline Road and Highway 50 “in the mornings”, especially, Singleton added. “Add snow to that mix? It’s a recipe for a disaster”.
“They are going to add 122,000 people to Caledon, a town that currently is 80,000…the road infrastructure as it exists, there are bottlenecks with 80,000,” Axworthy added.
On October 19, he headed to the final mayoral debate hosted by the Caledon Chamber of Commerce at Caesar’s Centre in Bolton, and settled in a chair, ready with a pen and notebook to take notes.
For 45 years, Caledon’s rolling hills, wildlife and a deep love for the community have shaped his life. In 2024, he decided to volunteer with Democracy Caledon, a non-profit advocacy group formed to oppose Groves’ use of strong mayor powers and council fast-tracking large-scale urban development and pre-zoning agricultural land without heeding public concerns.
Many residents now face a difficult choice at the ballot box after Groves’ turbulent tenure and retreat from her promise not to sell Caledon to developers: council veterans Christina Early and Mario Russo, or newcomers Alan Hart, Jagdeep Sacha and Manjit Bhondhi Saini.
“This election is going to be a turning point for this town,” Axworthy said.
“If Russo wins, what we love about Caledon is gone.”
The seeds of his frustration were sown in June 2024 when council voted on the 12 zoning bylaw amendments, drafted by developer lawyer Quinto Annibale, paving nearly 5,000 acres of agricultural land, the largest development plan in Caledon’s history.
Russo was among the councillors who voted in favour of the amendments despite the absence of a cost estimate for the water and wastewater infrastructure needed to support Caledon’s pledge to build 13,000 homes (about a third of what Groves forced through for the developers who wrote her 12 approved amendments). In 2023, the Region of Peel estimated that approximately $20.4 billion in water, wastewater and transportation infrastructure would be required to meet the provincial housing targets of Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon by 2031.
There was no fiscal plan completed to determine who will pay for this infrastructure or the impact it could have on Caledon taxpayers who may be forced to pay for the maligned plan, which has been compared to the PC government’s Greenbelt scandal that has been under RCMP investigation for over three years.
Only councillors Lynn Kiernan, Dave Sheen and Christina Early opposed the bylaws.
Early was asked about the 35,000 new units pushed through by Groves and a majority of council members earlier this term and if she would change course as mayor.
“Approving 26 years of growth in one term of Council without ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place was not a decision I could support,” Early told The Pointer.
“We cannot simply reverse decisions already made, but we can ensure future decisions are better planned, financially responsible and made with residents’ interests first."
It’s unclear why she would not reverse the decision, which Caledon residents overwhelmingly rejected. It would be well within her power as mayor to tear up the 12 amendments Groves pushed through to build 35,000 new homes.
“Growth should strengthen our communities, not overwhelm them,” Early said.
Russo was asked the same, regarding his decision to support the 35,000 new homes and whether he would make a decision on the issue differently as mayor.
“Yes, I will support slowing or delaying further approvals and development phases where infrastructure cannot support them,” he said.
“I will use holding provisions, subdivision conditions and development agreements where legally available to tie development to demonstrated servicing and road capacity.”
Former minister of municipal affairs and housing Paul Calandra, the Region of Peel and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority all stated the pre-zoning was premature.
Town staff reassured the bylaws included holding provisions that require future secondary plans, infrastructure servicing confirmations, and environmental studies before the legislation can be ratified into official planning policy, triggering construction.
“I supported the June 2024 zoning by-laws, with holds,” Russo said.
“Those lands were already inside Caledon’s urban boundary or existing settlement areas. Further planning and servicing requirements remained after the zoning approvals.”
Critics who reject Russo’s stance, that a terrible, developer-driven decision which he supported can now somehow be responsibly controlled, saw the vote as a starting point for a 4–5 voting bloc.
Residents want the bylaw amendments torn up. Full stop.
In December 2024, Democracy Caledon filed a notice of application against the Town of Caledon in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice challenging the zoning bylaws for violating section 24 of Ontario’s Planning Act and section 273 of the Municipal Act, 2001 by failing to conform to the official plans of Caledon and the Region of Peel. The group had their hearing in May this year; Justice Rosemarie Juginovic did not issue a decision, instead reserving her ruling, which could take several months.
In less than two weeks, the motion was voted on, after only three residents were able to voice their concerns during a public question period with only Sheen, Kiernan, de Boer and Early opposing.
Among the council members who voted in favour, Ward 5 councillor Tony Rosa received a $1,200 campaign contribution from Nicola Cortellucci. Ward 1 Councillor Christina Early received the same amount (she voted alongside the residents in opposition), according to the Town’s 2022 candidate results and financial statements.
