Basement Apartments: Residents

Vicky Dhillon Dept: Immigrants want the basement apartments; they need them, says Councillor Vicky Dhillon. There s intolerance from some people, according to The Star. Councillor Grant Gibson, chair of the city s bylaw committee, says residents are also worried about overcrowding at schools and safety issues, specifically fire code violations and brampton residents are riled up over an issue that has divided the city along cultural lines, with immigrant groups demanding that basement apartments be legalized while others remain steadfastly opposed. The Ontario government has passed legislation that came into effect the beginning of the year and required municipalities to legalize basement apartments. It was seen as a way to help cut waiting lists for affordable housing but many people in Brampton expressed concern that driveways, front lawns and residential streets would be overrun with cars, and garbage would be piled up along the sides of homes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.