Brampton Fire Tragedy: Unchecked Rentals & City Enforcement

0:00A deadly fire at a Brampton home on Bannisway last November killed four family members and sent four others to the hospital, including a pregnant woman who lost her baby. The cause is still unknown, with the office of the fire marshal investigating. Right away, Mayor Patrick Brown pointed fingers at the absentee landlord for running an illegal basement unit, saying the city had been denied entry. Before, records paint a different picture. Showing the city got complaints about an unregistered basement apartment as far back as August 2019. They ordered fixes, closed the case in November 2020 after compliance, but a second complaint that August got paused due to COVID. Then, in March 2021, the owners got a permit for a two-unit dwelling, but skipped required inspections despite orders and a possible $50,000 fine. Former counselor Jeff Bowman is calling out the city for scrambling to cover up its spotty enforcement record. He says they dropped the ball, especially during COVID, when inspections load.

1:03The mayor's quick blame on the landlord doesn't mash the paper trail of warnings with drawn prosecutions and no follow-through. Brampton's been battling a surge in fires from illegal basement units, which make escapes and firefighting tougher. Their firemaster plan highlights the risks, and a rental licensing pilot expanded citywide just weeks after this blaze to crack down on unsafe spots. As the probe drags on, this tragedy spotlights the real dangers in unchecked rentals, pushing Brampton to tighten rules and keep families safe from moving forward. Calgary News Today, powered by AI Bringing You What Matters, I'm Corey with the story.