Early said her 2026 campaign is not being funded by developers, unlike the 2022 municipal elections when she received $14,900 (42.4 percent) from donors connected to the development and construction industry, according to A Better Caledon report card prepared by Caledon resident Katherine Wilson. For Russo, the share was higher: 57.6 percent.
“In May 2025, I supported the amended motion establishing a conditional process requiring studies, public consultation and a further report to Council before an agreement could be entered into,” Russo explained.
Two months later, the Town proposed to revise its fill bylaw—a connection that many saw as more than just a coincidence.
The existing fill bylaw restrictions made Swan Lake, zoned extractive industrial, ineligible for a fill permit.
On the other hand, the Town’s draft Site Alteration Bylaw, meant to modernize the 18-year-old fill regulations, included ambiguous language with frequent use of “may” and “shall,” a fragmented public notification process, all of which undermine clarity and public engagement while giving the commissioners of engineering, public works and transportation the power to approve permits, decide if public meetings are required and override Council approval for large projects.
After months of media reports, fierce public pressure, packed Town Hall meetings and provincial support for Swan Lake by Liberal MPP Ted Hsu, council temporarily halted the plan to allow the developer to fill the lake with construction waste following a motion brought forward by Russo.
Both him and Early committed to opposing filling Swan Lake and will not be supporting the proposal’s revival.
“The next mayor has to do their job and work for the constituents of Caledon,” Belain Farm owner Anna de Langley, whose property borders Swan Lake, told The Pointer.
“We don’t want any more strong mayor powers. We don't want flip-flopping on things like the 413. We want someone that actually cares about the residents, and cares about the farmland and will protect it.
“It's like the mistakes of the farmers 30 years ago that sold to all these aggregate people and developers; now it's all coming to fruition, and we’re the ones paying the price.”
During the debate, all five candidates stated that they reject the use of strong mayor powers.
Early and Russo also say they oppose the proposed CBM blasting quarry that plans to extract up to 2.5 million tonnes of limestone, sand, and gravel annually from below the water table using controlled blasting—completely altering the landscape in the town, already scarred by the aggregate industry’s moonscapes and trucks that jam roads throughout the town.
In April, Early successfully put forward a motion proposing to update a 2024 vibrations and nuisance bylaw and build stricter noise standards to protect residents and businesses 24 hours a day from loud vibrations from industrial sites, pits and quarries rather than only during designated nighttime hours; it was unanimously approved.
However, the decision was in direct contrast to Early’s 2020 vote in favour of a pit expansion — the James Dick/Erin pit, which doubled an existing pit in Erin and eventually encroached into Caledon.
She said she did not believe she had voted for the pit expansion while defending the EA as a ‘potential good decision’, adding that she recused herself from related matters due to her family’s property being affected by the proposed highway corridor—however, that was after voting to fast-track the assessment.
A year later, when Russo was serving as Regional Councillor for Wards 4, 5 and 6, he voted against a motion to disavow former mayor Allan Thompson for securing a provincial zoning order for a 502-acre warehouse development (that engulfed six homes) without council or public support—Early voted in favour. However, both of them opposed a motion seeking records of communications between Thompson, Town staff and the province about MZOs from July to December 2022.
In 2023, they were also among five councillors who refused to reverse a 25 percent pay increase (motion brought forward by Groves), which raised councillors’ salaries from $40,080 to $49,841 — an increase ten times the average rate of inflation at the time.
During the debate, mayoral candidate Jagdeep Sacha said he has heard residents complain about “very high” taxes already; he plans to address that by focusing on generating employment and business opportunities.
Manjit Bhondhi Saini wants to do a line-by-line budget review to protect taxpayers and essential services, and identify infrastructure gaps tied to approved growth, if elected.
Alan Hart argued that a fresh pair of eyes and leadership is exactly what Caledon needs to avoid being “known as the warehouse and trucking hub of Canada”.
Early wants to shift Caledon’s current approach from logistics to attracting commercial businesses while creating “complete communities” and easing barriers for agritourism—an area where Russo wants to invest as well, with the addition of investment in research and development, healthcare and post-secondary education instead of ‘pigeonholing’.
Despite being one of the GTA’s fastest-growing municipalities, Caledon remains car-dependent, with limited public transit and heavy trucks hauling concrete and aggregate along its roads — traffic that has claimed residents’ lives and left families fearing for the safety of their loved ones.
When Connors asked if any of the candidates would impose a moratorium on further truck-dependent industrial development until measurable safety improvements are in place, Early and Russo stopped short of committing to one, instead pointing to infrastructure upgrades, truck enforcement and local traffic solutions. They also pledged to address congestion along Highway 50.
