TORONTO – Peel Police continue to hold the scene a day after a fire broke out early Tuesday morning at MP Peter Fonseca’s federal constituency office in Mississauga. Police confirm the “incident is deemed suspicious and believed to be targeted”.
Peel Regional Police Constable Heather Cannon told the Corriere that “investigators are working with the Fire Marshal’s office to exact the specific cause and circumstance of the fire”. Officers from 12 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau are seeking the public’s assistance and asking to share any information related to the arson investigation with Police.
Emergency services were called to the scene located within a commercial plaza at the corner of Burnhamthorpe Road East and Tomken Road on February 22 at 4:19 am. The fire department extinguished the fire that damaged a total of three units. Police confirm “no injuries were suffered to anyone” in this incident.
The security camera above the door to the constituency office appears to have damage to the outside housing. Police could not comment on the contents of the security footage or the specific details of the ongoing investigation.
Coincidently, the fire occurred hours after Fonseca, Liberal MP representing the riding of Mississauga East – Cooksville since 2015, voted with his party to approve the Emergencies Act late Monday evening.
The Government’s use of the Emergencies Act was in response to the “Freedom Convoy” blockades at various border crossings and in Ottawa that paralyzed the nations capital for more than three weeks. Critics argue the Act violates and infringes upon Canadians’ charter-protected rights.
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie expressed concern, via Twitter, that the Local MP’s office “appears to have been deliberately set on fire”. She called the incident completely “unacceptable” and “a threat to safety”. MP Fonseca did not respond to our request for comment as at going to print.
Investigators are appealing to anyone with information regarding the case to contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-453-2121 ext. 1233 or by visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca
P. Pajdo is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
