We must decolonise our societies in order to increase equality and reduce systemic oppression. Having such a major street on unceded indigenous land is a slap in the face and is a tacit approval of genocide, racism and colonialism.

In most Toronto neighbourhoods, my partner and I feel safe walking hand in hand. This is our home and we feel comfortable living our lives openly and freely. But, knowing Chick-fil-A's long history of donating to homophobic and racist organizations and politicians, we DO NOT feel safe walking by the location at the intersection of Bloor and Yonge. This restaurant is so close to the Village, it's on the Pride Parade route! We need to send a clear message that this is not okay. First Capital - you can drape yourself in the rainbow flag, but it means nothing if you continue to rent to a company hostile to our community's existence.

There is clear evidence and research that we must organize public safety very differently, especially for our Black, Indigenous and other marginalized communities.To do this we need a strong catalyst to ensure this happens in a timely manner. The reduction of the police budget and reallocation to a range of community services led by mental health and other community leaders can be this catalyst. Any attempts to reform within the police budget and led by the police, as evidenced by the last five years in Toronto, will not produce tangible, timely and necessary results. Mayors in New York, Los Angeles and Minneapolis have committed to this. As reported in the Globe and Mail June 18 the Mayor states "there is unprecedented consensus on confronting anti-Black racism". However he and the Board Chair are proposing changes within the current budget and under the purview of the Toronto Police. We are asking the Mayor and Board Chair to approve Councillor Matlow's motion to reduce the budget by 10%, restructure the police and hand over a number of the current duties to the appropriate community services and leaders. This is a small amount in a $1.22 billion budget. Many organizations are facing the challenge of managing reduced budgets/revenues of greater amounts with the current COVID virus. Surely the Toronto Police can do the same. Recent events, research and statements by many leaders are well documented in the media and confirm that there is systemic racism in our police forces against our Black, Indigenous and other marginalized communities. It is also well documented that significant, not incremental change is required. Approximately 25%+ of my property taxes goes to the police budget and a very small amount to community services. No one has asked me, a tax paying resident, if that is where I would like a large portion of my taxes allocated. I have also had a personal experience with Toronto police practices in that my son-in-law, an African American university educated social worker helping youth at risk in downtown Toronto was carded twice for no apparent reason within his first 6-12 months of moving to Toronto. I was deeply ashamed of our city. Many citizens, community leaders and research agree change is required and much of that change to strengthen public safety for our Black, Indigenous and other communities must include the removal of many duties from police and given to a range of community services. To leave the change in the hands of the police will result in slow, incremental change, if any.

We must decolonise our societies in order to increase equality and reduce systemic oppression. Having such a major street on unceded indigenous land is a slap in the face and is a tacit approval of genocide, racism and colonialism.

An overhaul in education and accurate historical representation are essential to demonstrate a commitment to dismantling systems of white supremacy and colonization. May this step facilitate healing and be the first step of many we take to actively begin creating a more just and peaceful future for ALL.

I believe that it is important to have enough to survive,having to go without some foods or clothes because you have so little money.

In his time as a Member of Parliament, Benjamin Vaughan tried to persuade other MPs to continue the practice of slavery which is based on the ideology of domination and superiority over another race- at a time when others were actively abolishing it. It is shameful that we uphold these people as heroes in our communities by naming cities after them and declaring civic holidays in honour of them. Language, names and declarations of honourable historical figures matter! The community is speaking out and we'd like to organize with a petition. We need to stand up against people like Benjamin Vaughan who have made decisions as politicians and everyday humans that have caused trauma, violence and even death for Black, Indigenous and people of colour. A small step in the right direction, a potential answer to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's many Calls to Action from our First Nations, Métis and Inuit people across the country, and a drop in the vast ocean of work left to do in creating an anti-racist city of "Vaughan".

The legacy of Henry Dundas, First Viscount Melville is highly problematic. As the MP for Midlothian in Westminster and as Secretary of State he actively participated in obstructing the abolition of slavery in the British Empire from 1791 to the end of his political career in 1806. Slavery was eventually abolished in 1833 and officially in British North America in 1834. But Dundas' actions to preserve the profiteering of his friends in the slave trade, cost tens of thousands of lives, if not more. Also, he was the last British MP to be impeached - for embezzlement and misappropriation of funds - though not convicted. If we truly wish for our public street names and monuments to reflect our values and priorities we must consider engaging the public in the process of excising those names which are no longer worthy of our honor or respect. Names such as that of Henry Dundas. It's extremely important this street name changes.

We must decolonise our societies in order to increase equality and reduce systemic oppression. Having such a major street on unceded indigenous land is a slap in the face and is a tacit approval of genocide, racism and colonialism.

Females and those who identify as females need to feel safe when they walk down the street. Not revictimized by the street name. The name of this street is highly rapacious and offensive and wrongly empowers men and for this reason we need to change it to something better.

The elderly built this country.

Winston Churchill, despite his achievements including the liberation of Europe from tyranny, was also a British imperialist and white supremacist. His mishandling of the Bengal famine of 1943-1944 resulted in the deaths of 3 million people. He did not see the benefits of relief efforts and blamed the famine on the Indians themselves because, as per his own words, they “bred like rabbits”. He was a staunch supporter of British imperialism believing it was good for the “primitive” and “subject races”. He had referred to Palestinians as “barbaric hordes who ate little but camel dung”. He had promoted the use of poison gas against Kurds and Afghans during his role as minister of for war and air in 1919 where he said he was "strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilized tribes," In 1937 he said: “I do not admit, for instance, that a great wrong has been done to the Red Indians of America, or the black people of Australia. I do not admit that a wrong has been done to those people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, or, at any rate, a more worldly wise race, to put it that way, has come in and taken their place.” There are many more unmentioned instances that make Winston Churchill an undoubtedly problematic character of history. His actions against the Third Reich do not absolve his actions elsewhere and we must be impartial in our judgement. As residents of Mississauga, we take pride in our city's cultural diversity. We believe in cultural tolerance and equality. Our street names need to reflect that as well. There have been calls and demonstrations in the UK for the dismantling of statues of Winston Churchill. We can do our part in removing his name from one of our most frequented street.