Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s 2016 State of the City Address Mississauga Board of Trade Mayor’s Annual Luncheon Tuesday September 20 th , 2016 Check Against Delivery
Good afternoon. Miigwetch.
Let me begin by acknowledging that we gather today on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the New Credit
a Mississauga Objibwa First Nation with a history dating back centuries ago.
My thanks to Peter Nogalo, David Wojcik and the Mississauga Board of Trade
for providing me the opportunity to deliver the 2016 State of the City Address.
Let me recognize former mayor Chancellor McCallion.
I look forward to the speedy passage of the Hazel McCallion Day Act by the Legislature.
If there’s one person who can get unanimous consent, it’s Hazel!
In June a house explosion on Hickory Drive rocked Mississauga.
MBOT, the United Way and our brave first responders led by Fire Chief Tim Beckett, immediately answered the call to help.
Councillor Fonseca was also involved from the moment the explosion occurred and just this past weekend, organized a BBQ to raise funds for the neighbourhood.
The events on Hickory were tragic.
But the response brought out the best in our community.
Thank you to everyone who helped.
Twelve months have passed since we last gathered.
In that time, there has been no shortage of meetings, panel discussions and conferences.
When you hit the ground running, you cover a lot of ground. Whether in Osaka, San Francisco or São Paulo
there’s no shortage of interest in Canada’s sixth largest city.
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All eyes are on Mississauga.
It might not be apparent what is taking place on our streets and in our neighbourhoods
we find ourselves in the midst of a steady, emerging and exciting urban transformation.
Mississauga is undergoing significant changes led by residents, local government and global trends.
During the fifteenth century the Europeans had renaissance men.
Ours is a renaissance led by women and men of all ages.
There’s been a groundswell of commitment by thoughtful, smart and engaged individuals who see themselves not as taxpayers
but as citizens with a commitment to serve the greater good
.citizens who are taking ownership in the future of their community
and who know Mississauga can be among the very best cities in the world.
Our revival is also being led from the top down...
with the work being done by Council
Canada’s big city mayors
and our partners in the Trudeau and Wynne governments
who understand the very real, present and urgent challenges facing Canada’s cities
and who are showing bold leadership by delivering unprecedented investments
so we can meet and exceed these challenges.
I am pleased to stand before all of you and inform you that the state of the City of Mississauga is strong.
For the thirteenth straight year, Mississauga retains its Triple A credit rating
we remain a net importer of jobs
and the number of companies that choose to do business here continues to grow
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reaching over 86,000.
While these statistics are encouraging, we must always ask ourselves
where do we go from here?
How do we continue to grow and prosper?
The Toronto Star recently ran a story with the headline “Mississauga’s once in a century plan to remake itself.”
The author stated that “Mississauga's visionary strategic plan intends to make the city an urban trend setter.”
We are at a critical time in our City’s history.
From the building of transit and making crucial infrastructure investments
to planning for intensified developments and density
to greater cultural and artistic celebrations
and shifting to meet the needs of an ever changing global economy
we are moving Mississauga forward.
Last year I spoke about building on the foundation of the previous 41 years and the strong position Mississauga finds itself in today.
We will use our strong foundation to build a complete city.
What is a complete city?
A complete city is one where professionals can find good paying jobs or take risks and launch new business ventures
where a night on the town means staying in town
enjoying an acclaimed restaurant followed by a live performance at the Living Arts Centre
where the environment is protected and natural amenities like the waterfront, beaches and greenspaces encourage people to head outside and live healthy, active, lives
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where students choose the University of Toronto Mississauga or Sheridan College as their first choice for undergraduate studies and graduate school
and should they decide to study elsewhere
they have access to reliable, affordable and seamless public transit that gets them to where they need to be.
You shouldn’t have to plan your course schedule around a transit schedule.
You should never turn down a job offer because public transit can’t get you there.
A complete city is a place where all people, no matter faith or ethnicity
are safe have dignity and can confidently participate in civic life
where residents are welcomed, invited and encouraged to share and celebrate their culture for everyone to experience, appreciate and enjoy.
Celebration Square is in the heart of our City for a reason.
It’s where Mississauga comes together and comes alive.
Stepping onto the national and international stages and weighing in on global issues has become an expectation of mayors.
After all, who didn’t enjoy Michael Bloomberg’s speech at the Democratic National Convention?
I was recently invited by Minister Sohi and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to participate in the Federal Provincial Territorial meeting of infrastructure ministers.
