Mississauga debates MZO for hospital and how to represent Ward 2 residents; Caledon receives letter from Markham opposing 413

Each week, The Pointer will check the agendas of public institutions involved in decision making that impacts the citizens of Peel. We will summarize particularly important reports or motions under various headings. This feature is designed to act as a guide for local residents, unlocking the often stodgy and byzantine process of local government.

For meetings where more than one item may be of interest, sub headings have been used. Each item includes a link to the full agenda, how to watch meetings live and information to speak on the issue at the meeting.

Democracy Watch will include a link to the most notable agendas each week. If there are no newsworthy items, information regarding timing and how to get involved will still be featured. 

Council

Date: February 2 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

Filling Ward 2 Councillor Vacancy: 

January 28 marked Karen Ras’s final day as Mississauga Ward 2 councillor. On Wednesday, council will declare the position vacant and decide how to fill it, by either holding a by-election or appointing someone ahead of October’s municipal election. A staff report details how a by-election would not be completed until May 2, whereas an appointment could be wrapped up by the end of February.

Previous reporting:

• Mississauga Councillor Karen Ras resigning for new job, citing COVID, stress & personal issues | The Pointer

2022 Provincial Pre-Budget Submissions:

With a provincial election a few months away, Mississauga staff have put together 12 recommendations for the government to consider when deliberating on its budget. Some highlights include: infrastructure and transit funding; and partnering with Mississauga to close the affordable housing supply gap. The City is also recommending the termination of Highway 413 due to the “detrimental impact on the environment,” and its increase on car dependency while furthering sprawl into greenspaces. The strong language is consistent with the City’s stance on the highway and renewed commitments to addressing local environmental impacts. The City is also asking both Queen’s Park and Ottawa for help to restore the cancelled downtown LRT loop, which the PCs’ cut citing increased costs for the project.

Previous reporting:

• Mississauga’s one-sided relationship with Pearson Airport forces City to seek new taxation powers | The Pointer

• Massive infrastructure plan hopes to keep Mississauga moving forward in 2022 | The Pointer

• Hey candidates, if you expect to win in Mississauga, pony up $200 million for the downtown LRT loop

• Feds and province pitch in only 18 percent of Mississauga’s massive transit needs to meet its vision for the future | The Pointer

• ‘We’ve been subject to these gravel guerrillas for 50 years’: Mississauga renounces developer-driven GTA West Highway | The Pointer 

• Go Green—Mississauga plows ahead with big transit dreams    as council approves 2022 budget

You can read all the requests here.

2022 Federal Pre-Budget Submissions:

After another tough year for Mississauga financially, staff and council are sending 10 actions for the federal government as it plans its 2022 budget. During the 2021 election, the City and its officials advocated for restoring the Hurontario LRT downtown loop, revitalization of the local economy and the commitment to reconsider payment in lieu of taxes at Pearson International Airport, as the City has been significantly shortchanged due to the dramatic decline in air traffic during the pandemic. 

For the 2022 federal budget, Mississauga is asking for funding for climate change impacts on city buildings and public infrastructure, further funding for public transportation projects like the Dundas Rapid Bus Transit Corridor, and partnering with Mississauga to create more affordable housing units under Ottawa’s commitment to address the ongoing housing crisis across Peel. The City is asking for the government to “develop new revenue tools” as municipalities grapple with pandemic pressures and to gain public advantages from land allocation during the planning process. 

Previous reporting:

• Go Green—Mississauga plows ahead with big transit dreams as council approves 2022 budget | The Pointer

• Mississauga flood study shows dire need for cities to prepare for climate change | The Pointer

• Lakeview developer backpedals on request for taxpayer subsidy, but offers peanuts for affordable housing | The Pointer

• Mississauga uses guerrilla tactics in affordable housing crisis with regional system a mess  | The Pointer

You can read all the requests here.

Councillor Dipika Damerla requesting an Enhanced Minister’s Zoning Order for Trillium Hospital Expansion:

A motion on the table requests an Enhanced Minister’s Zoning Order (EMZO) for the new Mississauga Hospital at 100 Queensway West. The approximately $3-billion project could see some local planning bypassed if council votes in favour of the motion. According to the Ontario government, the “enhanced powers” can expedite sites for, “transit-oriented communities, affordable housing, and long-term care homes.” It’s unclear what the motion would bypass and why an EMZO is needed. The Pointer will be closely monitoring the decision with more to come. 

Previous reporting:

• Huge investment in Mississauga hospital expansion bitter-sweet for Brampton

• Mississauga Hospital heading for $2 billion rebuild to expand with rest of city | The Pointer

• As its population grows, Mississauga would be wise to start saving for future hospital projects | The Pointer

• Mississauga overlooks local planning stance in seeking rapid approval for movie district | The Pointer

• The complex balancing act between cities and PCs vying for power over local planning | The Pointer

Read the proposed motion here.

Committee of Council

Date: February 2 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

Greening Brampton’s City vehicles:

A not-for-profit organization is giving a presentation on Brampton’s sustainable fleet strategy. The delegation includes a framework for an action plan over a 15-year budget cycle on how to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The presenters will cover how specific tires and fuel are more efficient and reduce emissions. It will also include costs on electric vehicles and how Brampton can plan to implement more low/no emission vehicles into its fleets. The City is looking for information on how to switch over its Fire and Emergency Services, Brampton Transit and corporate vehicles.  

