The City of Mississauga reminds drivers to stay sober while driving to prevent collisions.
December 13, 2024
Alcohol and drug use
Driving under the influence of alcohol or cannabis is dangerous for yourself, your passengers as well as other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. A collision that results in a fatality or serious injury has significant consequences to those involved and their loved ones.
Driving impaired is dangerous as even minimal amounts can affect your driving skills. Driving requires full control over your mind and body, and requires you to be alert so you can make quick decisions. When you drink or consume drugs, it can disrupt your ability to focus, affecting your risk perception, motor skills, reaction time, decision-making abilities and overall co-ordination.
Impaired driving in Mississauga
According to Peel Regional Police, impaired driving (driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol) continues to be a concern in Mississauga. From January 1 to November 30, 2024, there were 89 collisions that involved impaired drivers on Mississauga roads.
Peel Regional Police has launched their Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E.) program to help address impaired driving. R.I.D.E. checks are conducted throughout the year, but the holiday campaign includes increased enforcement levels and additional officer deployment. The program has already checked more than 4,600 vehicles and will continue to early January. If you suspect someone is driving impaired, call 911 to report it.
Driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or certain drugs is a serious offence. You put yourself at risk of immediate license suspension, hefty fines, education or treatment programs and even vehicle impoundment. Penalties can vary depending on your age, licence type, the amount of alcohol or drugs in your system, and how many times you have been convicted or had your licence suspended.
Stay safe while out on the roads
Whether you’re walking, cycling, taking transit or driving, it’s important that you stay extra alert when travelling around the city to your destination.
If you’re planning to drive – stay sober. If you’d like to consume alcohol or cannabis, plan an alterative way home. You can designate a driver, use MiWay to get around or use a rideshare program or taxi.
If you’re walking, cycling or taking transit, remember to stay alert and be aware, especially when crossing intersections. Make sure to use a crosswalk or crossride when possible.
To learn more about impaired driving, visit peelpolice.ca/en/safety-tips/road-safety.aspx
Learn more about road safety in Mississauga: mississauga.ca/roadsafety
As you are aware, in May, Peel Regional Police launched its annual Project E.R.A.S.E. (Eliminating Racing Activities on Streets Everywhere) aimed at changing poor and aggressive driver behaviour through education and strategic enforcement.
From May 1, 2024, to October 1, 2024, officers identified hotspot locations throughout the Region of Peel and targeted those areas as part of the program strategy. During this time, officers investigated 1,119 vehicles and issued 2,127 Provincial Offence Notices, including:
- 155 stunt driving charges
- 282 Noisemaker tickets
- 27 Criminal Code charges related to impaired and dangerous driving
Road safety remains a top priority for Peel Regional Police with illegal street racing and aggressive high-speed driving continuing to be a problem in Brampton and Mississauga. To ensure safety on our roads, PRP will have zero tolerance for dangerous driving behaviours and street racing activities, and officers remain vigilant in enforcing speeding, aggressive driving, and impaired driving all year round.
DRAO Announcement
On November 29th, 2024, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing announced that the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians (DRAO) program has been activated for the Little Etobicoke Creek area in response to the July 16th and August 17th and 18th localized flooding events.
Councillor Dasko was instrumental in having the Provincial officials connect with local residents in Ward 1 for inspections, to ensure that a full understanding of the magnitude of the issues in the area were understood. The result of which is that the area has been recognized and included in the program.
Applications for the program will be accepted until the deadline of Monday, March 31, 2025. Homeowners and residential tenants, small owner-operated businesses, and not-for-profit organizations may apply for assistance if they reside in the activation area.
Program guidelines, activation area maps, information sheets, and application forms can be found on the DRAO website.
DRAO is a program that can help with the recovery of costs after a natural disaster. Financial help from the program is limited to $250,000 per application, is subject to a $500 deductible (which may be waived for low-income households), and reimburses up to 90% of your total eligible costs with limits for emergency expenses, household appliances, and furnishings.
The DRAO program does not cover all costs. Eligible applicants may receive assistance for emergency expenses and for repair or replacement of essential property if they do not have insurance—or if their insurance is insufficient—to cover their essential costs according to the DRAO program guidelines. Damage due to sewer-backup is not eligible under the program. An exception is made for low-income households as defined by the guidelines. See details online.