We discussed how the $48 billion in Phase 2 federal infrastructure money should be invested across the country.
This was a historic meeting. It was the first time that mayors have ever been invited.
We are embarking on a new era and a new federal relationship that sees cities as one of the four legs of the federal table
an active and engaged partner that is shaping the future of our country.
Municipalities are the ones that have to put into action these federal and provincial programs.
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It is critical that we are at the table when decisions about how funding will be delivered, are made.
I am confident this is the start of an ongoing conversation with the federal and provincial governments about infrastructure funding.
Mississauga is on the frontlines.
City building is nation building.
We also need more local leaders raising the level of debate about attracting and retaining foreign direct investment.
Karen Ras did this during her time as Chair of MBOT.
And she continues to be an important voice on Council.
I serve on the board of directors for the new regional economic development agency – Toronto Global.
Toronto Global will champion the economic interests of the 29 municipalities throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
There is strength in numbers.
Toronto Global will help Mississauga press ahead with our international business attraction, retention and investment efforts.
The Trudeau and Wynne governments have put real funding into Toronto Global to get it up and running.
And I’m proud to say your Council has as well.
We must make investments to realize investment.
The Federal Government remains committed to a policy of free trade
this means improving cooperation, reducing regulations and opening access to new and emerging markets.
The Feds are creating the right environment for growth and opportunity.
But Ottawa can’t be expected to know complete details about each Canadian city.
This is where we come in.
As Mississauga’s ambassador, it’s my job to sell our City nationally and internationally.
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Municipalities know how many acres have been zoned for commercial development
whether land has the infrastructure in place to get investment flowing and construction underway.
We know how many railways, highways, airports and harbours there are
and the reach of these important gateways to help businesses extend their reach.
Last year, I discussed our Economic Development Investment Mission to South America.
We held over one hundred meetings, in three countries, over eight days, connecting with hundreds of businesses
including Biolab, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Brazil.
I am proud to announce that our investment mission is paying dividends
and that Biolab has chosen Mississauga as home for its new research and development centre!
This state of the art facility will span nearly 13,000 square feet.
It’s a $56 million dollar investment that will create 40 high paying and high value jobs, many in research and development.
It will add more than $45,000 annually to our tax base
providing important funding that will go toward the quality public services we all rely on.
We secured this new investment because we were on the ground in Brazil
making important and lasting connections.
Following our success in South America, we undertook an investment mission to Japan.
We promoted economic development, forged closer relations and celebrated cultural connections.
For 35 years Mississauga and Kariya have enjoyed a sister city relationship.
In July Council welcomed Kariya Mayor Takenaka to City Hall to mark this milestone.
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Mississauga has over 100 Japanese companies, more than any other city in Canada.
Strengthening our life sciences sector was once again at the top of our agenda.
We met with Osaka Mayor Yoshimura.
Osaka is a global life sciences hub.
Mississauga is Canada’s second largest life sciences cluster by employment
home to over 400 life science companies
employing more than 25,000 people.
Mississauga’s life sciences talent base has grown 25 percent in the past 10 years.
We shared these success stories with government and business leaders
and with representatives from the pharmaceutical industry that achieves billions in revenue annually.
Our meetings allowed us to see first hand what other governments are doing to support this industry
and to hear directly from industry leaders on the role government can play to help them compete.
This idea was at the heart of our Life Science Strategy Roundtable.
We brought together business, academia and industry associations to answer one question
how can we position Mississauga to become the largest and most diverse life sciences cluster in Canada?
The ideas shared have been captured in a new five year Life Science Strategy.
This strategy is a living document.
It will guide our efforts to maintain Mississauga’s competitive advantage.
Our partners at UTM are at the vanguard of helping Mississauga maintain and expand its competitive advantage in this important industry cluster.
Under the inspiring leadership of scientist Professor Patrick Gunning
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UTM is launching the new Centre for Medicinal Chemistry.
This one of a kind Centre has one goal
to make unprecedented medical breakthroughs to combat cancer and other lethal diseases.
Professor Gunning and his research team design compounds that kill cancer cells.
I am overwhelmed that a Mississauga based company, Orlando Corporation, is supporting the new Centre with a recently announced $7 million donation.
UTM’s rapid growth is proof that our unprecedented 10 year $10 million dollar grant to build the Innovation Complex is working.
Some believe education is the sole responsibility of the Province.
