Mayor Carolyn Parrish “rather obsessed about” supporting housing development. Parrish made housing the focus of her State of the City address.
Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish says “I’ve been laser focused on increasing the supply of housing, rather obsessed about it, to bring down the cost of housing and renting.”
The Mayor made the remarks at the State of the City address on March 24 — an annual luncheon event put on by the Mississauga Board of Trade.
“Everyone dreams of owning their own home in Mississauga and we are doing our very best at helping people reach their goal,” Parrish said, breaking down the decreases and fees and development charges that she has recently championed.
Mississauga’s other key housing metrics included 12,000 housing units currently under construction, 20 cranes in the sky, and 5,000 new unit permits issued in 2025.
The Mayor made the point of defending real estate developers and saying they have heavily influenced her thinking on housing policy.
“Despite Brampton having a larger population, this is patently unfair and we’re doing our best in Mississauga to fix this.”
“I’d like to take a moment to thank all the developers in the room, they’re usually the bad guys in everybody’s books,” Parrish said. “They’ve worked diligently with me the past two years.”
The event, which was attended by groups including Pearson Airport, 407ETR, and the Meadowvale Business Association, is meant as a showcase of the direction in which the city is planning to head under its current political leadership.
CALLS FOR STRONG METROLINX SERVICE
After speaking on housing, Mayor Parrish turned to transit — calling on Metrolinx to offer quicker and better service to residents.
“The Hazel McCallion [Hurontario] LRT will transform a critical artery in our city,” Parrish said, before pausing and raising an eyebrow. “It seems to be going slowly. Very slowly.”
While Mayor Parrish mentioned that 2028 is the expected completion date for the Hurontario LRT, she was clearly doubtful that it would, in fact, open then.
“It’s my hope it will bring long suffering businesses along Hurontario a needed boost.”
The Mayor also called on MPPs from Mississauga to advocate for Metrolinx extending all day two-way service on the Milton GO lines.
TAX FAIRNESS FOR MISSISSAUGA
Mayor Parrish reserved some of her strongest words, though, for the way Peel Region expenses are divided between the residents of Mississauga and Brampton.
She lamented that “59% of Peel’s budget is shouldered by Mississauga, and you have to know Brampton is bigger than us.”
The Mayor cited that by her calculation Mississauga residents were unfairly overpaying to the Peel Region funding pot by over $103 million in 2026.
“Despite Brampton having a larger population, this is patently unfair and we’re doing our best in Mississauga to fix this,” Parrish remarked.
One potential remedy, according to the Mayor, is for Mississauga to have its own police force. Parrish cited how 44 Ontario municipalities have their own police departments and most of them are smaller in population than Mississauga.
HAVE YOUR SAY! WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Should Mississauga have its own police force, as Mayor Caroyln Parrish suggests? Let us know at info@mpulse.ca and your comments may appear in an upcoming issue.
