Planning & Development

The recommendations in the task force report will help guide future housing efforts in Mississauga. As an immediate next step, Mayor Parrish will bring forward a motion next week with actions the City will take to help quickly address housing affordability.

The task force includes more than 30 experts from Ontario’s private and not-for-profit building and development industry. It was assembled by Mayor Parrish two weeks after taking office in June 2024. The Mayor’s goal was to help break down barriers by bringing together those who plan for and approve housing (government) and those who build it (industry).

Over the course of four months, and engagement with federal and provincial ministries, the task force assembled a series of recommendations in four key priority areas:

1. Reform development charges, taxes and fees to help lower housing costs: Ninety-five per cent of new homes built in Canada are built by the private sector. The Task Force is recommending 14 actions to help balance demand and incentivize more affordable housing developments.
2. Update building and design standards to help boost supply and make building more affordable: In a housing crisis, the aim of guidelines and standards must be to help – not hinder – good city-building. The Task Force is recommending seven actions that will help create efficiencies across the industry to increase supply.
3. Transform zoning to unlock more housing: Zoning reform provides certainty for developers and can help streamline the development application process. The Task Force is recommending five actions that will support Mississauga’s transformation into a dynamic urban city.
4. Create sustainable programs and funding that will mobilize industry to help meet the demand for affordable housing: The private sector can – and is willing to – play a significant role in helping to build affordable housing. The Task Force is recommending four actions to help develop a sustainable, long-term funding program for affordable housing.

The report also outlines 14 actions the City is taking right now to address the housing crisis, including:

• Increasing housing supply: Adding permissions for another 124,000 units to boost residential growth, making it easier to build mixed-use communities around transit, and finding creative ways to build new housing above or alongside city facilities.
• Bringing down costs: Offering financial incentives to get more purpose-built rentals built, making it less expensive to build homes on residential lots – like garden suites, triplexes and fourplexes, lowering borrowing costs and costs for non-profit developers.
• Streamlining processes: Creating a housing-focused team of city-builders at the City to review applications quickly, update urban design guidelines, improve financial policies, and drive efficiencies in the housing development approval process.

In the coming months, staff will update the City’s Housing Action Plan with recommendations that will be advancing from the Mayor’s Housing Task Force.

To read the full report and learn more about the task force members, visit Mississauga.ca/housing-taskforce.

Public input from earlier consultations has helped shape the latest version of the proposed new Official Plan, helping determine the best places for housing, services, and amenities. The proposed plan now includes more housing options, a vision for complete communities with better walking, cycling and transit networks, support for local businesses and job growth, stronger environmental protections, and a focus on culture, heritage, and inclusion. It also aligns with recent provincial planning changes.

To share these updates, the City is hosting a virtual public meeting on January 23 from 6:00-7:30 PM. Residents are encouraged to join to learn how the proposed plan will shape the City’s future and see what’s next for Mississauga.

What

• Official Plan Virtual Public Meeting

When

• Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025
• Time: 6:00-7:30 PM
• Location: Online – WebEx virtual meeting

How to participate

• Visit our website to register for the online meeting.
• If you are unable to attend, the virtual meeting will be recorded and posted on the website following the session.

Prepare for the meeting

• Review the complete Official Plan by visiting Your Say – Official Plan Review

Background

• The City reviews and updates the Official Plan every 10 years to meet Mississauga’s changing needs, as required by the Ontario Planning Act. It covers key areas like transportation, housing, culture, heritage, the environment, and the economy.
• The proposed new Official Plan will come into effect once it is adopted by City Council and approved by the Province of Ontario.
• To learn more, visit mississauga.ca/officialplan

In this role, Calvert will report to the Commissioner of Transportation and Works overseeing key areas such as the City’s Capital Works, Environmental Services (including Stormwater Management), Transportation Infrastructure Management and Transportation Planning. Collectively, these areas focus on the planning, development and construction of a multi-modal transportation system and stormwater network.

With more than a decade of experience with the City, most recently as the Acting Director and Manager leading the Development, Engineering and Construction team, Calvert’s leadership has been essential in addressing the aftermath of this past summer’s storms. Her efforts in delivering financial relief programs and developing future action plans have been critical. She has also played a key role in major developments along Mississauga’s waterfront, including Lakeview Village and Brightwater. Prior to joining the City, Calvert held progressive leadership roles with environmental engineering consulting companies in both British Columbia and Ontario.

Calvert holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Queen’s University and a Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership from the Schulich School of Business. She is a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, the Ontario Public Works Association and the Municipal Engineers Association, where she is also part of the Development Engineering Committee.

Quotes

“I am pleased to welcome Emma to this important role. Her leadership experience combined with her insights from both the public and private sectors will be invaluable in advancing new initiatives and modernizing business processes. I am confident that Emma will play a key role in enhancing our transportation system and stormwater network, elevating the quality of life in our community.” – Sam Rogers, Commissioner of Transportation and Works

“I am pleased to step into this new role and look forward to working closely with the team, senior leaders, as well as Mayor and Council to deliver projects and services that will positively impact our community and infrastructure.” – Emma Calvert, Director of Infrastructure Planning and Engineering Services