\u201cI will cancel Carolyn Parrish\u2019s proposed redevelopment of the Living Arts Centre and surrounding civic lands, a $2.5-billion vanity project at a time when residents are struggling with everyday bills; this is the wrong priority,\u201d she told reporters, arguing any potential municipal funding should be redirected to other priorities and initiatives.<\/p>\n
The Living Arts Centre, located just north of Mississauga city hall and west of Square One, opened in 1997. It has a 1,300-seat main auditorium along with various meeting rooms and exhibition spaces.<\/p>\n
Earlier in 2026, Mississauga city council voted to begin a study and consultation process<\/a> that could ultimately result in a downtown transformation. The major part of the planning centres around potentially replacing the Living Arts Centre and a nearby park, which totals around 12 acres, with a new convention centre, hotel, music hub, offices, apartments and retail spaces. It is not clear when a possible vote on whether or not to proceed with that vision could be held.<\/p>\n While making an announcement on providing additional infrastructure and supports for Ridgeway Plaza as part of a broader small business plan, Alvin Tedjo rejected the idea of proceeding with the potential massive redevelopment.<\/p>\n \u201cThe mayor\u2019s plan to build a $2.5-billion convention centre is a terrible idea; no one is asking for this. They\u2019re also going to be taking out the parkland and the parking in the area. That green space is so valued for the residents who live in that area,\u201d he said, adding he wants residents to help determine the future for the area and is open to potentially renovating the Living Arts Centre.<\/p>\n Dipika Damerla also rejected the idea, saying she wants to proceed with a vision for downtown Mississauga that is focused on a health care innovation district.<\/p>\n \u201c[It] will bring young talent and make Mississauga the Silicon Valley of commercializing health care innovation,\u201d she said, pointing to existing and upcoming hospital and education infrastructure in the city and region.<\/p>\n Speaking with CityNews ahead of an apartment groundbreaking in Port Credit Thursday afternoon, Parrish said she backs the proposed redevelopment concept. She said a majority of the required funding would come from the private sector and noted there would be an elevated park for residents to use.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s a fabulous job creator. I think it\u2019s a wonderful way to increase our income and taxes at the City and to enliven our city centre, it\u2019s perfect,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re a modern city and we\u2019re looking at modern ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n Parrish said if the plan proceeded, the Living Arts Centre would not be torn down until a new building gets erected. She also said the convention centre could be as big as 300,000 square feet and added she would like to see a five-star hotel opened to support the redevelopment.<\/p>\n Mississauga mayoral candidates continue tabling ideas, priorities as advance voting continues<\/p>\n As advance voting continues in Mississauga until the end of Sunday<\/a>, the leading Mississauga mayoral candidates continue to put forward policy ideas and focuses.<\/p>\n During her announcement Thursday afternoon, Crombie touted various policy proposals on a variety of areas.<\/p>\n \u201cI will put the priorities of Mississaugans first and they\u2019re clear: To bring taxes under control, protect jobs, attract investment, get Mississauga moving again and make our neighbourhoods safer,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Damerla told CityNews she plans to keep campaigning and promoting the key themes of her campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cHere [are] the highlights of my plan: Freeze property taxes in 2027 and thereafter keep them at or below inflation, stop the waste at city hall (and) hire an independent auditor general, stop the $100 million that we\u2019re bleeding every year to Brampton by fixing the unfair policing formula, (and) allowing \u2018six-plexes\u2019 as of right on certain arterial roads to make housing more affordable and realistic for young families,\u201d she said Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n When asked what she wanted to accomplish if she gets elected for a full term, Parrish said she was focused on two areas.<\/p>\n \u201cHousing, I want to keep that up. I was at a topping-off ceremony yesterday for three towers on the other side of Port Credit. This is a ground-breaker, and it\u2019s all because of the incentive that we brought in as a council,\u201d she said Thursday afternoon, adding the changes have resulted in support from developers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to work on the taxes, that\u2019s a big one. Step one was getting the road maintenance moved down from the region so we don\u2019t have to subsidize Caledon $30 million next year, another $18 million or so on waste that we\u2019ve moved down from the region.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I\u2019m working on the police budget, which is a 38 (per cent)-62 (per cent) split (with Brampton) and I do have a commitment from the premier that he is going to do it (addressing the funding disparity between the two cities).\u201d<\/p>\n Tedjo, speaking outside of Ridgeway Plaza Thursday morning, talked about his small business policy plank, which is part of his broader overall campaign platform. He said initiatives include a new 100-day guarantee for \u201cqualified small-business permits,\u201d small business hubs with \u201cmore affordable commercial space,\u201d and expanded youth opportunities. He also said he would pursue bringing a Peel Regional Police substation to the plaza, which has seen crackdowns by officers amid concerns over nuisance gatherings<\/a>, and extra parking at a nearby site to support the plaza.<\/p>\n \u201cLocal entrepreneurs are spending too much time navigating city hall, small businesses are struggling to stay afloat and younger people are having a harder time getting a foot in the door. My plan will transform the City of Mississauga from a barrier into a partner,\u201d Tedjo said.<\/p>\n
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