Previous reporting:

• Funding boost for Brampton and Mississauga’s green bus projects | The Pointer

• Earth’s doomsday scenario is here & municipal leaders could not care less | The Pointer

• Electric cars are a key solution to our climate crisis but Doug Ford killed their sales | The Pointer

Nine delegations scheduled on Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET):

Brampton is establishing a not-for-profit organization to help address the climate crisis through collective actions and community level environmental assistance. It will assist the City in understanding impacts on the environment, invest in deep home retrofits, district energy systems and promote better energy efficiency in all buildings. The organization will also establish a community advisory task force and include voices from a range of environmental groups and residents. Staff are recommending council re-allocate capital funds from the Environmental Master Plan capital budget ($300,000) to support the CCET costs for the first year. After two years of staff planning, on Wednesday council will decide if the project deserves to be funded.

Previous reporting:

• After six years, Brampton fails to achieve majority of crucial environmental sustainability targets  | The Pointer

• After Brown stalled transit expansion Brampton gets major funding but it’s not aligned with green targets  | The Pointer

• In 2022, Brampton will spend more on a single road than all of its climate initiatives combined  | The Pointer

You can read the staff report here.

Staff asking for budget amendment:

The 53-year old Balmoral Recreation Centre is being revitalized which was approved by council February 2021. The project will demolish part of the old building and construct a new facility in its place, except the 25-metre lap pool. After releasing the project to bidders, staff say the lowest bid is far more than budgeted. They recommend council approve $4.1 million toward the project. Part of the increase is due to impacts of the pandemic; so far $20.7 million has been approved for the project.

You can read the staff report here.

Golden Age Village for the Elderly (GAVE) aimed at city’s Vietnamese-Canadian community, requesting council to waive development charges (DCs): 

The not-for-profit organization trying to build a care facility catering to Brampton’s Vietnamese-Canadian population, is asking council to waive DCs (which builders are required to pay to cover associated costs for public needs around new developments) for its Campus of Care project, which includes a long-term care facility, independent living for seniors with supports, and a cultural community centre. Increases in costs (supply chain disruptions) a $2-million gap in the budget and no further government support are contributing to the funding issues faced by the group. Construction is supposed to start late 2022. 

Previous reporting:

• ‘Culturally’ responsive care is needed for seniors across Ontario but openings are few and wait times can stretch for years | The Pointer

• Underfunded system in Peel failing seniors, again | The Pointer

• Changes to development charges could see vital community services paid for by developers | The Pointer

Council

Date: February 1 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

City of Markham opposes Highway 413:

A number of delegations have been added to Caledon’s agenda Tuesday in response to a letter by the City of Markham. The four pages detail a range of reasons why the City is not supporting Highway 413, citing increased carbon emissions, induced demand for driving and the degradation of the local environment as key concerns. Caledon, unlike other municipalities in the GTA, has refused to oppose the highway, to the dismay of environmental advocates and residents in the area trying to protect the Greenbelt from further development.  

Previous reporting:

• Caledon Council quietly commits to unpopular GTA West Highway; resident reports members to Ombudsman after public locked out of meeting | The Pointer

• ‘Death by 1,000 cuts’: GTA West Highway exposes cataclysmic impact our addiction to urbanization has on wildlife  | The Pointer

• Has Ford’s ‘end run’ around environmental protections to build highways handed Trudeau a perfect opportunity? | The Pointer

Councillor Annette Groves motion to repeal provincial Bill 124:

A motion presented Tuesday could see council call on Ontario to amend Bill 124, a provincial law passed in 2019 prohibiting nurses from achieving an annual wage increase above one percent over three years. If approved, Caledon will join Brampton in criticizing the government’s actions and demanding the legislation be axed or amended to leave out nurses. 

Previous reporting:

• ‘They're leaving every day’: Peel Nurses giving up on profession, especially after PC’s wage suppression law  | The Pointer

• Lack of N95 masks, Bill 124 choking Nurses as Omicron advances; Acute care beds in Peel at 100% capacity | The Pointer

• Ontario’s enormous 3.5-year surgical backlog falls on a burnt-out workforce  | The Pointer

Planning and Growth Committee

Date: February 3 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

Housing & Peel’s 2051 Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR):

On Thursday Regional staff are providing a huge update on the MCR, detailing comments from all three municipalities, the public, stakeholders who have weighed in on the need for urban boundary expansion to accommodate future growth and, maybe, cool down the housing market. Staff are recommending Region of Peel Council adopt a preferred plan in late Spring 2022, meaning time for any further recommendations or public input is limited.

Previous Reporting:

• As Peel plans its next 30 years of growth will developer-driven sprawl or the planet win out? | The Pointer

• In Peel’s tug-of-war between sustainability and human desire, is 7,400 acres too much for future housing? | The Pointer

• Peel residents fearing more sprawl want to pause crucial decision around future growth – PCs said ‘no’ | The Pointer

Administration & Finance Committee

Date: February 1 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board Budget:

The school board is starting to look at budget planning for next year. Initial documents indicate a deficit of $43.7 million for the first four months of the school year (September to December 2021) and planning needed to adjust into 2022. The report at Tuesday’s meeting will provide an update and overview to trustees on where money has been spent and the next steps for budget planning in June.

Read the full budget report on page 31 here. 

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