I disagree.
All governments have ownership to ensure people have access to quality education.
UTM injects over $1.3 billion annually into Peel Region, with the bulk of the share going to Mississauga.
With plans for the Centre for Medicinal Chemistry, this campus continues to assert its own identity and reputation for research excellence.
As we head into Budget 2017, I believe Council must reaffirm its commitment to this unprecedented partnership and potentially life saving research.
Over the past year, I have worked closely with my various policy taskforces.
My Innovation and Entrepreneurship Taskforce members stressed the importance of connectivity to ignite new opportunities.
This includes connecting students, start ups and existing businesses
with opportunities for networking and access to long term capital investments.
This is the mandate of our First Look Angel Investor Networking Event.
Last spring, 16 different companies participated including five businesses from the healthcare and life sciences sectors
along with venture capitalists eager to invest in promising local start ups.
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Our Taskforce made it clear they want First Look to be a permanent fixture.
I am proud to announce we will host our third annual angel investor networking event in the spring of 2017.
A complete city is a connected city
connected not just by the car
but by an extensive network of reliable, affordable and accessible public transit.
You can have both roads and rails. You do not need to choose one over the other.
Other North American cities have done it successfully and so will Mississauga.
Mississauga is building a complete rapid transit network that will get you where you’re going in our City, throughout the region and beyond.
Our transit plans are on the move.
I’m pleased to show you Mississauga Moves today, our network of rapid transit projects that are currently either being built, will soon be built, or are being studied right now.
I invite you to visit mississaugamoves.com to learn more about all the exciting transit projects we have on the go.
We are reshaping Mississauga and in the process, changing for the better how Mississaugans live their lives.
A big part of Mississauga Moves is the Hurontario LRT.
Last year I stood before you having just received full funding for this project.
Today, I stand before you to talk about the benefits we are already realizing from the LRT.
I recently joined a delegation of councillors and staff for a site review of the Minneapolis St. Paul METRO transit system an extensive network of LRT and bus rapid transit lines.
Minneapolis St. Paul offers important parallels for our own transit building efforts.
We engaged engineers, transit planners, urban planners, budget experts, and public servants
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who are presiding over the expansion, increased ridership and popular support for this important regional public transit service.
Mississauga will work with Metrolinx to use proven best practices to ensure the successful construction of our LRT and our commitment to build regionally integrated transit.
The Minneapolis St. Paul LRT connects people, workers and commuters to important commercial centres.
And so will the Hurontario LRT.
In 2014, Minneapolis St. Paul expanded their LRT route with the Green Line.
Over $4 billion of investment has occurred along this transit line in the form of housing, employment and community amenities.
Mississauga is already attracting new job creating investments because of our transit building commitments.
CIBC Mellon formally opened its new Mississauga office.
More than 150 employees have moved to this new location, with plans to add an additional 500 professional positions.
This location is directly on our LRT corridor, with a station planned within walking distance.
We broke ground on the new The Mississauga Gateway Centre
located at Hurontario and highway 401.
This new 221,000 square foot LEED gold facility will be home to lead tenant Royal Sun Alliance Insurance
and will employ more than a thousand people.
I recently met with SOTI – a globally renowned enterprise software company with more than 16,000 international clients based in Mississauga.
SOTI has a vision for a new headquarters on Hurontario a vacant lot chosen in large part because of its proximity directly along the LRT corridor.
Being plugged into an extensive public transit network means SOTI can reach far and wide to
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recruit the best
hire the best
and compete with the best.
Regionally integrated is about going beyond city limits to become a limitless city.
These businesses and buildings stand as a testament to the potential of the LRT and to our commitment to build a complete city.
The next provincial election will take place in 2018 but now is the time to set the ballot question.
Voters will go to the polls in Ontario just months before breaking ground on the LRT.
In 1995 a new provincial government brought construction on the Eglinton West Subway Line to a grinding halt.
Cancelling this plan killed the long term economic interests of the GTA.
It set the region back an entire generation.
Mississauga cannot be caught off guard.
We must not fall victim to the same fate.
All parties must commit to the completion of the Hurontario LRT
as approved by Council and fully funded by the Wynne government.
In 2018, the ballot question must read: which party will stand up for the best interests of cities?
All day, two way, GO Train service on the Milton and Kitchener lines is in the best interest of Mississauga.
There are some who have been advocating for over 20 years for this service.