“I believe the province should seriously examine how Highway 407 could be better utilized to relieve congestion across the region,” Early added.
As Caledon heads toward election day on October 26, a simmering undercurrent of discontent has hardened into a deep community divide as Early and Russo supporters trade accusations—rooted in a fear of preventing a “Groves 2.0”.
Candidates were also asked how they planned to prevent a potential 73 percent tax increase for Caledon households — $80 million annually in new costs — when 1,620 kilometres of regional roads are transferred to the Town of Caledon on July 1, 2027.
Russo believes Caledon “should not accept” a transfer that would cripple the town financially; the province must adequately “subsidize” to cover the costs as the population grows, especially since the roads serve traffic beyond Caledon’s borders for movement of goods.
“I joke that I might have to put a border crossing or a literal turnstile at Mayfield Road and Highway 9,” Russo said.
Early targetted Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish’s claims that she would save $30 million and use those savings to help keep taxes down. While there has been discussion about the province subsidizing municipalities, municipalities don’t know what those figures would be yet.
“I do not think we have a complete picture of what the July 2027 transition will look like,” she said, noting that CAOs are still crunching those numbers.
“I would be lying if I told you I could say exactly what the financial impact would look like right now.”
She argues the first priority must be to determine the total costs and financial implications, and then work with both Brampton and Mississauga as well as Queen’s Park to ensure the transition can happen without placing an unreasonable burden on taxpayers.
Whoever fate and voters have in store for Caledon, ecoCaledon co-secretary Betty de Groot wants the “next mayor to know that this is a community that cares, that has their eyes open and is alert to what the environment needs”.
“We don’t like being outwinked. We like honesty…the way things have gone, especially in that last term, we don't like to be lied to,” she told The Pointer.
“We want to know what we’re signing up for, and we want to believe in the people’s word even after the election.”
Former Ward 1 councillor Lynn Kiernan, who is not seeking re-election, reflected on her eight years in office that gave her a “ringside seat” to “one of the most consequential and difficult periods in Caledon’s municipal history” — “a clear example of why Caledon needs a change of leadership”.
“I have watched our community confront extraordinary growth pressures, significant changes in provincial policy, the introduction of strong-mayor powers and a changing relationship between Council and senior administration,” she said in a statement.
“I have also seen something more troubling: a deterioration in the respect and collegiality that should underpin good local government.
“In my view, this culture was set and supported by Mayor Groves and [her hire] CAO Nathan Hyde.”
She criticized the former mayor for fostering a culture that discouraged dissent and marginalized councillors who challenged decisions.
Kiernan observed a majority voting bloc was becoming a means of silencing opposition rather than advancing policy. At times, she experienced it too.
“Residents should not be fooled again by promises of accountability, collaboration and respect if the conduct and culture of the past four years are allowed to continue,” she said.
“Caledon will continue to grow and change. There will be difficult votes and passionate disagreements. That is democracy. But respect should never depend upon agreement.
“Public service should be demanding. It should never have to be demeaning.”
Email: anushka.yadav@thepointer.com
At a time when vital public information is needed by everyone, The Pointer has taken down our paywall on all stories to ensure every resident of Brampton, Mississauga and Niagara has access to the facts. For those who are able, we encourage you to consider a subscription. This will help us report on important public interest issues the community needs to know about now more than ever. You can register for a 30-day free trial HERE. Thereafter, The Pointer will charge $10 a month and you can cancel any time right on the website. Thank you
Copyright 2026, The Pointer. All rights reserved.
Anushka Yadav, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Pointer.
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Caledon’s next mayor inherits a town divided over how far growth should go
Annette Groves retired after backlash over rezoning plans that opened the door to 35,000 homes.
On a chilly Monday at the beginning of October, Caledon resident Al Axworthy carefully drove past a line of trucks to one of the 12 parcels of land former mayor Annette Groves prematurely rezoned using her strong mayor powers, opening the door to 35,000 new homes — three times the provincial target — with little public consultation.
As he passed the intersection of Queen and King streets in Bolton, Axworthy recalled standing there with Groves in 2022, protesting Highway 413.
“And now she’s been out there with Doug Ford saying this is the greatest thing; we need this,” he said. He paused, before continuing: “I voted for her.”
In the 2022 municipal election, voters were desperate for change, having witnessed the damage done by previous mayor Allan Thompson, who had quietly pushed warehouse development in the Greenbelt, violating several environmental and land-use planning policies.
Thompson was part of a majority group of pro-development council members that included Jennifer Innis. Both of their families have significant land interests and will profit handsomely from the construction of sprawling subdivisions on vast tracts of farmland.
Innis ran for mayor in 2022 to replace Thompson, with his blessing, but was quickly confronted by a fierce anti-sprawl, anti-413 Highway, anti-freight village campaign that swept Groves into the mayor’s office.
