Mississauga, Ont. upholds ban on street sports

Mississauga City Council Votes to Maintain Ban on Street Sports

Mississauga city council has made the decision to uphold the ban on residential street sports, meaning that activities such as hockey and basketball on the road will remain prohibited.

This vote, which took place on Nov. 6, comes after Ward 2 Coun. Alvin Tedjo introduced a motion over a year and a half ago in an attempt to amend the existing bylaws. Tedjo expressed concerns about some residents using the rules to prevent children from playing on their streets.

The ban on street sports has been in effect in Mississauga since 1979, with an amendment made in 2010 to include the prohibition of sporting equipment, such as hockey and basketball nets, on the roadway.

Tedjo’s motion directed city staff to conduct a review of the current bylaws, and the findings were presented in a report published on Oct. 22. The report recommended “deregulating” sports on city streets, meaning that the activity would neither be prohibited nor permitted. Enforcement officers would still respond to complaints regarding road obstructions or noise.

The report examined the regulations in 12 similar jurisdictions, including Toronto, Ottawa, and Kitchener, where sports are allowed on roadways under certain conditions. It also looked at cities like London, Oshawa, Vaughan, and Kingston, where road sports are neither prohibited nor permitted.

Currently, Brampton, Burlington, Hamilton, Markham, and Oakville all prohibit sports on roadways.

According to the report, complaints about street sports in Mississauga are infrequent, accounting for less than one percent of the more than 18,500 complaints received by the city last year.

During the council meeting before the vote on Nov. 6, Georgios Fthenos, Mississauga’s director of enforcement, mentioned that the city has not issued any charges related to the ban in over 50 years. Mayor Carolyn Parish raised concerns about liability issues in the absence of the ban.

Following the vote, Tedjo expressed disappointment in council’s decision, stating that allowing kids to play outside and ensuring their safety is important for communities. He hopes that council will reconsider the ban in the future.

Overall, the debate over street sports in Mississauga continues, with differing opinions on the balance between safety concerns and the benefits of outdoor play for children.