Mississauga's next mayor to have more planning power
CBC
The race to become the next mayor of Mississauga is now well underway, and whoever lands the job will lead the city with greater planning powers than the previous mayor possessed.
The provincial government is downloading planning responsibility from the Region of Peel to the City of Mississauga as of July 1, something intended to get housing built faster. The change comes two years after it granted strong mayor powers in 2022, providing the mayor with a veto, also intended to accelerate housing projects.
The planning shift does change the election for Mississaugans, says York University political scientist Zachary Spicer.
That's because whoever the city elects will have both strong mayor powers and lead a city that has full responsibility over planning, giving the new mayor more authority than any other mayor of Mississauga has had over one of the most contentious responsibilities.
For the first time, zoning decisions will all fall to the city, which affect key choices that could change neighbourhoods and affect how the city grows, by allowing for things like mixed-use residential in areas that were previously only commercial.
Two-tier municipalities, like Mississauga in Peel Region, often have projects that must be approved by two different councils. Single-tier municipalities, like nearby Toronto, do not face such a planning process.
The shift in responsibilities over planning mean proposed housing developments will no longer need to conform to two different official plans and will no longer risk receiving support from Mississauga, but being rejected by the Region of Peel.
"It adds to the stakes of the election," Spicer said.
"It definitely is a change and could lead to significant policy outcomes."
Spicer says voters who want more housing built should be asking candidates who claim to want to build more housing: "How badly do you want to build something? And are you willing to use strong mayor powers?"
While many running for mayor of Mississauga say giving the city the planning responsibilities is a positive move, the candidates are divided about whether they'd use strong mayors powers.
While some voters view strong mayor powers as undemocratic, some may view a willingness to use them positively, says York University political scientist Dennis Pilon.
"Someone coming in and saying, 'I'm going to get stuff done, and I'm going to take action,' that is appealing," he said.
For others, he says, fewer voices in the the decision-making mix could leave them feeling community concerns aren't being heard, which can be a turn-off.
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