Groves and Innis had opposed each other on growth-related votes for more than a decade, and the rookie mayor vowed four years ago to make good on her sacred campaign vow to keep development in check and protect Caledon’s verdant stretches of beloved greenspace from rapacious developers. Groves seemed like an obvious choice to lead Caledon with diametrically opposing views to Innis: One promised more walkable communities, transit, climate-conscious planning and protection for rural and environmentally sensitive lands. The other favoured a more conventional suburban expansion, with sprawling subdivisions, car-dependent neighbourhoods and Highway 413 cutting through the Greenbelt.
“I will ensure that developers do not plan our community but the people plan our own community and our future,” Groves said, pledging “growth will pay for growth” and infrastructure will be “in place before development happens”.
Using her past record of voting on key council land use issues, she promised to continue pushing back against urban sprawl-inducing ministerial zoning orders (MZO). She described the provincial government tool that overrides local planning authority as an “undemocratic” approach that “circumvents the public process”. Groves said the use of MZOs leads to poor planning that favours private interests, pushing warehousing and distribution centers and a stifling “freight village” future for Caledon that would force large property tax increases.
Almost immediately after her election, with Caledon voters filled with hope for their future, Groves tore up her sacred promises and threw them in the dust bin.
Her four-year tenure was effectively managed by a group of powerful developers, who literally wrote Caledon’s planning policies, under Annette Groves’ name.
Following intense public backlash, Groves announced her retirement on April 24, leaving behind a “legacy undone by terrible decisions” that failed to guard the unique character of the rustic villages and hamlets and rolling spaces she once vowed to protect.
“They [council] gifted the Town of Caledon to the developers…She ran on a strong public interest platform, and to do the exact opposite was such a betrayal to so many people,” Cheryl Connors, running to be the next Councillor for Ward 4, told The Pointer.
“It also makes it really hard for anyone who wants to enter public service in the future because it feeds this jaded sentiment that politicians just say whatever it takes to get elected.”
In a move that stunned residents across Caledon who had just voted for her, Groves brought forward 13 bylaw amendments shortly after her election. Without any public consultation, the zoning changes would add about 100,000 residents to the town, more than doubling Caledon’s current population.
It was a jaw-dropping move that left the mayor’s supporters feeling utterly betrayed after they had been led to believe Groves would do the exact opposite. Instead of standing up to developers, she was suddenly taking her marching orders from them.
It was soon learned that the amendments Groves dropped from nowhere onto the legislative agenda had not been written by planning staff governed by the Town’s official plan and the Region of Peel’s growth master plans. They were written by a development lawyer representing one of the building consortiums that stands to make huge profits from the construction of residential subdivisions.
Axworthy shook his head that day, two weeks ago. He recalled the faith he put in Groves. He continued driving along Columbia Way toward the A8 parcel, one of the dozen that was eventually approved for massive new development. He passed the site without realizing it—something was different.
“Is that a new building?” He seemed astounded, his eyes wide with confusion.
The once-green, open farmland had become ‘unrecognizable’, with trees cleared away to make room for a Solmar development office suddenly standing next to the road.
“It was completely different.”
Just as a bulldozer’s engine rumbled on the site, its warning beeps piercing the air, its metal bucket scraping and digging into the ground, Bolton resident Marnie Singleton, who lives steps away from the A8 parcel, joined Axworthy.
Singleton, who has lived in the area since 2009, recently retired. After years of work and time spent away from home, she was looking forward to enjoying the changing fall colours from her window: “That’s always been a beautiful part of my life.”
She had little idea what was coming until one day while driving home, she noticed that the row of trees on the A8 parcel had disappeared.
“That broke my heart.”
“I know it will provide homes for a lot of people…I just don’t understand why they have to take the trees down outside the tree line or outside the fence line.”
Her biggest concern? “Losing farmland”.
While she understands Caledon needs new housing to accommodate the projected 300,000 residents by 2051, Singleton questions whether the town’s existing infrastructure can cope with the cumulative demands of development.
“Further down this road is the Townline between Caledon and Vaughan, and there’s an intersection there that they’re [Town staff] predicting is going to be overwhelmed by the volume of traffic that this site [A8] is going to create,” Axworthy noted.
There is already congestion along Townline Road and Highway 50 “in the mornings”, especially, Singleton added. “Add snow to that mix? It’s a recipe for a disaster”.
“They are going to add 122,000 people to Caledon, a town that currently is 80,000…the road infrastructure as it exists, there are bottlenecks with 80,000. What’s going to happen when they throw another pair?,” Axworthy added.
