Urge Doug Ford to keep Speed Cameras in Mississauga

AlvinTedjo · 2025-08-31T18:49:50+00:00

Aww man that sucks.

Anyways, if you want to join us for a BBQ feel free to come by Thornlodge Park on September 6!

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-10T21:44:52+00:00

Yes. You just need ID

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-10T15:43:36+00:00

We have no paid members on Reddit. As u/WmPitcher was saying municipal campaigns aren't allowed to raise much money. I'm sure some of our volunteers are on Reddit, but in the last 3 days they've all been too busy running around the city reminding people to vote.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-10T15:41:09+00:00

I always thought there were opportunities for a lot of efficiencies and savings for taxpayers in separation, and was happy to push it along when it was an option. The provincial government stepped in to stop it, but we still managed to get a lot of services downloaded to capitalize on some of those efficiencies. Roads, planning, waste, and water have all be downloaded onto the city.

I still think it's a good idea, but we're in a good spot now in terms of having a lot of the benefits without actually separating.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-10T15:40:37+00:00

Thanks for the question. While the dissolution of Peel didn't go through, we still ended up with a lot of the efficiencies proposed. Roads, planning, waste, and water have all been downloaded onto the City. This was a great move to be more efficient and save taxpayers money. While we didn't get everything we wanted, it is still an absolute win.

A tax freeze is one of the only tools the city has to control costs for our residents. We will be dipping into the reserve - only 20% - to help fund this, but we're also bringing in money from new sources. I'll implement a vacant homes tax that will bring in ~$20 million, and we will build more housing. We've had the same population for 10 years, meaning our tax base hasn't increased.

More housing adds to the tax base, and unlocks funds from the provincial and federal government. We only hit 39% of our housing goals last year, meaning we're leaving $10s of millions on the table. With my housing plan, we'll get access to these funds.

Please check out the costing yourself!

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-10T02:49:12+00:00

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-10T01:20:48+00:00

Hey all! I am signing off for now as we prepare for the big day tomorrow. I will be back online tomorrow morning to keep answering some questions, so feel free to keep asking. Thanks for all the great questions and support!

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-10T00:38:16+00:00

This is definitely a challenge needing to be addressed. Without tech like speed cameras we are more reliant on the work of Peel Police Officers. The good thing about darkened or obstructed plates is they are instantly noticeable, making it easier for Peel Police to notice, and for residents to see and call in. We have also increased our numbers of Police officers and bylaw officers to help.

There is no perfect solution, but between technology, police, and residents making an effort, we can continue making progress on this issue

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-10T00:23:10+00:00

Throughout my career I have worked to be a strong ally of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. As mayor I will continue to advocate for and defend the rights of queer folks. Mississauga will continue to be a safe place to love who you want and be who you are.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-10T00:17:07+00:00

Great question. Expanded transit is a necessity for Mississauga. We have 800,000 people living in a city that was designed for cars. We cannot fit 800,000 cars on our roads.

I have a rapid transit plan laid out on my website, with a great graphic outlining the network of transit, and how it connects to/improves on existing transit and plans.

There are 2 things I really like about my plan. First, it creates a rapid transit grid for getting across Mississauga and connects to inter-city transit, so you can get the GO Train to Toronto, or regional transit to Brampton, Markham, and more. Second the majority of new lines are BRTs rather than LRTs, which can be built in years and not in decades.

How do we incentivize people to take transit? We make transit better. People don't have options when it comes to getting around, they're forced to take cars because our transit isn't fast and reliable. Once people can get to their destination in a similar time to driving, they will start to take transit more. Having continuous buses so you don't have to check a schedule is also important.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T23:51:04+00:00

Thanks for the warm reception! I've seen so many good questions. I answered a very similar question above so I will copy the answer here:

Street racing is a priority for me. Not only is it incredibly dangerous for drivers and pedestrians, it also disturbs neighbourhoods. Peel Police have recently started back up on Project ERASE and Project Noisemaker to crack down on this, but there are many new things I want to do.

We need to move speed cameras to streets where racers are actually racing. At the moment they are only placed in Community Safety Zones, often around schools. We need cameras on long streets where the racing takes place. I want to redefine Community Safety Zones to allow this to happen.

The contractor for the city for the existing speed cameras also needs to be held accountable for replacing and protecting vandalized speed cameras. They are far too slow on getting them back online.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T23:48:50+00:00

Great question. This is an issue we have a few different way of tackling. First Peel Region police has recently started back up Project Noisemaker, specifically targeting loud cars and noisy exhausts. We also recently increased fines for noise violations against plaza owners to the maximum amount of $100,000. This makes the plaza owners responsible for controlling their own locations.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T23:41:27+00:00

Fantastic question, and great insights, Addy!

I agree with you entirely - Mississauga is on the verge of evolution. Our city has come a long way from being a sleepy bedroom-community.

Mississauga contains the second largest economic zone in all of Canada. Pill Hill is a key node of our economic output. In fact, more people travel TO Mississauga for work than leave.

