April 7, 2021 - City of Mississauga's New Construction Pest Control Program

At the March 31, 2021 General Committee meeting, Geoff Wright - City Commissioner of Transportation & Works Dept. presented the Report    'Construction Pest Control Program for City of Mississauga Projects' dated March 18, 2021.  To view this report, please open the following:  https://pub-mississauga.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=10925#page=66


At the City Council meeting on April 7, 2021 the above report was officially approved by Council. As a result, all upcoming City of Mississauga construction projects will have measures in place to address the issue of rats/pests from impacting neighbourhoods where city construction projects take place.


The above was one of three requests made by the AHHRA to be implemented in addressing the problem of rats in the City. The other two were for a subsidy program to assist residents in the expenses incurred of eliminating rats from their properties. This has been done with the Region of Peel's Rat Control Subsidy Pilot Program which began on Jan. 4, 2021 and continues to March 31, 2022. The third request was for the issue of rats to be included in the City's Property Standard's By-Law #41 on Pest Prevention as well as with Animal Services with language specific to deterring and preventing rats from burrowing in residential areas/properties. The AHHRA continues to address this third request with City staff.

Region of Peel's Rat Control Subsidy Program - Phase 2, March 22, 2021 to March 31, 2022

Phase 2 of the Region of Peel's Rat Control Subsidy Program began on March 22, 2021 and runs until March 31, 2022.

Region of Peel - Rat Control Subsidy Pilot Program, Phase 1 begins Jan. 4, 2021

January 4, 2021 - Phase 1 of the Region of Peel's Rat Control Subsidy Pilot Program has begun!   For complete information on this first ever program in the Region and City of Mississauga as well as the application form to submit for your reimbursement please go to:

Peel Public Health and Informational Summary on Keeping Rats off your property is available at https://www.peelregion.ca/health/environNew/bugs-pets/rats.htm

The AHHRA continues to address this concern for our community with Region of Peel Staff, Ward Councillor and City of Mississauga Staff. 

* This includes request for City of Mississauga's Property Standards by-law to include specific language of rats in section 41 of this by-law to include enforcement in the case of  lack of property maintenance which would allow for rats. 

* And, second with the Region to include condominium buildings, townhouse complexes as well as rental buildings in the Subsidy control program.  (Currently the program is only for detached and semi-detached properties in the Region of Peel).

Further updates will be posted when available. 

Media Coverage on the matter of rats

Below is the media coverage on the matter of rats in Applewood and Mississauga:

From 2019

From 2015

Region of Peel Council Meeting, videos & approved motion on matter of rats

September 10, 2020

Initial motion on a rat subsidy program for the Region of Peel presented and discussed at the Region of Peel Council meeting. 

October 8, 2020

Follow up to rat matter can be viewed at the Region of Peel Council meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0zqiAEqseo from 1:39:05 - 2:59:35

Region of Peel Approved minutes of this meeting with matter of approved rat motion can be read at this link on pages 392 - 395: https://pub-peelregion.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=5112

October 9th, 2020 Update on rat matter

At the October 8th, 2020 Region of Peel Council meeting a 12 -month pilot project to address the rat issue in the Region of Peel was approved. This is very positive news for all residents in the Region of Peel and especially to those of the Applewood communities.

The AHHRA members and residents initiated this great concern and the need for action to be taken by the Region of Peel and City of Mississauga in addressing this serious problem and the great impact it was having on the them for several years and even more so this past spring and summer of 2020.

In summary:

On June 4, 2020 the AHHRA members and residents began to address this rat problem with the Region of Peel's Director of the Department of Healthy. After weeks of communicating with the Region of Peel staff in addressing this disturbing problem in Applewood and asking for action to be taken to eliminate the rats from the area and properties as well as asking for a community meeting to be held for the residents to address their concerns it was agreed that a meeting would take place.

On July 17, 2020, Ward 3 Councillor Fonseca then decided to address this matter which was being made known by the AHHRA and constituents in Ward 3. A virtual community meeting was held on August 11, 2020 which was later followed by a motion requested by the AHHRA of Councillor Fonseca to present to Region of Peel Council.

On September 10th, 2020 the first motion on rat issue was presented. A financial feasability report was needed to provide further information on what the cost to the Region would be for a rat/pest program to be implemented before it could be voted on and for this reason the decision on this motion was postponed to the October 8, 2020 Region of Peel Council meeting.

To view the Region of Peel's media release on this matter go to https://peelregion.ca/news/archiveitem.asp?year=2020&month=9&day=9&file=202099.xml

Thank you to all AHHRA members and residents who joined in this important community effort of which all residents of Peel will benefit from. With appreciation also to the Region of Peel Council members for understanding the great need for this rat/pest program and approving this motion.

Our efforts continue as we have communicated Councillor Fonseca asking for immeditate relief to the impacted residents in the Applewood area in dealing with the problem and for the City of Mississauga Property Standards by-law section 41 on Pest Prevention to be reviewed and include specific language to the matter of rat measures and enforcement.

Sept. 15, 2020 Update on Rats

On September 10th, a presentation was made by AHHRA members, Region of Peel staff, a motion by Ward 3 Councillor addressing the rat issue for Applewood and for the Region of Peel.

After an almost 2 hour discussion, the decision was for a financial report to be made and presented at the October 8th, 2020 Region of Peel Council meeting outlining the cost impact of the proposals being made from the motion and discussion in addressing this rat issue for the Region and impacted residents.