On October 19, he headed to the final mayoral debate hosted by the Caledon Chamber of Commerce at Caesar’s Centre in Bolton, and settled in a chair, ready with a pen and notebook to take notes.
For 45 years, Caledon’s rolling hills, wildlife and a deep love for the community have shaped his life. In 2024, he decided to volunteer with Democracy Caledon, a non-profit advocacy group formed to oppose Groves’ use of strong mayor powers and council fast-tracking large-scale urban development and pre-zoning agricultural land without heeding public concerns.
Like many residents, he now faces a difficult choice at the ballot box after Groves’ turbulent tenure and retreat from her promise not to sell Caledon to developers: council veterans Christina Early and Mario Russo, or newcomers Alan Hart, Jagdeep Sacha and Manjit Bhondhi Saini.
“This election is going to be a turning point for this town,” Axworthy said.
“I fear if Russo wins, what we love about Caledon is gone.”
The seeds of his frustration were sown in June 2024 when council voted on the 12 zoning bylaw amendments, drafted by developer lawyer Quinto Annibale, paving nearly 5,000 acres of agricultural land, the largest development plan in Caledon’s history.
Russo was among the councillors who voted in favour of the amendments despite the Region of Peel estimating that servicing 13,000 housing units alone (about a third of what Groves forced through for the developers who wrote her 12 approved amendments).
There was no fiscal plan completed to determine who will pay for this infrastructure or the impact it could have on Caledon taxpayers who may be forced to pay for the maligned plan, which has been compared to the PC government’s Greenbelt scandal that has been under RCMP investigation for over three years.
Only councillors Lynn Kiernan, Dave Sheen and Christina Early opposed the bylaws.
Early was asked about the 35,000 new units pushed through by Groves and a majority of council members earlier this term and if she would change course as mayor.
“Approving 26 years of growth in one term of Council without ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place was not a decision I could support,” Early told The Pointer.
“We cannot simply reverse decisions already made, but we can ensure future decisions are better planned, financially responsible and made with residents’ interests first."
It’s unclear why she would not reverse the decision, which Caledon residents overwhelmingly rejected. It would be well within her power as mayor to tear up the 12 amendments Groves pushed through to build 35,000 new homes.
“Growth should strengthen our communities, not overwhelm them,” Early said.
Russo was asked the same, regarding his decision to support the 35,000 new homes and whether he would make a decision on the issue differently as mayor.
“Yes, I will support slowing or delaying further approvals and development phases where infrastructure cannot support them,” he said.
“I will use holding provisions, subdivision conditions and development agreements where legally available to tie development to demonstrated servicing and road capacity.”
Former minister of municipal affairs and housing Paul Calandra, the Region of Peel and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority all stated the pre-zoning was premature.
Town staff reassured the bylaws included holding provisions that require future secondary plans, infrastructure servicing confirmations, and environmental studies before the legislation can be ratified into official planning policy, triggering construction.
“I supported the June 2024 zoning by-laws, with holds,” Russo said.
“Those lands were already inside Caledon’s urban boundary or existing settlement areas. Further planning and servicing requirements remained after the zoning approvals.”
Critics who reject Russo’s stance, that a terrible, developer-driven decision which he supported can now somehow be responsibly controlled, saw the vote as a starting point for a 4–5 voting bloc.
Residents want the bylaw amendments torn up. Full stop.
In December 2024, Democracy Caledon filed a notice of application against the Town of Caledon in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice challenging the zoning bylaws for violating section 24 of Ontario’s Planning Act and section 273 of the Municipal Act, 2001 by failing to conform to the official plans of Caledon and the Region of Peel. The group had their hearing in May this year; Justice Rosemarie Juginovic did not issue a decision, instead reserving her ruling, which could take several months.
In less than two weeks, the motion was voted on, after only three residents were able to voice their concerns during a public question period with only Sheen, Kiernan, de Boer and Early opposing.
Among the council members who voted in favour, Ward 5 councillor Tony Rosa received a $1,200 campaign contribution from Nicola Cortellucci. Ward 1 Councillor Christina Early received the same amount (she voted alongside the residents in opposition), according to the Town’s 2022 candidate results and financial statements.
Early said her 2026 campaign is not being funded by developers, unlike the 2022 municipal elections when she received $14,900 (42.4 percent) from donors connected to the development and construction industry, according to A Better Caledon report card prepared by Caledon resident Katherine Wilson. For Russo, the share was higher: 57.6 percent.
“In May 2025, I supported the amended motion establishing a conditional process requiring studies, public consultation and a further report to Council before an agreement could be entered into,” Russo explained.
Two months later, the Town proposed to revise its fill bylaw—a connection that many saw as more than just a coincidence.
