What to know
- Tedjo has promised a two-year property tax freeze for residents and a permanent freeze for seniors aged 65 and older.
- His public safety plans include hiring more police officers, investing in technology and advocating for bail reform.
- Tedjo wants to improve traffic flow through a program targeting Mississauga’s 10 most congested intersections and advance new bus rapid transit routes.
- His housing proposals include creating the Mississauga Housing Corporation, increasing family-oriented missing-middle housing and expanding options to include sixplexes.
From a property tax freeze to hiring more police officers, here are some of the promises Mississauga residents can expect from newly elected Mayor Alvin Tedjo.
Tedjo won the Mississauga mayoral race on Oct. 26, defeating incumbent Carolyn Parrish and former mayor Bonnie Crombie.
According to the City of Mississauga, Tedjo received 74,479 votes, representing 38.9 per cent of ballots cast.
His victory comes after a campaign centred on affordability, housing, public safety and traffic congestion.
Affordability and property taxes
One of Tedjo’s biggest campaign promises was to freeze property taxes for all residents for two years. He says the plan would be achieved by cutting waste, implementing a hiring freeze and avoiding new spending that would increase costs for taxpayers.
For seniors aged 65 and older, Tedjo has promised to make the property tax freeze permanent. Specific eligibility requirements would be developed in partnership with city council, according to his campaign platform.
Tedjo has also pledged to increase the annual property tax rebate for low-income seniors from $571 to approximately $700, an adjustment he says would account for inflation.
Public safety and policing
Tedjo has said crime and public safety have become increasingly serious concerns for Mississauga residents.
His plan includes hiring more police officers and investing in technology to help keep communities safe.
He has also promised to advocate for bail reform and press other levels of government to introduce harsher penalties for repeat offenders.
Tackling traffic and improving transit
As Mississauga continues to grow, Tedjo has pledged to address traffic congestion through targeted road improvements and better transit.
His proposed Top 10 Congestion Points Program would prioritize the city’s 10 most congested intersections, with the goal of delivering measurable improvements within two years.
Under the plan, each intersection would receive a diagnostic assessment and action plan within six months, followed by construction or operational improvements.
Tedjo has also pledged to plan several new bus rapid transit (BRT) lines in Mississauga. The proposed routes include Erin Mills, Dundas West, Derry Road, Dixie Road and Lakeshore.
He has also promised to advocate for two-way, all-day service on the GO Milton Line. Tedjo says he will urge the federal government to match Ontario’s announced commitment to fund half of the estimated $6.2-billion cost of improving service on the line.
Housing and development
On housing, Tedjo has pledged to establish the Mississauga Housing Corporation (MHC) to help get more homes built.
The proposed corporation would prioritize underused city-owned land, as well as suitable public and private properties, while using partnerships and existing incentives to reduce costs.
According to his campaign platform, the MHC would prioritize affordable rental housing, particularly on sites near transit and existing community services.
Tedjo has also promised to triple the supply of family-oriented missing-middle housing by 2037 and expand missing-middle housing options to include sixplexes