In addition, eligible basement repairs are only allowed to the extent they are returned to a basic and safe state (e.g., stud walls and repairs to essential appliances such as furnaces and hot water heaters). Repairs to furnished basements are ineligible unless there is damage to an essential living space. See details online.
DRAO is a provincial program, and is not related to the various programs and initiatives that the City of Mississauga has undertaken related to localized flooding and flood recovery. Residents who do not reside in the DRAO activation area are still eligible for the other City programs and initiatives.
If you have any questions about the DRAO program, you may contact the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing program staff at: DisasterAssistance@Ontario.ca.
The one-time grant is available to eligible homeowners or tenants in Mississauga who had flood damage from the severe weather events in July and August 2024.
December 2, 2024
Who is eligible
To be eligible to apply for the Residential Compassionate Flood Relief Grant, you need to meet the following criteria:
- Be an individual, not a corporation or business entity.
- Be a registered owner or tenant of a residential dwelling within Mississauga.
- Have experienced flood damage to your residence from the rainfall events on July 16, August 17 or August 18, 2024.
What you need to apply
Residents must complete a grant application and submit proof of eligibility, including proof of ownership or residence and proof of flooding.
To provide proof of ownership, you must provide a copy of your City tax bill. The name on the application must match the registered owner listed on the tax bill.
To provide proof of residence, if you are a tenant, you must show proof that you live at the eligible residence. You can provide:
- Lease or rental agreement
- Ontario driver’s license
- Bank or credit card statement
- Insurance policy
- Utility, telephone or internet bill
All applicants must provide proof of flooding within a residential dwelling, such as:
- Proof of an insurance claim made for flooding.
- Correspondence with 311 Customer Service, a Councillor’s office or City staff.
- Invoices, receipts or quotes for flood cleanup or repairs.
- Photos of flooding in the residential dwelling, with the file’s metadata date stamped.
Applying online
Visit the webpage and upload the supporting documents, including proof of ownership or residence and proof of flooding.
Each file must be 5 MB or smaller and in one of the following formats: JPEG, JPG, PNG, GIF, PDF or WebP.
Applying by mail
Mail a completed Flood Relief Grant Application and supporting documents to the following address:
Residential Compassionate Flood Relief Grant Program
Transportation and Works
Environmental Services Section
300 City Centre Drive
Mississauga, ON L5B 3C1
For more information about the grant, residents are asked to call 311.
Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2025.
Important facts about stormwater
There are more than 51,000 storm drains in Mississauga, 1,900 km of storm sewer pipes, 270 km of ditches, 150 km of creeks, and 80 stormwater management facilities.
Valued at more than $7 billion, Mississauga’s stormwater drainage system requires constant care. Staff continue to assess and prioritize the most effective improvements to this aging infrastructure. Installing stormwater infrastructure requires a large investment up front, and it is expensive, but important to maintain.
Rebate programs
In February 2025, the City will be launching two additional rebate programs:
- Basement Flooding Prevention Rebate Program will provide rebates up to $6,800 for eligible flood prevention improvements.
- Flood Resilience Rebate Program will provide rebates of 50 per cent of the invoiced cost up to a maximum of $3,000 to cover costs associated with eligible measures taken to make improvements to your home to minimize flooding impact.
Other subsidies
Region of Peel Sanitary Backwater Valve Rebate (Current): The Region provides a $1,500 rebate for eligible homeowners to cover the cost of installing a sanitary backwater valve to reduce basement flooding due to sanitary back-ups of wastewater from the sanitary sewer. For more information, visit peelregion.ca.
Useful links
Read more about the City’s stormwater infrastructure.
Learn more about how to reduce the risk of flooding on your property.
Watch the City’s Flooding Information Session video.
Family and intimate partner violence is everyone’s concern as it threatens the basic right to live free from violence.
BRAMPTON, ON (November 25, 2024) – Beginning November 25, 2024, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and throughout the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Peel Region and partners are launching the annual Break the Silence campaign to encourage residents to talk about family and intimate partner violence in our community.
Now in its fifth year, the awareness campaign sets out to challenge misconceptions about family and intimate partner violence and let survivors know there is help and support available. The campaign will be seen across Peel in print and digital formats and includes downloadable materials in different languages.