The existing fill bylaw restrictions made Swan Lake, zoned extractive industrial, ineligible for a fill permit.
On the other hand, the Town’s draft Site Alteration Bylaw, meant to modernize the 18-year-old fill regulations, included ambiguous language with frequent use of “may” and “shall,” a fragmented public notification process, all of which undermine clarity and public engagement while giving the commissioners of engineering, public works and transportation the power to approve permits, decide if public meetings are required and override Council approval for large projects.
After months of media reports, fierce public pressure, packed Town Hall meetings and provincial support for Swan Lake by Liberal MPP Ted Hsu, council temporarily halted the plan to allow the developer to fill the lake with construction waste following a motion brought forward by Russo.
Both him and Early committed to opposing filling Swan Lake and will not be supporting the proposal’s revival.
“The next mayor has to do their job and work for the constituents of Caledon,” Belain Farm owner Anna de Langley, whose property borders Swan Lake, told The Pointer.
“We don’t want any more strong mayor powers. We don't want flip-flopping on things like the 413. We want someone that actually cares about the residents, and cares about the farmland and will protect it.
“It's like the mistakes of the farmers 30 years ago that sold to all these aggregate people and developers; now it's all coming to fruition, and we’re the ones paying the price.”
During the debate, all five candidates stated that they reject the use of strong mayor powers.
Early and Russo also say they oppose the proposed CBM blasting quarry that plans to extract up to 2.5 million tonnes of limestone, sand, and gravel annually from below the water table using controlled blasting—completely altering the landscape in the town, already scarred by the aggregate industry’s moonscapes and trucks that jam roads throughout the town.
In April, Early successfully put forward a motion proposing to update a 2024 vibrations and nuisance bylaw and build stricter noise standards to protect residents and businesses 24 hours a day from loud vibrations from industrial sites, pits and quarries rather than only during designated nighttime hours; it was unanimously approved.
However, the decision was in direct contrast to Early’s 2020 vote in favour of a pit expansion — the James Dick/Erin pit, which doubled an existing pit in Erin and eventually encroached into Caledon.
She said she did not believe she had voted for the pit expansion while defending the EA as a ‘potential good decision’, adding that she recused herself from related matters due to her family’s property being affected by the proposed highway corridor—however, that was after voting to fast-track the assessment.
A year later, when Russo was serving as Regional Councillor for Wards 4, 5 and 6, he voted against a motion to disavow former mayor Allan Thompson for securing a provincial zoning order for a 502-acre warehouse development (that engulfed six homes) without council or public support—Early voted in favour. However, both of them opposed a motion seeking records of communications between Thompson, Town staff and the province about MZOs from July to December 2022.
In 2023, they were also among five councillors who refused to reverse a 25 percent pay increase (motion brought forward by Groves), which raised councillors’ salaries from $40,080 to $49,841 — an increase ten times the average rate of inflation at the time.
During the debate, mayoral candidate Jagdeep Sacha said he has heard residents complain about “very high” taxes already; he plans to address that by focusing on generating employment and business opportunities.
Manjit Bhondhi Saini wants to do a line-by-line budget review to protect taxpayers and essential services, and identify infrastructure gaps tied to approved growth, if elected.
Alan Hart argued that a fresh pair of eyes and leadership is exactly what Caledon needs to avoid being “known as the warehouse and trucking hub of Canada”.
Early wants to shift Caledon’s current approach from logistics to attracting commercial businesses while creating “complete communities” and easing barriers for agritourism—an area where Russo wants to invest as well, with the addition of investment in research and development, healthcare and post-secondary education instead of ‘pigeonholing’.
Despite being one of the GTA’s fastest-growing municipalities, Caledon remains car-dependent, with limited public transit and heavy trucks hauling concrete and aggregate along its roads — traffic that has claimed residents’ lives and left families fearing for the safety of their loved ones.
When Connors asked if any of the candidates would impose a moratorium on further truck-dependent industrial development until measurable safety improvements are in place, Early and Russo stopped short of committing to one, instead pointing to infrastructure upgrades, truck enforcement and local traffic solutions. They also pledged to address congestion along Highway 50.
“I believe the province should seriously examine how Highway 407 could be better utilized to relieve congestion across the region,” Early added.
As Caledon heads toward election day on October 26, a simmering undercurrent of discontent has hardened into a deep community divide as Early and Russo supporters trade accusations—rooted in a fear of preventing a “Groves 2.0”.
Candidates were also asked how they planned to prevent a potential 73 percent tax increase for Caledon households — $80 million annually in new costs — when 1,620 kilometres of regional roads are transferred to the Town of Caledon on July 1, 2027.