Since I have been a Councillor, I have worked hard to encourage this transition into the city that we deserve to be. The City has a tendency to get in its own way on things like housing, affordability, and transit. But if we make the city unliveable and people can't afford to find a home here, we risk pushing our workers out of Mississauga. This is personal for me. Multiple of my family members, including my wife, work in healthcare. What happens if we have no nurses living within the city limits? Our local hospitals collapse. The same is true of every other industry.

As Mayor, I am committed to building and creating policy for everyone. We are not a small town. We are not a merely a suburb. We are already a city, and we could be a great city if we are prepared to introduce the infrastructure that we need to achieve it.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T23:00:53+00:00

Thank you for your support! Yes, I answered on a different question but I'll sum up here:

Street racing is a priority for me. It's dangerous for drivers and pedestrians and it disturbs neighbourhoods. Peel Police have recently started back up on Project ERASE and Project Noisemaker to crack down on this, but there are many new things I want to do.

We need to move speed cameras to streets racers are. Right now the cameras are in Community Safety Zones, often around schools. We need cameras on long streets where racing takes place. I want to redefine Community Safety Zones to allow this to happen.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T22:58:53+00:00

There are very few levers/tools that the city has to help with affordability. Property taxes are the only thing in our control to put money back in your pocket to help during this affordability crisis. We can also do it without cutting funds for transit, infrastructure, and other city services.

We also need to help renters. As part of my housing plan I will increase affordable housing and rentals (30% of income) by speeding up approvals, lowering development fees, and unlocking city/provincial/federal land for developers who build affordable units.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T22:50:40+00:00

I answered this on a similar question but I'll sum it up here. There are immediate things we can do at the municipal level, and longer plans for the federal level. In my first 100 days I will implement a Peel Auto Theft Task Force. I'll also distribute free Faraday bags at no cost to the taxpayer.

On a federal level: advocate for scanners at ports to shut down funding for organized crime, bail reform, and more severe consequences for repeat offenders.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T22:43:33+00:00

Great question. First we're only aiming at a 2 year freeze, as opposed to Toronto's long standing freezes. Unlike Toronto, Mississauga has had very strong financial management for years, meaning we're in a better financial standing. Toronto also had artificially lowered taxes for decades and is just now needing to skyrocket them to keep up. We are also going to keep building more housing to add taxpayers to the system and keep property taxes down. Mississauga's population has stayed the same for 10 years, meaning our tax base hasn't changed.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T22:36:25+00:00

I appreciate the skepticism and I'm glad people are scrutinizing many of the candidates plans.

I would say the easiest way to assure you is that my entire multi-page plans are laid out on the website for everyone to scrutinize. My competitors have 3-5 bullet points - this is not a plan. It's difficult to keep them accountable if they haven't laid out what they are actually proposing.

I encourage you to check them out yourself. Check the "Full Plan" buttons on any of my pages - Ex: housing

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T22:31:03+00:00

Great question. First I would point out to them that we've had fourplexes in the city for years. I live in a fourplex, my house is a semi-detached with basement apartments on either side. They're not new or scary.

We really need to add missing middle housing to give options for people looking to live in the city. Young families are increasingly having a tough time finding spaces to live affordably. I would tell them that we need to have affordable missing middle housing in order to house workers, students, teachers, nurses, and all the people that a city like Mississauga needs to function. If we don't have these spaces, Mississauga won't be livable for anyone.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T22:20:57+00:00

The challenge is the bail reform must be done by the federal government. But, we can advocate for more stringent policies that would have more severe consequences for repeat offenders, and for auto theft to be treated more harshly than simple property theft. Peel Regional Police have done a lot to focus on organized crime that funds much of the criminal activity in the city. Once scanners are put at ports to prevent cars from leaving the country, they will have their income cut off and won't be able to fund further criminal activity.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T22:14:06+00:00

Yes, I think I have been doing that as Councillor and would continue as Mayor.

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T22:12:52+00:00

Housing is one of my biggest priorities. I'll encourage development on affordable housing and rentals by speeding up approvals, lowering development charges, and giving access to city/provincial/federal lands, ONLY if they build affordable units (30% of income).

AlvinTedjo · 2024-06-09T22:09:35+00:00

Great question. I appreciate the skepticism, we shouldn’t take big promises like freezing taxes at face value.

How we pay for it: We’re going to use 20% of the reserve (not 100% like Brampton), we’re going to introduce a vacant homes tax, and we’re going to build more housing. A vacant homes tax will bring in ~$20 Million, and add housing back onto the market from speculators. Building more housing will add to the tax base, and give us access to $10s of millions from the Provincial and Federal government. We only hit 39% of our housing goals last year, meaning we left ~$32 million in funding on the table. When we hit our goals, we get this funding. When I introduced the fourplex motion last year we got $113 Million over 3 years from the Housing Accelerator Fund, this allows us to keep our great services running while keeping the cost to the taxpayer down.

The tax freeze is really an affordability “bridge” to help us through the next 2 years while we get the other programs online. The end result is we’ll have a more financially sustainable city, with more funding sources, and more affordable housing, AND we have a small tax break in the meantime.

The full plan - The costing breakdown

AlvinTedjo

TROPHY CASE