I’m proud to work with a coalition of cities on a plan to make all day, two way GO Train service on the Milton Line possible.
Our plan is the Missing Link. I discussed it last year from this very podium.
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It calls for constructing a new rail route that will connect the Canadian Pacific rail line, just west of Trafalgar, with the already existing Canadian National rail line that runs through Brampton.
It continues to be at the heart of our advocacy efforts.
Finance Minister Morneau and Innovation Minister Bains came to City Hall for a comprehensive briefing about our priorities.
I repeatedly raised it with Ministers Garneau and Sohi, as well as provincial Minister Del Duca and Premier Wynne.
They heard how the Missing Link will unleash long term benefits that will strengthen Canada’s national economic advantage.
The Missing Link is a blueprint for regional transit, urban revitalization and economic prosperity.
The Province has begun to make progress on the Missing Link.
In June they announced the building of a freight route for CN Rail.
This will open the Kitchener Line for all day, two way, GO service.
This agreement was the result of ongoing negotiations with CN.
I am confident that the province is having similar negotiations with CP about the future of the Milton Line, which is fundamental to achieving the Missing Link.
We have traveled a long way in a short time.
I remain confident that we will realize all day, two way, GO Train service on the Milton Line.
Rail transportation is shaping the way we will move in the future.
Metrolinx recently launched a new morning and afternoon train trip in Councillor Carlson’s Streetsville neighbourhood.
It will run between Milton and Toronto with stops at all Mississauga stations. But it’s not enough for a complete city just to have transit
transit must be accessible, available and affordable.
Public transit is the great equalizer.
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It allows citizens to fully enjoy City facilities, programs and services.
Why bother rebuilding facilities like the new Meadowvale Community Centre if people can’t get there?
Mississauga Council is behind the Affordable Transit Program – a plan that is supporting our most vulnerable.
This Program is a partnership between MiWay and the Region of Peel.
The results of Phase One are in. And they’re results we can all be proud of.
Participants were overwhelmingly more inclined to use public transit to help find a job, get medical treatment and have access to education.
It’s clear.
Investing in public transit translates into upward mobility.
Phase Two runs until the end of October.
We are all eagerly awaiting the results, along with the results of our one dollar seniors’ fare pilot program.
Smart, targeted investments in local transit ensure people get where they need to go quickly, affordably and easily.
Complete cities, are well planned cities.
In 2015 Mississauga once again issued over 1 billion dollars in building permits.
That’s a 10 per cent increase from the year before.
Over the next two decades, Peel will need to accommodate approximately 150,000 jobs and over 300,000 people.
Our city is no stranger to rapid growth.
In a few decades we grew from farm fields and fruit trees into Canada’s sixth largest community.
Mississauga’s next forty years will not look like the last forty.
Parking lots are road blocks to building a community.
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But there’s no shortage of people who want to gather in Streetsville Square, Celebration Square or along Port Credit Harbour.
We are building a livable, walkable city
fully connected by public transit and accessible to quality public services
home to mixed use residential and commercial developments
healthy, clean and both green and creative spaces
and neighbourhoods that safeguard and respect local history and embody Mississauga’s forward looking values as an inviting, inclusive and engaging place people choose to be in.
Our urban renaissance is building a bridge from our past, as an edge city
and into the future, as a leading edge city.
Effective urban planning is our responsibility and our legacy to future generations.
It’s how Council will be judged.
The decisions we make today will affect our future in a profound way.
I am proud to work with such a committed Council of professionals who have the best interests of this city at heart.
Residents should be proud of their Council.
We have undertaken a series of comprehensive studies and community consultations
forums for residents and business to share their intimate and local knowledge.
Together, we’re envisioning a bright new future, for Mississauga.
Inspiration Lakeview, Inspiration Port Credit, 1 Port Street and the Imperial Oil Lands will change the face of south Mississauga forever.
Under the leadership of Councillor Tovey
these plans will usher in exciting new ways for people to fully embrace and appreciate the untapped potential of our sprawling waterfront.
Mississauga still has far too many unrealized views of Lake Ontario.
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It’s called Lakeview for a reason! And its potential will be realized.
Under the leadership of Councillors Iannicca and Kovac
Vision Cooksville, Dundas Connects, and Downtown 21
are plans for world leading residential and commercial communities that will shape Mississauga’s future identity in much the same way Central Park shaped New York’s
and how Chicago’s waterfront redefined the Windy City.