Russo believes Caledon “should not accept” a transfer that would cripple the town financially; the province must adequately “subsidize” to cover the costs as the population grows, especially since the roads serve traffic beyond Caledon’s borders for movement of goods.
“I joke that I might have to put a border crossing or a literal turnstile at Mayfield Road and Highway 9,” Russo said.
Early targetted Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish’s claims that she would save $30 million and use those savings to help keep taxes down. While there has been discussion about the province subsidizing municipalities, municipalities don’t know what those figures would be yet.
“I do not think we have a complete picture of what the July 2027 transition will look like,” she said, noting that CAOs are still crunching those numbers.
“I would be lying if I told you I could say exactly what the financial impact would look like right now.”
She argues the first priority must be to determine the total costs and financial implications, and then work with both Brampton and Mississauga as well as Queen’s Park to ensure the transition can happen without placing an unreasonable burden on taxpayers.
Whoever fate and voters have in store for Caledon, ecoCaledon co-secretary Betty de Groot wants the “next mayor to know that this is a community that cares, that has their eyes open and is alert to what the environment needs”.
“We don’t like being hoodwinked. We like honesty…the way things have gone, especially in that last term, we don't like to be lied to,” she told The Pointer.
“We want to know what we’re signing up for, and we want to believe in the people’s word even after the election.”
Former Ward 1 councillor Lynn Kiernan, who is not seeking re-election, reflected on her eight years in office that gave her a “ringside seat” to “one of the most consequential and difficult periods in Caledon’s municipal history” — “a clear example of why Caledon needs a change of leadership”.
“I have watched our community confront extraordinary growth pressures, significant changes in provincial policy, the introduction of strong-mayor powers and a changing relationship between Council and senior administration,” she said in a statement.
“I have also seen something more troubling: a deterioration in the respect and collegiality that should underpin good local government.
“In my view, this culture was set and supported by Mayor Groves and [her hire] CAO Nathan Hyde.”
She criticized the former mayor for fostering a culture that discouraged dissent and marginalized councillors who challenged decisions.
Kiernan observed a majority voting bloc was becoming a means of silencing opposition rather than advancing policy. At times, she experienced it too.
“Residents should not be fooled again by promises of accountability, collaboration and respect if the conduct and culture of the past four years are allowed to continue,” she said.
“Caledon will continue to grow and change. There will be difficult votes and passionate disagreements. That is democracy. But respect should never depend upon agreement.
“Public service should be demanding. It should never have to be demeaning.”
Email: anushka.yadav@thepointer.com
At a time when vital public information is needed by everyone, The Pointer has taken down our paywall on all stories to ensure every resident of Brampton, Mississauga and Niagara has access to the facts. For those who are able, we encourage you to consider a subscription. This will help us report on important public interest issues the community needs to know about now more than ever. You can register for a 30-day free trial HERE. Thereafter, The Pointer will charge $10 a month and you can cancel any time right on the website. Thank you
Copyright 2026, The Pointer. All rights reserved.
Anushka Yadav, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Pointer.
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13 choses qu'on veut vraiment voir lors de L'heure de vérité à OD Chez Nous
Le moment tant attendu de la saison d'OD Chez Nous, L'heure de vérité, sera diffusé le dimanche 6 décembre dès 18 h 30 et voici treize choses que les téléspectateurs espèrent voir.
Dès les premières semaines de l'aventure, plusieurs triangles amoureux et alliances se sont formés, créant ainsi des ambiguïtés et des déceptions pour certains participants.
D'autres candidats ont également entretenu des relations houleuses pendant leur parcours et il risque d'y avoir quelques règlements de compte.
Ça sent définitivement la bisbille.
La sélection de l'éditeur : Voici les régions qui ont encore le droit de se rassembler à Noël au Québec
Le commentaire de Jay Du Temple à Éloïse
C'est le moment le plus attendu de la saison depuis que Jay a mentionné à Éloïse, au souper avant son départ volontaire, qu'il exprimerait sa façon de penser à L'heure de vérité.
Les réactions de Carl
À plusieurs moments, Carl avec un C s'est emporté envers certaines situations.
On pense, entre autres, à quand il cherchait à boycotter le vote pour éliminer un couple, au moment où il voulait s'assurer qu'Andréanne buvait de l'eau après le party ou quand il a frappé les caméras qui suivaient Andréanne en larmes.
On verra si les autres candidats ont été aussi irrités par son comportement en visionnant les épisodes que certains membres du public et s'ils lui demanderont des comptes par rapport à ses actions.
Le triangle amoureux entre Julie-Anne, Naadei et Jordan
Le potentiel amoureux se serait peut-être davantage développé entre Naadei et Jordan si Julie-Anne d'OD Grèce n'avait pas fait partie de la twist ultime.
