Nov 13, 2025
A holiday broadcast in downtown Brampton was disrupted this week when Azad Goyat, a high-profile figure in the Slum Landlord Association movement, was taken into custody after interrupting a live Santa Claus interview in Garden Square.
According to officials familiar with the situation, a small group of individuals carrying signs arrived in the middle of the children’s Santa broadcast. Their appearance was unplanned and unrelated to the long-running landlord demonstrations held outside City Hall in previous years. Media crews and staff were on site for the segment when the group moved into the broadcast area. Security personnel directed them to leave so the live programming could continue safely. Two individuals refused to comply, leading officers on scene to arrest them under provincial trespass authority. One of those individuals was Azad Goyat.
Goyat has been the most visible face of the weekly demonstrations opposing Brampton’s Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) program, which enforces compliance with the Ontario Fire Code and Ontario Building Code. Although this week’s interruption had nothing to do with the RRL protests, his involvement quickly drew attention due to his long history of confrontations with the City.
When it comes to elections, Goyat’s record has been notably poor. In the 2022 Brampton municipal race for Wards 9 and 10, he received just 1,008 votes — under five percent — finishing far behind the leading candidates and nowhere near competitive territory. His subsequent attempt to secure a provincial seat performed similarly, landing him at the bottom of the results and failing to generate meaningful voter support. Despite his high-profile public theatrics, the numbers show his influence at the ballot box is minimal.
After the incident, Goyat posted a defiant message online: “Guess who was Charged by Peel Police? Goyat will always fight against corruption.” He went on to accuse the City of acting like a “dictatorship,” suggesting that being charged under trespass rules proves his point. His supporters echoed the sentiment, while critics argued the opposite — that interrupting a children’s Christmas broadcast was irresponsible.
What struck many observers was the sheer absurdity of the moment. The Santa broadcast was meant to bring families together and support children’s causes — not serve as a backdrop for political grandstanding. Turning a goodwill event for kids into a personal protest left many wondering why anyone would choose Santa, of all things, as the target for disruption.