Keeping Mississauga affordable

We request the next provincial government collaborate with the City of Mississauga’s Mayor’s Housing Task Force (MHTF) to overcome existing barriers, streamline housing approvals and accelerate the development of affordable and sustainable homes.

The MHTF worked with more than 30 experts from Ontario’s leading private and not-for-profit housing developers. Their recommendations include policy changes, building and design standards, zoning reform and dedicated funding.

We need the provincial and federal governments to take decisive, unified steps to implement these solutions.

Mississauga relies on its public transportation to support one of the largest and most important economic centers in both Ontario and Canada. As with Toronto and Ottawa, Mississauga needs support to develop and operate proper connected transit.

We request the next provincial government:

• Prioritize and sign a new funding deal with the City of Mississauga, like they did with Toronto and Ottawa, to boost affordability, foster economic resilience and improve the quality of life for Mississauga residents.
• Provide equitable transit funding, recognizing Mississauga’s status as a major economic hub and one of the largest and most important economic centers in both Ontario and Canada.
• Ensure financial support for the operation of the Hazel McCallion Line LRT for its first three years of service.
• Fund other key projects on the City’s capital list to support long-term infrastructure growth and regional development. These key projects include Lakeshore Higher Order Transit, Dundas Bus Rapid Transit and the new Transit Storage Facility.

Mississauga gets less funding person ($868 million less per year, or $575 per person) from the province than other cities, towns and regions in Ontario. This provincial funding pays for essential provincial services. When it is too low, taxpayers pay more on their property taxes to meet the shortfall.

We request that the next provincial government increase funding for Peel Region to address gaps identified by the Metamorphosis Network.

This ensures fairness for property taxpayers and promotes equitable regional development.

Specifically, we seek $86 million to cover the shortfall for core municipal services and an additional $214 million for social services.

Mississauga hospitals serve not only the region but the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and the whole province of Ontario. As a provincial responsibility supported by the Federal Health Transfer, the cost for hospitals should not fall solely to Mississauga taxpayers.

Prioritizing funding the $450 million needed for new healthcare infrastructure in Mississauga from provincial revenues would ensure Mississauga’s contribution is fair and balanced.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) is the City’s largest landowner. Instead of property taxes, it provides payment in lieu of taxes (PILT). The PILT is capped at 5% of annual growth and is based on passenger volume.

The cap, and the original, unchanged PILT rate, costs Mississauga tens of millions of dollars in revenue annually that could be used for infrastructure, services and programs that serve Mississauga residents along with the Region and Ontario.

Mississauga wants a new, equitable PILT formula and to permanently remove the 5% PILT cap. Basing the formula on the assessed value of the airport property will allow the PILT to better reflect the airport’s actual growth and impact. This frees Mississauga from arbitrary restrictions.

Focus on funding local food banks in Mississauga and supporting the Groceries and Essentials Benefit (GEB) proposed by Food Banks Canada. The GEB helps families afford basic needs like food and shelter. Last year, the City saw the fastest increase in food bank usage in all of Ontario. One in thirteen Mississauga residents uses a foodbank.