Dear Citizens,

As you know, the Federal Government has called an election for October 14, 2008.  A federal election is a critical time for us to reflect on the record of our governments and to think about our future vision, and the necessary actions that are required to help us move toward this vision.

As Canadians, we share a common goal to see our country prosper. The Federal Government plays a key role in making this happen by creating policies that will ensure Canada’s success.  Cities are the heartbeat of our nation. As such, our issues are critical to our nation’s overall future success and direction.

My Council and I are working to raise the profile of issues that are critical to the City of Mississauga, and I highlighted most of them in a recent Toronto Star article (September 11, 2008). I wanted to outline this crisis situation for cities and what you can do to assist.

The City of Mississauga has identified three critical issues which need to be acted upon by the future Federal Government in order to maintain the quality of life for those who live in cities across Canada.

(1)  Eliminate the National Municipal Infrastructure Deficit

Cities across Canada are facing a national municipal infrastructure deficit, estimated at $123 billion. The City of Mississauga alone faces an estimated infrastructure deficit of $1.5 billion. The Federal Government needs to provide permanent infrastructure funding to assist cities. While the Federal Government has provided cities with $33 billion in infrastructure funding through their Building Canada Plan, this limited project-based plan is spread over seven years. It is not the permanent, sustainable infrastructure funding that cities need to fix their crumbling infrastructure, to grow their communities and to keep Canada competitive.

Investing in municipal infrastructure also benefits the Federal Government by making the economy more productive and competitive and by helping to reverse economic slowdown.  On May 31, 2008, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities released a study outlining the impacts of local infrastructure investment on key economic indicators such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment rates and government revenues.  The report showed that a $1 billion capital investment in local infrastructure would result in a 0.13% increase in national GDP and create 11,500 new jobs, including 5,400 in the construction industry, while a $10 billion capital investment would result in a 1.3% increase in national GDP and create 115,000 new jobs, including 54,000 in construction alone.  The City of Mississauga’s Cities NOW! campaign highlighted the need for permanent, sustainable federal funding to help cities meet their growing infrastructure needs. We need the Federal Government to be a partner in helping cities to build and grow for the future to ensure Canada’s future economic sustainability.

Ask your local candidate:  Will your party commit to providing additional sustainable, permanent infrastructure funding to cities in order to address the national municipal infrastructure deficit which affects the competitiveness of our country?

(2)  A National Transit Strategy

Traffic gridlock and the need for more public transit is the single most important issue facing Mississauga residents. The Canadian Urban Transit Association has estimated the total requirements for public transit infrastructure (for both renewal and expansion) for the period 2008 to 2012 to be $40.1 billion. Notwithstanding the gas tax funding already committed by the Federal Government, municipalities have been asked to fund both the operating and capital costs of transit primarily from the limited property tax while they struggle with an estimated national infrastructure deficit of $123 billion.  Municipal governments need help delivering the transit services that benefit the nation’s economy, quality of life and environmental sustainability.   

Canada is the only Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) country without a long-term National Transit Strategy.  A National Transit Strategy would help reduce emissions, improve local air quality and help create healthier and more competitive communities. We need the Federal Government to take an active role in transit so that municipalities can stay strong, competitive and healthy.

Ask your local candidate:  Will your party commit to the creation of a National Transit Strategy that will provide cities with a framework for sustained public transit expansion which will meet our needs for the 21^st century?

(3)  A National Housing Strategy

The availability of affordable housing is quickly becoming out of reach for a growing number of Canadians and the situation has become critical in the Region of Peel. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities reports that Peel's supply of affordable housing continues to slip relative to other Canadian cities. Peel has the longest wait list for subsidized housing in the province with over 13,500 households waiting for an available unit. In fact, tenants being placed in a subsidized unit today have waited 10 years or more for a unit and the wait is significantly longer for families applying for housing today. As a result of the shortage, only 7% of applicants on Peel's social housing waiting list are placed in a subsidized unit each year.

Peel's population continues to grow by 34,000 new residents annually, with the majority being  immigrants from other countries or other parts of Canada, yet there has been only a minimal increase in the number of rental units and a decrease in available affordable housing. Compounding the housing shortage is Peel's aging social housing stock. Many buildings are over 20 years old and in need of costly repairs and reserve funds are being quickly depleted. In October 2005, the Federal Government identified $45 million in savings associated with social housing mortgage subsidy costs, yet diverted these savings for other purposes.  The Federal Government is scheduled to end federal housing funds in March 2009, resulting in an estimated $2 billion funding loss.  With thousands of Canadian families struggling to find affordable housing and with federal funding scheduled to end in 2009, Canada urgently needs a renewed funding commitment from the Federal Government and a National Housing Strategy.

Low-cost rental housing is a vital element in the reduction of poverty, ultimately saving on health care and other social spending.

We propose that the Federal Government lead a national housing strategy, provide ongoing program funding with flexibility to be applied to new buildings or maintenance of current stock as needed, and fold CMHC interest and principal payments back into community housing projects rather than back into federal general revenues.

Ask your local candidate:  Will your party commit to creating a National Housing Strategy that will provide sustainable, predictable funding for affordable and supportive housing, including the renewal of funding for all federal housing programs before March 2009?

I will be writing to the candidates to ask these questions and will post their responses on our City’s website for your information.

Call to Action

The upcoming election is a critical time for your City and for cities across Canada.  As a resident and voter, in the greatest nation in the world, you have the power to enact change in your community through your vote.  I encourage you to use this power by writing or e-mailing your candidate and asking them their position on any or all of the above critical City issues.  More detailed information can be found on our website at www.mississauga.ca.

I thank you for your continued engagement, interest and involvement in the City of Mississauga and I urge you to exercise your power as a voter in the upcoming federal election.  

Sincerely,

HAZEL McCALLION, C.M.
MAYOR