And when we say we’re going downtown, it will be to downtown Mississauga.
Councillor McFadden is working to reimagine northwest Mississauga with the The Shaping Ninth Line initiative
whereas Councillor Parish is leading the Britannia Farms and MyMalton plans.
Their efforts will ensure distant and emerging neighbourhoods are tightly woven into the fabric of Mississauga’s everyday life
that no one is left behind
and that communities like Churchill Meadows, Lisgar and Malton are welcoming gateways.
Complete cities actively commit to elevating the quality of life for residents.
Our push for public transit and thriving neighbourhoods is part of how we want people to interact and come together.
Housing is directly linked to health, education and household wealth.
The availability of affordable housing improves opportunities for businesses to recruit and retain employees
and improve efficiencies and economic gains due to reduced staff turnover.
People should be able to both live and work here.
There is a need to increase the supply of rental housing that is affordable to low income households.
One in three households experience housing affordability issues.
Demand continues to increase. So do prices.
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It’s the blessing and the curse of Mississauga.
Our city is a place people dream of calling home.
The average house price in Mississauga is over half a million dollars.
The gap between the cost of housing and the ability to afford housing is growing at an alarming rate.
We need to address the lack of supply of affordable units.
We can’t build a sense of community if people are being priced out and pushed out.
Councillor Parrish brought forward a resolution passed by Council
calling for a plan that will mandate a minimum number of affordable housing units in future buildings
with a focus on the LRT corridor the north south spine of our community.
The Trudeau government has committed nearly 12 billion dollars over five years toward pressing city building issues like affordable housing.
We will work with our federal counterparts and the Region of Peel to secure our share.
All options must be on the table to ensure safe, accessible and connected affordable housing gets built.
The City of Mississauga will release our Affordable Housing Plan this December.
Many of our most vulnerable residents in need of a safe, secure and affordable place to call home
are sometimes the same individuals who rely on foodbanks.
Last fall’s inaugural Mayor’s Citywide Food Drive collected nearly 149,000 pounds of food
and raised over $82,000 for The Mississauga Food Bank.
We well surpassed our goals. And this year, I know we can do it again.
I am pleased to once again launch the 2016 Food Drive Challenge
as a part of The Mississauga Food Bank’s Annual Thanksgiving Campaign in partnership with the City’s Fire and Emergency Services team.
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MBOT is a corporate sponsor.
Our goals are to raise 200,000 pounds of food and $100,000 by October 14th.
Take part in the #OneBagChallenge.
Fill a bag with non perishable foods.
Take a photo or video as you deliver your donation to your local grocery store, fire station or The Mississauga Food Bank.
Post your photo or video on social media and challenge five people to do the same within 48 hours, using the hashtag #OneBagChallenge.
Councillor Starr’s Ward 6 community were our top donors, with Councillor Mahoney coming a close second.
Philip Pocock Secondary was our top donating school.
We owe our youth a lot of gratitude in the success of the food drive.
Mississauga youth enthusiastically support the vision for a complete city.
And we enthusiastically support them.
Business journalist, Amanda Lang, launched our inaugural Mayor’s Youth Speaker Series.
Role models, like Amanda, provide important support in navigating the job market and help youth understand the skills and experience required to succeed.
I am honoured to announce that Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development, and Mississauga Malton MP Navdeep Bains will be our next speaker!
Stay tuned for further details.
Over 1,300 participants and 70 different public sector organizations and businesses like Microsoft, Peel Police and the YMCA
participated in our first ever Mayor’s Youth Employment Expo .
Our success stories include youth securing a number of opportunities, as countless connections were made with local employers.
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As we look toward the weeks, months and years ahead in this Council term
we will press ahead with our plans to build a complete Mississauga.
We are actively moving away from the days when families only thought about travelling eastbound on the QEW to enjoy the full amenities of a complete city.
We are building a city where people can find a good paying job or launch a new business venture of their own
raise a family that has access to first rate public services like libraries and community centres
undertake an education from kindergarten to medical school
...enjoy an elevated and unrivalled quality of life
and be free to celebrate their faith and cultural identity with their neighbours and the broader community.
We are strategically and thoughtfully planning for a more promising future by engaging the community about how our City will grow
and by how our neighbourhoods can bring people together.
This is what makes a complete city. This is the Mississauga we are ready for.
Our potential is limitless and together, I am confident we can build a great City we’re proud to call home.
Thank you!
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