Issues and Platform
Transit
The University of Toronto Mississauga bus stop desperately needs to be developed into a proper transit terminal. Currently four Mississauga Transit routes and two shuttle buses operated by the University stop here, causing traffic jams and delays.
Bus times should be changes to better coincide with transfers to and from other routes and other transit agencies, such as GO Transit.
Education and Library
The Sheridan Branch Library needs more than to just remain open. The Sheridan Branch needs an increased collection and should be moved to a more prominent location than the basement of the Sheridan Centre.
Sustainable Development
Complete Streets with dedicated sidewalks, transit rights of way, bicycle lanes and traffic lanes that are safe, convenient and accessible for all residents to use.
We need to focus on Building Communities with free public events sponsored by the City and Council located through Ward 8 and the rest of the City.
Our municipal government should Support Local Businesses and give a preference on granting contracts to businesses located within the City of Mississauga.
Good Government and Accountability
The Chair of Peel Regional Council was appointed by Peel Regional Council in 1992. We elect our mayor, councillors, school board trustees, Members of Parliament and Members of Provincial Parliament, why not our regional chair?
Townhall and Community Meetings should be held in Ward 8, and across the city, at least once a month to ensure that the needs of Mississauga residents are heard and acted on by City Council.
Residents should have Open Access to City and Regional Council with an office open and accessible to residents during the day and evening hours.
Electoral Reform is required at the municipal level prior to seeing democratic and electoral reform at the provincial and federal levels. I support the use of an Instant Runoff Voting method (preferential ballots) for municipal elections. The City of Mississauga claims to be “leading today for tomorrow”, lets make this reality, not just a slogan.
Federal election campaigns are not able to accept donations from corporations or trade unions, as a way of ensuring that politicians are accountable to their constituents. The same restriction should apply to municipal candidates, as it does in Toronto.