The Brampton Centre MPP says the city needs a university and another hospital, supports the idea of cricket stadium
Brampton Centre MPP Sara Singh, who is also the deputy leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, says she is extremely disappointed at her hometown’s neglect by the ruling PC Party.
She says Brampton badly needs a university and another hospital as well as health support systems to take care of seniors and others.
In an interview, she says Mayor Patrick is doing a fine job and she’s not opposed to his idea of building a cricket stadium in the city because of Brampton’s fast-growing population of immigrants from cricket-playing nations such as India, Pakistan and the Caribbean.
Auto premiums in Brampton are way too high and her party’s fight won’t stop till these are reduced, she adds.
Excerpts from her interview with Lachman Balani:
Q. First things first. Tell us a little about your background.
I was born here in Brampton. My father is from Ropar (Rupnagar) in Punjab and my mother is from Berbice in Guyana. I have lived most of my life in Brampton.
Q. Some of our friends thought you were of Fijian origin!
Since my job as an MPP is mostly listening and tending to the concerns of our constituents and making sure they are brought up at the provincial level, I attend functions of different communities – like the Fiji Independence Day celebrations where the Fiji Park was inaugurated recently.
One of the butchers at my parent’s grocery store was from Fiji and I got to know many of the Fijian community through him, so I also have a special connection with them.
Q.How do you identify yourself? An Indo-Canadian or an Indo-Caribbean?
I always say I am Canadian but do also mention my roots so that people can understand the layers to my identity.
Q: How about your education? You must be bilingual?
I did most of my schooling here, though I did spend six years of primary school in Montreal.
Yes, I’m bilingual, not just from my school days but later I went to the bilingual Glendon campus of York University where I got my Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. I also have a Master of Arts in International development from St. Mary’s University in Halifax and recently got my PhD in policy studies from Ryerson University.
Q. As an MPP, what do you see are the pressing problems facing your constituents?
Well, I have been known to bring down the hammer for another hospital. I was born in Brampton in 1985 when there was just one hospital and here we are almost in 2022 and we still just have one hospital, despite the population having grown substantially.
As mentioned before, I have spent most of my life here and know Brampton from the grassroots level to the top. We not only need another fully operational hospital but also support systems in place that seniors can have access to in their homes instead of having to go to the hospital. That would ease the pressure on the hospitals.
For instance where mental health is concerned people have to wait two years to get help when such help can be made available immediately in the comfort of their homes. Even for disabilities, short or long term care that can be provided at home we are lacking in resources.
It’s not just the seniors but we are even short in resources to help our youth. I have a younger sister with Down syndrome and the wait times for support are horrendous. We have not received our fair share of funding and have less beds and staff per 1000 people than comparable cities and I fight strongly to right these wrongs.
The provincial government is not transparent at all regarding funding nor are they forthcoming in presenting a concrete plan for a very badly needed fully fledged hospital.
Q: Any other pressing demand? A university?
The first thing the provincial government did in 2018 was to scrap the $90 million program to build a university and there is no plan to revive it or another project in place. That is something we badly need and the provincial government is dragging its feet. I am extremely disappointed at their disregard where both hospitals and universities are concerned.
Q: How about high auto premiums in Brampton?
Yes, besides a new hospital, for which I have been relentlessly campaigning, and a top-notch university, people are concerned about car insurance rates. NDP has been fighting to end the discriminatory premiums insurance companies are charging based on postal codes.
Q. What do you think about Mayor Patrick Brown?
Mayor Brown is doing an excellent job at working with all levels of government and looking out for Brampton’s best interests.
Q. Do you support the proposed cricket sports facility which has been criticized as too expensive?
We have allocated money for hockey rinks and other sports and there should be something for a cricket stadium as it is a growing sport in Brampton, given all the people of Pakistani, Indian and West Indian origin.
Q. How do you see your role as NDP deputy leader?
It entails substituting for Andrea Horwath, NDP’s provincial leader, whenever she is not available, say for instance at press conferences. Also lending support to her wherever and whenever possible and working on her behalf and providing her with valuable input and also playing the devil’s advocate for many issues.
Q. Finally, what’s your topmost wish?
I am very passionate about getting Brampton a new hospital and all the adjoining necessary support systems as mentioned before and will keep at it tirelessly.
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