{"id":933682,"date":"2026-10-15T07:34:19","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T07:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/933682\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T07:34:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T07:34:19","slug":"mayoral-candidates-plans-for-housing-transit-cleanliness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/933682\/","title":{"rendered":"Mayoral candidates plans for housing, transit, cleanliness"},"content":{"rendered":"

We offered mayoral candidates an opportunity to share how they plan to address these challenges. Candidates were invited to response to two questions:\u00a0<\/p>\n

What specific steps will you take to increase the supply of genuinely affordable housing and modernize property standards enforcement citywide?How will you improve MiWay\u2019s access, speed, and reliability to reverse declining ridership, and do you support expanding the transit network?<\/p>\n

Some responses have been edited for clarity.<\/p>\n

\"Aamir<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Aamir Bhatti<\/p>\n

Aamir Bhatti<\/p>\n

Mississauga needs more housing that ordinary working families can actually afford. I would work to accelerate approvals, encourage purpose-built rental and affordable housing, make better use of city-owned land, and work with other levels of government to increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes \u2014 not simply more expensive market housing.<\/p>\n

Property standards<\/p>\n

Residents should not have to repeatedly complain before basic property standards are enforced. I would support consistent, city-wide enforcement, faster response times, transparent tracking of complaints and adequate resources in areas experiencing higher volumes of violations.<\/p>\n

Public transit<\/p>\n

MiWay must be more reliable, accessible, and responsive to residents. I support expanding the network where there is demonstrated demand, improving frequency, and connecting underserved communities. Transit planning must reflect where people actually live, work and travel.<\/p>\n

Bonnie Crombie<\/p>\n

\"Bonnie<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Bonnie Crombie<\/p>\n

Bonnie Crombie<\/p>\n

Housing<\/p>\n

Mississauga needs more homes, but we also need homes that people at different incomes can actually afford.<\/p>\n

I would speed up approvals for affordable and purpose-built rental housing, look for opportunities to use public land, and work with non-profit housing providers, the private sector, and senior governments to make more projects viable.<\/p>\n

I also support more housing around transit and existing services, while making sure roads, transit, parks and community infrastructure keep pace.<\/p>\n

The city cannot solve the housing crisis alone, but the mayor should be fighting for Mississauga\u2019s fair share of provincial and federal funding and using every municipal tool available to get more affordable housing built.<\/p>\n

Property standards<\/p>\n

Residents should expect the same standard of service no matter which ward they live in. I would review the results of the Ward 5 pilot, take the approaches that are working, and apply them across Mississauga.<\/p>\n

The city should respond promptly to legitimate complaints, focus proactive enforcement where there are chronic problems, and make sure repeat offenders cannot simply ignore municipal standards. Property standards enforcement should be fair, consistent, and focused on keeping neighbourhoods safe and well maintained.<\/p>\n

Citywide enforcement should combine responsive complaint handling with targeted proactive enforcement in areas where problems persist. Residents should know what level of service to expect through clear service standards and regular reporting on complaint volumes, response times, and outstanding cases. The goal is not enforcement for its own sake, but to solve problems quickly and keep neighbourhoods safe and clean.<\/p>\n

Public transit<\/p>\n

I support expanding and improving MiWay. Mississauga needs transit that is frequent, reliable and connected to the places people actually need to go. I would focus on improving service on busy routes, filling real coverage gaps, and strengthening connections to GO Transit and major rapid-transit corridors.<\/p>\n

During my time as mayor, I fought for major transit investments, including the Hazel McCallion Line, and I know how important provincial and federal partnerships are to building the system Mississauga needs. If we want to reduce congestion, people need realistic alternatives to driving. That means making transit convenient enough that residents can actually rely on it. We also need to explore extending the subway into Mississauga.<\/p>\n

The network should grow as the city grows, but expansion has to come with better frequency and reliability. Adding routes to a map is not enough; residents need buses that arrive often and reliably enough to make transit a practical choice.<\/p>\n

\"Dipika<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dipika Damerla<\/p>\n

