Your home is your castle.

Everyone wants to feel safe and secure in the place they call “home.” You work hard for it; you pay for it. Your beloved family lives there.

Unfortunately, for some residents, this feeling of safety and security was severely shaken when gunfire erupted in a south Etobicoke neighbourhood in early September.

About 80 gunshots were fired, in a gang-related shooting, which produced so many gun casings that the police ran out of evidence tags. When I visited the site of the shootings, I was horrified to see a childcare centre right across the street.

This is not an isolated incident: gun-related deaths are at record-high levels and other types of firearm-related violence is also on the rise.

I am proud of the Government’s work to date along with federal and local partners to launch a multi-year $106 million Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy which is taking a comprehensive approach to public safety addressing prevention, intervention and enforcement.

As part of the government’s strategy, they are investing in initiatives including: the provincial gun and gang support unit that supports investigations and prosecutions, and improve province wide coordination; funding programs to support major investigations that involve multiple police services, to target organized crime areas that fuel gang operations such as drug, gun and human trafficking; and increased funding for community policing programs.

The Government of Ontario also continues to invest in prevention programs for communities and youth at high risk of involvement in gangs. We also announced in August that we will invest $6 million and partner with police services across the province to expand the coverage of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, a key tool in the fight against exactly the kind of guns and gangs and other criminal activity we saw in south Etobicoke.

But this is not enough, 80 percent of the guns used in crime are obtained by illegal means, including by smuggling across Canada’s borders. While police are working hard doing their job, we need to see the federal government step up and support them by introducing tougher penalties.

That is why in early October I introduced a Private Members Motion to the Legislature calling for the federal government to strengthen Criminal Code bail provisions for all charges related to firearms trafficking and violent gun offences, and to explore mandatory minimum sentences for gun trafficking. The motion was unanimously passed by the Legislature.

Let us be clear, possession and use of illegal firearms invariably lead to violence, often involving innocent bystanders. Keeping criminals behind bars for the duration of their sentences will go a long way to keeping our communities safer.

If you agree, I ask you to visit my website at christinehogarthMPP.ca and sign my petition. Illegal possession of firearms threatens the safety of all of us. Ontario is keen to work with Canada’s federal government and local police to address this concern.

Christine Hogarth is the MPP for Etobicoke Lakeshore and can be reached by phone at 416-259-2249 or by email at Christine.hogarth@pc.ola.org

The Royal Canadian Legion is taking the harsh step of discouraging Canadians from attending Remembrance Day ceremonies this year as COVID-19 upends the traditional ways of honouring those who sacrificed their lives for our nation.

Legion branches in South Etobicoke and across the country are scrambling to plan stripped-down versions of the annual ceremony on Nov. 11 as local governments restrict large-scale gatherings due to a surge of new COVID-19 cases.

Members of the Legion Branch 101 Long Branch said on their website that they are shut until November 6 and displayed no event planned for Remembrance Day.

Hundreds of residents yearly show up at the Long Branch Legion hall to pay their respects.

At Legion Branch 643, on Jutland Rd., there is little information available about Remembrance Day events on their website.

The City of Toronto however is staging an event at 10:45 a.m. at the Etobicoke Civic Centre Cenotaph, according to the City website.

Many of this year’s commemorations will be virtual and available through the City’s website and social media, officials say.

IN most cities, a decision has been made to cancel the parade of elderly Veterans, serving military members and school-aged cadets that has long been a fixture of the event. Age is cited for keeping out the Veterans who are considered a high risk from the virus.

In addition to not being any Canadian Armed Forces parade, there will be a reduced colour party, no members of the Cadets or Junior Rangers will be present and wreaths will be pre-positioned so no wreath bearers or assistants will be required.

Ways to participate include watching the ceremony on TV or online, wearing poppies once they become available and recognizing two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 no matter where you are.

In Ottawa, where about 30,000 people attend the national ceremony yearly, there will be some traditional elements such as the playing of Last Post and the lament, the singing of In Flanders Fields along with the boom of cannons.

This year there will be a maximum of 100 participants in Ottawa.

Danny Martin, the Legion’s National Ceremony Director, said this is an important year to honour our Veterans since this is the 75^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

“At a time when we have all been isolated for months by the pandemic, ensuring the symbolism of the Legion and community leaders paying homage to our Veterans is more important than ever,” he says.

There will be scaled back ceremonies by many Legion Branches across the country given the current restrictions.

The Legion will offer a Facebook Live presentation of the National Remembrance Day ceremony, and additional broadcast plans are under consideration. Please contact your local Legion Branch for the latest information.

The Legion was founded in 1925 and is Canada’s largest Veteran support and community service organization, with close to 260,000 members.

For more information visit www.royalcanadianlegion.ca

Residents in the Six Points neighbourhood have been alerted to a public meeting next month in regards to the construction of two large condo highrises being planned for their area.

Revised planning applications have been filed to the City by Amdev Property for bylaw zoning amendments at 4 – 8 Beamish Dr., and 8 – 26 Jopling Ave. S., near the Kipling subway, GO Station and Islington City Centre.

The proposals call for the construction of a 31-storey and 34-storey towers connected by a four to six storey podium inclusive of two-level townhomes.

The 31-storey building will have 329 residential units and the taller tower some 750 residential units and parking space for 438 vehicles in a below-grade parking garage, according to documents filed to the City.

The plan calls for community space on the ground floor and open public space accessible outside.

A four-level underground garage includes 361 resident spaces, 75 visitor spaces, and two car-share spaces. An additional 563 bike parking spots are proposed between the garage and the ground floor.

The public virtual meeting will take place on November 3 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will take place by phone or online only. Residents are urged to submit their questions ahead of time.

For more information or to log one visit www.toronto.ca/cpconsultations

The proposals will have to obtain a greenlight from the City before work can continue.