To view the Region of Peel Sept. 10th, meeting addressing this matter go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RDFj-9nhLE&feature=youtu.be with the time of this discussion starting from 23:00 to 2:05:55 The community now awaits the October 8th report to be made and continues to update and address futher concerns to Councillor Fonseca and Ward 1 Councillor Dasko.

For any questions, concerns, feedback or if you are also experiencing this same problem and live in the Region of Peel please let us know.

Use the contact tab on this site to connect with us.

A list of impacted residents has been created along with photos and videos of what the commuity has witnessed. As has been understood from the meeting's discussion, this matter is long overdue for the Region of Peel and residents need a favourable resolution to be made available to them at the earliest.

August 12, 2020 Follow up to August 11, 2020 Community meeting on rats

After yesterday’s virtual meeting on the rat concerns in our area with the Region of Peel, City of Mississauga staff, Dr. Corrigan and with the over 60 residents who expressed interest on the rat problem, the following are the recommended steps to be taken by all residents who are experiencing rat sightings on their properties.

Please share this information with neighbours and friends who you know are also experiencing rat problems on their properties. We need to work together as a community.

Residents who are experiencing rat sightings are asked to:

1. Contact 311 – to report the problem you are having with the City of Mississauga.

*When you make your call, please remember to ask for and receive a Service Request number for your call from the 311 staff member.

*You should be given one and with this you will be able to follow up on this matter in the future when calling back to 311 to learn of the action that was taken by the City in addressing your concern/service request.

2. Contact your local Councillor’s office to express the rat problem you are having:

*For Ward 3 it is Councillor Fonseca at 905.896.5300

*For ward 1 it is Councillor Dasko at 905.896.5100

*If you are in another Ward please go to the following page to find your Councillor and contact number http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/cityhall/mayorandcouncil

3. Contact via email the Applewood Hills & Heights Residents’ Association (AAHRA) at applewoodresidents@gmail.com to let us know of the rat problem you are having or go to the Contact tab of this website to connect with an AHHRA lead member. In your email, please include your:

*name,

*your address and Ward Councillor

*for how long you have been having this rat problem and

*let us know how you have dealt with this up to now o confirm if you have contacted 311 and your Councillor

*email us any photos you have of rat sightings and/or rats you have caught

*keep us updated on what is happening with your continued concerns.

Feel free to contact the AHHRA via email at any time to address and discuss further. A file is maintained by the AHHRA with community feedback and photos as we continue to work together with City Councillors and Region of Peel staff on this community to end this rat infestation problem and for its effective resolution at the earliest.

Thank you to Everyone in working together on this community effort to which we are all working towards an effective resolution at the earliest in partnership with the City of Mississauga Councillors and Region of Peel staff!

August 12, 2020 The AHHRA Action Steps for Addressing Rat Infestation in Applewood

After yesterday’s virtual meeting on the rat concerns in our area with the Region of Peel, City of Mississauga staff, Dr. Corrigan and with the over 60 residents who expressed interest on the rat problem, the following are the recommended steps to be taken by all residents who are experiencing rat sightings on their properties. Please share this information with neighbours and friends who you know are also experiencing rat problems on their properties. We need to work together as a community.

Residents who are experiencing rat sightings are asked to:

1. Contact 311 – to report the problem you are having with the City of Mississauga. 

*When you make your call, please remember to ask for and receive a Service Request number for your call from the 311 staff member.

*You should be given one and with this you will be able to follow up on this matter in the future when calling back to 311 to learn of the action that was taken by the City in addressing your concern/service request.

2. Contact your local Councillor’s office to express the rat problem you are having

*For Ward 3 it is Councillor Fonseca at 905.896.5300

*For ward 1 it is Councillor Dasko at 905.896.5100

*If you are in another Ward please go to the following page to find your Councillor and contact number http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/cityhall/mayorandcouncil

3. Contact via email the Applewood Hills & Heights Residents’ Association (AAHRA) at applewoodresidents@gmail.com to let us know of the rat problem you are having or go to the Contact tab of this website to connect with an AHHRA lead member.

In your email, please include your:

*name,

*your address and Ward Councillor

*for how long you have been having this rat problem and 

*let us know how you have dealt with this up to now o confirm if you have contacted 311 and your Councillor

*email us any photos you have of rat sightings and/or rats you have caught

*keep us updated on what is happening with your continued concerns.

Feel free to contact the AHHRA via email at any time to address and discuss further. A file is maintained by the AHHRA with community feedback and photos as we continue to work together with City Councillors and Region of Peel staff on this community to end this rat infestation problem and for its effective resolution at the earliest.

Thank you to Everyone in working together on this community effort to which we are all working towards an effective resolution at the earliest in partnership with the City of Mississauga Councillors and Region of Peel staff!

Important Community Meeting on Rats in area on Tuesday, August 11 from 7 - 8:30 pm

In the AHHRA's ongoing committment to our community, a meeting has been requested with the Region of Peel and City of Mississauga staff to address the rat problem and sightings in the area and to establish effective solutions to this continuous problem not only in Applewood but for all areas in Mississauga.

All residents are welcome to join this very important virtual meeting with the Region of Peel and City of Mississauga staff on rat concerns in the area.   

Meeting information:

Date:  Tuesday, August 11th, 2020

Time:  7 pm - 8:30 pm

Access:  Online access will be forwarded to all who wish to join upon reply confirming you wish to join the meeting.

For more information on meeting and to confirm your attendance please email the AHHRA at applewoodresidents@gmail.com or by going to the Contact tab of this website to reply.

Thank you!