Dipika Damerla<\/p>\n

Housing<\/p>\n

To expand genuinely affordable housing alongside market-rate supply, it is time to bring back federally backed co-ops. I will work hard to increase the supply of co-ops in Mississauga. In addition, I will further streamline municipal planning approvals for purpose-built rentals, unlock surplus city-owned land for non-profit housing partnerships, and maintain fee deferrals for projects featuring long-term affordable units.<\/p>\n

We must focus density along existing transit corridors like Hurontario and Dundas where infrastructure already exists to support new residents.<\/p>\n

Property standards<\/p>\n

Right now, the way we deal with property standards is that we issue a notice of contravention, inspect, and if it is not fixed, the city fixes the problem and bills the resident. The problem is that it takes a long time and is labour-intensive. What we do not do is fine people. I will introduce escalating fines of $400, $800, and $1,200 with each repeat offence. If despite the fines there is no improvement, only then will the city resort to remediation. Progressive fines will ensure that repeat offenders get the message and enforcement is swifter and more effective.<\/p>\n

City-wide enforcement will be evidence-based. If 3-1-1 data shows that certain streets have repeat complaints, enforcement will be focused on those areas with the use of escalating fines to deter bad behaviour. Complaint and resolution times will be easily trackable for 3-1-1 complaints through the Mississauga dashboard.<\/p>\n

Public transit<\/p>\n

Transit is essential to keeping Mississauga livable and supporting the housing the city is building. I\u2019ve backed continued provincial investment in the Hurontario LRT, all-day two-way GO service and fare integration between transit systems. I\u2019ve also pressed Metrolinx directly on accountability \u2014 after years of construction disruption on the Hazel McCallion LRT line in my ward, I called them out for never holding a single town hall with affected residents. My vision for public transit is simple: transit works when it is as easy to take transit as it is to get in a car.<\/p>\n

Right now, we need to focus on improving the network we have through my plan called OFF: On time, Frequent and Fast. Over the medium term, we need to build a network of higher-speed transit such as LRT\/BRT, which is what my Fast Track Mississauga plan does.<\/p>\n

Gord Elliott<\/p>\n

Candidate did not respond to request for information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Frank Fang<\/p>\n

Candidate did not respond to request for information.<\/p>\n

Amjad Jilani<\/p>\n

Candidate did not respond to request for information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mohsin Khan<\/p>\n

Candidate did not respond to request for information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mike Matulewicz<\/p>\n

\"Mike<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Mike Matulewicz<\/p>\n

Mike Matulewicz<\/p>\n

Housing<\/p>\n

A Community Land Trust, where the community owns the land permanently so affordability cannot be flipped away, at no cost to taxpayers.<\/p>\n

Property standards<\/p>\n

Ward 5 drew over 5,400 complaints, tied to the housing crisis. I will enforce by data, not complaints, citywide, with rising penalties for repeat offenders and negligent landlords.<\/p>\n

Public transit<\/p>\n

Reliability first, expansion second. I will improve on-time performance and close gaps for seniors, funded by a small fuel levy of about two cents a litre \u2014 not property tax, as used by Victoria and Montreal.<\/p>\n

Fadi Naami<\/p>\n

Candidate did not respond to request for information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carolyn Parrish<\/p>\n

\"Carolyn<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Carolyn Parrish<\/p>\n

Carolyn Parrish<\/p>\n

Housing<\/p>\n

Statistics were just released showing rents dropped by up to $450\/month. (Editor\u2019s note: Data from Zumper in October 2026, shows median rent in the city is $2,250 per month, about $160 less per month, on average,<\/a> compared to last year).<\/p>\n

Our incentives \u2014 removing 100 per cent of development charges on family units of two- and three-bedroom units, as well as property tax reductions of 35 per cent for 35 years are making a difference.<\/p>\n

Deeply affordable housing \u2014 with 850 units in process \u2014 are a result of federal grants of $112 million, rewarding our extremely advanced incentives for affordable housing.<\/p>\n