Plusieurs fans pensent même que Naadei aurait choisi Jordan plutôt que Patrick si les choses avaient été différentes, et ils espèrent certainement que la question soit posée à la candidate.
Charles qui voulait « régler des choses » avec Carl
Dans une vidéo partagée par Noovo après son aventure, Charles a mentionné vouloir valider des choses avec son ami :
« Je pense qu'il va falloir que je valide des choses avec Carl. Ce que j'ai vu m'a un peu déçu. »
Donc, Charles se prononcera peut-être sur ce qu'il désirait aborder.
Quand Karine s'est ouverte à Kevin face aux sentiments de Cintia
Pendant la soirée pyjama entre les gars et Karine, cette dernière a dévoilé plusieurs informations suite aux confidences de Cintia, ce qui a semé la bisbille dans les maisons.
Alors, on veut savoir ce qu'auront à dire Cintia et Kevin maintenant qu'ils ont visionné les épisodes.
Jordan qui était déçu de la délibération de Jamie
Après avoir visionné un segment de la délibération précédant l'élimination de Julie-Anne et Karine, Jordan était déçu d'entendre le discours de Jamie :
« Jamie aurait pu mettre ses culottes. […] Il s'est juste retiré, ce n'est pas la première fois. »
Il serait intéressant d'entendre Jordan lui dire ce qu'il pense.
La tension entre Charles-Éloïse et Vincent-Noémie
Suite aux informations rapportées par Éloïse grâce à sa tricherie, Charles a voulu évincer Noémie et Vincent, parce que ce dernier a voulu sortir Éloïse de la maison mixte en début d'aventure.
Comme présenté à La Semaine des 4 Julie dans le premier extrait de L'heure de vérité, Charles et Vincent se confronteront à ce sujet et le dénouement de cette histoire pourra enfin avoir lieu.
Les propos de Julie face à Julie-Anne
Lors de la présentation des anciens candidats qui débarquaient en milieu d'aventure, Julie a passé un commentaire à propos de Julie-Anne parce qu'elle n'avait pas répondu au message de Jordan sur Instagram :
« T'es pas en train de trouver un remède contre le cancer, fille. T'es influenceur tabarn*k. »
Quand Julie-Anne a vu cet extrait lors d'un jeu OD, elle n'a pas eu l'air d'apprécier. Elle décidera donc peut-être de confronter le coup de cœur du public sur le sujet.
Les commentaires sur le couple de Marjorie et Cintia
Après s'être affichées comme étant un couple, Marjorie et Cintia ont eu droit à plusieurs commentaires de la part des autres participants, dont Kevin, qui a comparé leur relation à leurs poitrines.
Cintia s'était dite triste d'entendre ce commentaire qu'elle juge sexiste.
Ce sera peut-être l'occasion pour Kevin de présenter ses excuses face à face maintenant que les filles ont regardé la saison.
Émilia qui confronte Jamie
Au début de la saison, Émilia avait un intérêt pour Jamie et elle l'a sauvé de l'élimination à deux reprises.
Quant à lui, Jamie se dirigeait davantage vers Stacey et il n'a pas protégé Émilia.
Durant le retour des exclus pour le vote en vue d'envoyer un troisième couple en finale, Émilia a d'ailleurs rappelé que sans elle, Jamie ne serait pas en finale.
Un moment croustillant s'annonce si elle décide de lui en parler.
Les sentiments de Karine pour Patrick
À sa sortie d'OD, Karine a confié croire qu'elle aurait eu plus de chances avec Patrick si elle était arrivée plus tôt ou si elle n'avait pas parlé de Naadei à Patrick.
On aimerait bien connaître l'avis de Patrick sur le sujet et que Naadei et Karine puissent revenir sur leur conversation à propos de l'ouverture de la première envers les gars de l'aventure.
La chicane entre Marjorie et Naadei
La dispute entre Naadei et Marjorie lorsque celle-ci a pris la Poppers de Naadei a divisé le public.
Lors d'une entrevue à Rouge FM, Naadei a exprimé ne pas partager d'affinités avec Marjorie et c'est pourquoi il y avait des frictions.
Dans l'extrait divulgué à La semaine des 4 Julie, il semblerait que les deux femmes sont prêtes à régler leur compte et puisqu'elles sont toutes les deux très articulées, ça risque d'être divertissant.
La relation entre Martine et les filles
Lorsqu'elle a été éliminée, Martine a avoué se sentir visée par les filles dans les maisons et avoir eu l'impression que tous les commentaires négatifs étaient dirigés vers elle.
Maintenant que les candidates ont écouté les épisodes, il serait intéressant d'en savoir plus sur leur version des faits.