Peel Region collaborated with over 25 community organizations, the City of Brampton, the City of Mississauga, the Town of Caledon, Peel Regional Police and Ontario Provincial Police – Caledon Detachment to design the campaign and support tactics and distribution strategies. The Break the Silence campaign is part of the Family Violence focus area in Peel’s Community Safety and Well-being Plan.
In February 2020, Peel Region Council unanimously passed a motion for the Region and its partners to shed light on this critical issue and stand in solidarity with survivors. In June 2023, Peel Region Council formally declared intimate partner violence and gender-based violence an epidemic in Peel, calling attention to its growing severity in the community.
Quick facts
- In 2023, Peel Police responded to just over 16,000 incidents of family and intimate partner violence, That’s 44 disputes every day or almost 2 every hour.
- Peel Police reported that the highest number of 2023 mobile dispatched calls for service are family and intimate partner violence related.
- In Peel, of the charges that were laid in 2023 for intimate partner violence-related incidents, 79% of the victims were women.
- Peel Police laid 617 intimate partner violence strangulation charges in 2023.
- There were 6 family and intimate partner homicides in Peel Region in 2023.
If you or someone you know needs support:
Call text, or chat with 211
Call Embrave: Agency to End Violence Crisis Line at 1-855-676-8515
Call Victim Services of Peel at 905-568-1068
Call Caledon\Dufferin Victim Services at 905-951-3838
If it’s an emergency call 911 immediately.
Learn more about family and intimate partner violence in Peel, including common misconceptions and available resources for support: peelregion.ca/BreakTheSilence.
Quotations
“Peel’s family and intimate partner violence campaign is driven by the priorities of our community partners. It breaks through misconceptions regarding abuse so that people seek the help they need. Fostering collective action also means ensuring the capacity exists to meet the increased demand that comes from raising awareness. This includes supporting the community in advocating to other levels of government to make the needed investments in shelter capacity and other services which can help those escaping family and intimate partner violence to be safe and well.”
Nancy Polsinelli, Commissioner of Health Services, Peel Region
“In this fifth annual Break the Silence campaign we continue to raise awareness of Intimate Partner and Gender-Based Violence as an epidemic and work together with our partners to break down the walls of silence that enables violence against women. We encourage everyone to recognize the signs of abuse and speak up if they know someone experiencing abuse; let victims feeling isolated know they are not alone; and for those experiencing abuse, to seek help. We all have a role to play in ending family and intimate partner violence, and to make Peel a safe, equitable and connected community for all.”
Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Brampton Wards 1 and 5
“Gender-based violence is an epidemic in Peel Region that requires a community-wide response. It is critical that we continue to raise awareness about the prevalence and severity of gender-based violence in our community, as well all have a role to play in meaningfully eradicating gender-based violence at a systemic level. It is also essential that survivors know that they do not have to face violence alone, and that there is always someone available to listen and provide support.”
Andrine Johnson, CEO, Embrave: Agency to End Violence
“Violence against women is so often misunderstood. There are many myths that we need to dispel so that women feel safe to come forward to get the help they need for themselves and their families. We all share in the responsibility to gain an accurate understanding to counter the misinformation that circulates in our communities. This campaign will help us do that.”
Sharon Mayne, CEO, Catholic Family Services of Peel Dufferin
About Peel Region
In 2024, Peel Region marks its 50th anniversary. Peel Region works with residents and partners to create a healthy, safe, and connected Community for Life for approximately 1.5 million people and over 200,000 businesses in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon. Peel’s services touch the lives of residents every day. For more information explore peelregion.ca and follow us on X @regionofpeel and Instagram @peelregion.ca.
(Nov. 22, 2024) – Yesterday at Regional Council, Peel’s 2025 Corporate Budget Overview was presented, along with the Peel Regional Police Budget.
The 2025 Corporate Budget Overview highlighted some of the challenges Peel is facing as a growing community with increased service demands. Ongoing challenges include elevated prices due to inflation, aging infrastructure, the continued climate change emergency and changing legislation.
The proposed 2025 Budget includes investments of $6.2 billion to maintain current service levels for a growing population, while addressing priority community needs.
