Council recap April 2, 2025

Mississauga City Council approved the following motions at its April 2 meeting.
Watch the April 2 meeting.

Funding for Streetsville Canada Day celebrations

City Council approved a motion to provide $35,000 in funding from the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) to support the Streetsville Business Improvement Association (BIA) in organizing the 2025 Streetsville Canada Day celebrations.

Key points of the motion

1. Recognizes Canada Day as a significant occasion celebrating Canada’s history, culture, and shared values.
2. Highlights the importance of the Streetsville Canada Day Celebrations, which have been independently organized by the Streetsville BIA for over 20 years.
3. Allocates $35,000 from the City’s MAT fund to cover event expenses such as AV, staging, performers, children’s activities, rental costs, security, permits, and more.

Read the motion.
Watch the discussion.

QEW culvert at Cooksville Creek

City Council approved a motion urging the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to prioritize upgrading the QEW culvert at Cooksville Creek to address flooding risks and explore cost-sharing opportunities with the City of Mississauga.

Key points of the motion

1. The current QEW culvert at Cooksville Creek is a bottleneck causing significant flooding during extreme rainfall events, as seen in July and August 2024.
2. Upgrading the culvert would alleviate upstream flooding and remove properties from the regulatory floodplain.
3. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation previously omitted capacity upgrades during the QEW/Hurontario Street interchange project, missing an opportunity to reduce flooding risks.
4. The Mayor will write to the Ontario Minister of Transportation to advocate for prioritizing this project and collaborating with City staff on solutions, including cost-sharing.

Read the motion.
Watch the discussion

Study on neighbourhood commercial spaces

City Council approved a motion directing staff to study the feasibility of introducing small-scale commercial and services in residential neighbourhoods to promote walkability, sustainability, and community connections. The review will exclude cannabis stores, and staff will undertake public consultation in developing their recommendations.

Key points of the motion

1. The study aims to define appropriate neighbourhood commercial uses, such as grocery stores, food services, and other local shops, to support complete and walkable communities.
2. It will identify suitable zones for small-scale retail and services while aligning with the Mississauga Official Plan 2051.
3. Staff will prepare an information report for the Planning and Development Committee, outlining options for official plan and zoning by-law amendments.
4. The work is to be completed before the end of the current Council term.

Watch the discussion

Parking exemption for religious celebrations

City Council approved a motion to waive the 5-hour on-street parking restriction for several religious celebrations in 2025 and 2026 including Eid al-Adha, Diwali, Passover and Hanukkah.

Watch the discussion

Two additional presentations were made about the Regional Police budget and the possibility of transferring Regional roads to Mississauga.

Peel Regional Police budget overview

Council received a presentation on the impact of the Peel Regional Police budget on Mississauga’s local tax base. The discussion emphasized balancing affordability with property owners’ ability to pay while maintaining essential police services.

Key points of the presentation

1. The increasing share of local taxes allocated to Peel Regional Police was highlighted as a growing concern for residents.
2. Council encouraged public participation in pre-budget consultations to ensure transparency and alignment with community priorities.
3. Discussions focused on achieving fiscal responsibility while addressing community safety needs.

Watch the discussion

Regional roads in Mississauga

Council reviewed a presentation on the potential transfer of Regional roads to municipalities within Peel Region. The discussion centered on cost efficiencies and service improvements if Mississauga assumes responsibility for these roads.

Key points of the presentation

1. Mississauga currently overpays $30 million annually for Regional roads ($24 million benefiting Caledon and $6 million benefiting Brampton).
2. The City can maintain these roads more efficiently, with costs per lane kilometer estimated at $3,000 less than current Regional expenditures.
3. Concerns were raised about delays in transferring road ownership, with no definitive timelines provided by Regional representatives.
4. Council discussed advocating for legislative changes, such as reintroducing Bill 240, to ensure cost savings are passed along to municipalities.
5. The Mayor emphasized the need for public education on this issue, while councillors expressed frustration with Regional budget complexities and unnecessary expenditures.

Read the presentation.
Watch the discussion

Tags

• Council and Committees