Team Alvin Tedjo for Mayor

Dear Neighbours, With less than two weeks until election day, I wanted to take a moment to share a few thoughts with you. This has been quite a campaign. The polls tell us it’s a close race. There’s been no shortage of political commentary, debate and speculation about who might win. But when I think about the past several weeks, that’s not what stays with me. I think about the seniors I’ve met who are worried about their property taxes and whether they’ll be able to afford to stay in the homes where they raised their families. I think about the small business owners who have worked so hard to keep their doors open, even as construction, rising costs and economic uncertainty make every day a challenge. I think about the parents who worry about their children’s safety, the young people who wonder whether they’ll ever be able to afford a home in the city where they grew up and the commuters who just want to get home in time to have dinner with their families. And I think about how proud people are of Mississauga. Of their neighbourhoods, their communities and everything we’ve built together. That’s what this election is really about. I know some people have questions about why I’ve decided to run for mayor again. I understand that. I had the extraordinary privilege of serving as your mayor for nearly a decade. I then left to pursue an opportunity to serve the people of Ontario. I lost. But I believed then, as I do now, that public service is about trying to make a difference wherever you can. And here’s something I want you to know: I never stopped fighting for Mississauga. Through every chapter of my public life, I’ve continued to advocate for this city, its people and its future. Mississauga is my home. It’s where I raised my family, where I’ve built my life and where my heart has always been. And my experience working across Ontario has made me a better, more effective leader. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from mayors, community leaders and residents in cities across the province, seeing firsthand what works, discovering new ideas and best practices, and gaining a broader perspective on the challenges facing municipalities. I want to bring those lessons home to Mississauga. When I saw the concerns people were raising about the direction of our city, and when residents began asking me to consider coming back, I listened. And I thought long and hard about what I could contribute. I also understood something important: having been mayor before doesn’t entitle me to the job again. Nor should it. I have to earn your trust and your support all over again. That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do. I’ve been setting out my plans clearly: fiscal discipline and low taxes, investments to keep our community safe and to get the city moving again, including with a subway. That is the mandate I am seeking to earn: to deliver for you once again a future you can afford with experience you can trust. I believe Mississauga faces a real choice in this election. I disagree strongly with Carolyn Parrish’s priorities. During her time as mayor, residents have seen their overall residential property tax bills rise 15% compounded in just two years. At a time when families are struggling with rising costs, I cannot support advancing her proposed $2.5-billion downtown vanity project. I believe those priorities are backwards. City Hall should be focused on what residents need, not what politicians want. And while Alvin Tedjo has brought enthusiasm to this race, I have serious questions about his readiness to lead a city as large and complex as Mississauga. He’s a first-term councillor who is already running for mayor for the second time. His promises deserve scrutiny. For instance, his proposed permanent tax freeze for seniors isn’t really a freeze at all. The increases would be deferred and collected when homes are sold or transferred. That means accumulating unpaid taxes that could reduce the equity seniors have built in their homes — plus interest on interest. If it sounds too good to be true, experience tells me it is.  Seniors deserve clear answers, not a promise of tax relief that could leave a growing bill to be paid later. These are important differences. But I don’t want this election to be consumed by political arguments or personal rivalries. We have too much to accomplish as a city to spend our time looking backwards. When Hazel McCallion gave me her support in 2014, she taught me something I’ve never forgotten: respect taxpayers’ money, do your homework and never lose sight of the people you’re there to serve. Hazel believed Mississauga could achieve great things. But she also understood that ambition had to be matched with fiscal responsibility, hard work and the determination to get things done. That’s the spirit I want to bring back to City Hall. I’ve put forward a plan to make life more affordable, bring taxes under control, attract good jobs, make our neighbourhoods safer and finally get Mississauga moving again, including with a subway. I want to help seniors stay in their homes. I want our children to have opportunities to build their futures here. I want to bring the subway into the heart of our city and make our roads and transit services work better for the people who rely on them. And I want every family to feel safe in their home, on their street and in their community. That means taking crime seriously, supporting our front-line police officers and ensuring they have the resources, staffing and tools they need to keep us safe. It means working closely with Peel Regional Police, investing in prevention and addressing the issues that contribute to crime. Our officers put themselves on the line for us every day. They deserve our support, and residents deserve to know their safety will always be a priority. I also believe City Hall needs to focus on what residents actually need. Families have to make difficult choices about how they spend their money. Their municipal government should show the same discipline. Over the coming days, I’ll be sharing more about the practical steps I would take to deliver on these commitments, including how we can move the subway forward and what I would do in my first 100 days. Because I know that promises aren’t enough. People deserve to know how those promises will become reality. I’ve learnt a great deal over my years in public life. I’ve learnt what it takes to work with other governments, build partnerships and move important projects forward. I’ve also learnt from the challenges, the setbacks and the things I would do differently. Experience is valuable, but only if you’re prepared to put it to work for people. And that’s what I want to do. I want us to look forward. To a Mississauga where families can afford to get ahead. Where seniors feel secure. Where small businesses thrive, where our neighbourhoods are safe and where we spend less time sitting in traffic and more time with the people we love. I believe we can build that future together. I love this city. I loved having the privilege of serving as your mayor, even on the difficult days. And I believe with all my heart that Mississauga’s best days are still ahead of us. But I know that love for a city, and even a record of service, don’t automatically earn anyone a new mandate. That has to come from you. So, between now and October 26, I’ll keep doing what I’ve been doing: knocking on doors, listening, answering your questions, sharing my ideas and working hard to earn your confidence. To everyone who has opened their door, stopped me on the street, shared a concern, offered encouragement or challenged me with a tough question, thank you. And whether you’ve already made up your mind or are still deciding, I hope you’ll take the time to consider the future we can build together. This election isn’t about giving me my old job back. It’s about earning a new mandate to move Mississauga forward, to deliver for you. A future you can afford. With the experience you can trust. All my best, Bonnie