Critical urgent needs being addressed include:
- The housing affordability crisis
- Accelerated housing-enabling infrastructure
- Affordability issues in the community
- Community safety and well-being
- Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion
To address the challenges being faced, the 2025 Budget also reflects $14.9 million in cost savings and in cost avoidance found through continuous improvement efforts and cost containment measures.
For the impact on the overall property tax, Regionally Controlled services account for a 1.3% increase, Peel Regional Police 4.1% increase and other agencies 0.1% increase for a total average property tax increase of 5.5%.
Next steps and more information
- Nov. 28, 2024: Presentations for Regionally Controlled Services.
- Dec. 5, 2024: Presentations for two Regionally Financed External Organizations including Credit Valley Conservation Authority and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
- The Regional Council Budget meeting(s) are open to the public and residents may attend. The meeting will also be live streamed.
- The proposed 2025 Regional Operating and Capital Budget is available at peelregion.ca/budget.
National Housing Day, observed on November 22, highlights the importance of safe, affordable housing across Canada.
November 22, 2024
New financial incentives for homeowners to boost housing supply
The City is offering new financial incentives to encourage and help homeowners build more units on their properties. These incentives will cover some application fees, depending on the type of unit being built:
Additional residential units (ARUs)
Homeowners building or legalizing ARUs, such as basement apartments, garage conversions, garden suites or second-floor additions can have their building permit fees waived. Legalizing an ARU includes, but is not limited to, ensuring the unit meets the applicable zoning requirements, complies with Ontario’s Building Code, and passes inspections to become a legal, safe living space. New build fourplexes are also eligible.
Fourplexes
To make building a fourplex more affordable, the City is waiving the development charges and parkland fees that are currently required for the fourth unit, aligning with the existing exemptions already in place for the first three units. Additionally, grants will be available to cover building permit fees.
The goal of these incentives is lower upfront costs for homeowners, making it easier to add new units to existing properties. It also creates more housing options in Mississauga’s neighborhoods, which will help meet the growing demand for homes in a thoughtful and sustainable way. Learn more about adding more units to your property.
City takes the lead by sharing garden suite plans with all municipalities
Garden suites are a great way to gently add density to Mississauga neighbourhoods. Earlier this year, the City made it easier to build garden suites by offering free, pre-approved plans. These plans offer a streamlined, ready-to-go solution for residents. Garden suites can be built in backyards, making them ideal for homeowners who want to add an additional space for their growing families, or to use as a rental unit.
Today, the City is expanding this initiative by making its garden suite plans available to all municipalities across Ontario. Planning and building departments in other communities can now offer the City’s ready-made designs to interested residents, helping to streamline processes and accelerate home-building across the province. This initiative reinforces the City’s leadership and commitment to addressing the housing crisis across Ontario, helping residents and municipal staff to save time and costs, so homeowners can work directly with licensed builders sooner.
Housing growth through gentle density
In the past year, the City has made significant progress in introducing new strategies for homeowners to build, which has helped to increase housing options while gently boosting density in Mississauga’s neighborhoods.
To date in 2024, four fourplexes have applied for building permits, and we have issued permits for more than 715 ARUs, including seven garden suites. This progress reflects our commitment to creating diverse housing options, which is an important step in ensuring that future generations can live in Mississauga for years to come.
For more information on Mississauga’s housing plan, visit Growing Mississauga: An Action Plan for New Housing. This plan provides details on how the City is working to increase housing supply, while also simplifying approvals and enhancing housing affordability.
The City has launched Mississauga’s Climate Lab to share more information about the Climate Change Action Plan update and provide an opportunity for residents to share comments.
Mississauga is already feeling the impacts of climate change. This past year, the city has endured numerous extreme weather events – like heavy rainfall and extreme heat. It has been five years since the City’s first climate plan was approved, and a lot has changed in that time. The City needs to move quicker to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. That’s why the City is updating its 2019 Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), and is encouraging you to participate. The City has launched Mississauga’s Climate Lab to share more information about climate change and provide an opportunity for residents to learn more about the update to the CCAP.
Help shape the update to the Climate Change Action Plan
Mississauga’s Climate Lab is a platform to learn more about the importance of climate action and some of the City’s current initiatives. The platform is available for you to learn more about climate change and share your comments until December 20, 2024.
Learn more about the Climate Change Action Plan and share your feedback: yoursay.mississauga.ca/climate-change