Property standards<\/p>\n

Property standards issues are correlated to the economic standards of neighbourhoods. It\u2019s an ongoing problem that requires constant vigilance. Cleanup by the city needs to be increased, with the costs added to property tax bills.<\/p>\n

Public transit<\/p>\n

I just toured an electric bus manufacturing facility in Mississauga. Public transit has to be convenient. Smaller electric buses controlled by sophisticated software need to be deployed in our residential areas with cul-de-sacs, crescents, and other non-grid neighbourhoods, eager to improve service to attract more riders.<\/p>\n

David Shaw<\/p>\n

Candidate did not respond to request for information.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alvin Tedjo<\/p>\n

\"Alvin<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Alvin Tedjo<\/p>\n

Alvin Tedjo<\/p>\n

Housing<\/p>\n

Mississauga\u2019s affordable housing market has been ignored and shut out of the housing conversation at City Hall for years. The city\u2019s outdated policies cause costly delays, suspend development in a maze of red tape and ultimately make it almost impossible to build many of the affordable housing units that the city now desperately needs.<\/p>\n

The solution is a city-wide rezoning effort that clears the path for affordable housing builders who can demonstrate a plan to build the type of housing that Mississauga actually needs. This includes mid-rise buildings along major arteries, expanding missing-middle homes, and cutting red tape for affordable housing builders.<\/p>\n

As a father to three kids, I\u2019m deeply concerned about whether the next generation of adults will be able to afford to live in Mississauga. Currently, the market is pricing young residents out of the city and is now pricing out existing homeowners through skyrocketing taxes.<\/p>\n

Affordable rental homes encompass everything from one-bedroom units to seniors\u2019 residences. There is an urgent need for family-sized rental units, accessible units, and more. I would prioritize the housing types that are of greatest need and clear a path for those to be built faster.<\/p>\n

Property standards<\/p>\n

Currently, property standards are enforced through bylaw officers. But bylaw enforcement is outdated and requires residents to complain before action is taken. As mayor, I would modernize our bylaw enforcement methods so that residents can report concerns more efficiently, and bylaw officers can take a more proactive approach rather than waiting on a complaint to be filed.<\/p>\n

There is also a need to triage property standard complaints. Safety concerns should be treated with the highest-level urgency compared to esthetic concerns. As mayor, I would update Mississauga\u2019s approach to property standards enforcement to ensure that properties with unsafe conditions \u2014 such as blocked access to exits and dangerous waste left in yards \u2014 are dealt with faster.<\/p>\n

My plan also includes a complete overhaul of rental housing units that specifically targets rooming houses. This has been a major problem in Malton and other neighbourhoods in Mississauga. Neighbours who observe illegal rentals with unsafe living conditions will have the ability to report those issues and have proper enforcement tools to address them. These properties often have visible property standard issues, but the city\u2019s current, outdated system makes it difficult to do anything about them.<\/p>\n

Public transit<\/p>\n

When the City of Mississauga poorly manages transit, residents lose confidence in it.<\/p>\n

At a time when costs have never been higher, it is becoming harder for many residents to count on vehicle ownership. The price of gas, the cost of buying or leasing a car, and skyrocketing insurance rates have made it more expensive than ever to have a vehicle. But Mississauga is not offering a viable alternative to owning a car because transit is de-prioritized and poorly designed.<\/p>\n

As mayor, my plan includes increasing services based on rider needs. Expanding transit for workers, including those who do not work traditional nine-to-five hours, as well as along major corridors is the first significant step toward a stronger MiWay system.<\/p>\n

Finally, while the Hurontario LRT is a provincial project rather than a municipal one, I plan to hold Metrolinx accountable for their repeated delays on completion. I support the LRT as a major transit system, but it must be completed so that our city can get moving again.<\/p>\n

Ana Luisa Vasquez De Espinal<\/p>\n

Candidate did not respond to request for information.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We offered mayoral candidates an opportunity to share how they plan to address these challenges. Candidates were invited…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":933683,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194297],"tags":[49,48,55405],"class_list":["post-933682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mississauga","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-mississauga"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/933682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=933682"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/933682\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/933683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=933682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=933682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=933682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}