8 / OGRA MILESTONES SUMMER 2014

As part of Milestones “Infl uence Issue”, the

editors decided to profi le one of the most

infl uential mayors in the country, Mississauga

Mayor Hazel McCallion. First elected as Mayor of

Streetsville in 1970 then as Mayor of Mississauga

in 1978, McCallion won 12 elections and has

served for over 40 years. She decided not to seek

re-election for a 13th time and has publicly

declared that she will be stepping down after the

2014 municipal elections. Th e editors of

Milestone Magazine wanted to fi nd out more on

how Mayor McCallion was so successful for such a

long period of time. We asked the Mayor diff erent

questions ranging from gender to transportation

to retirement.

The municipal political sphere is oft en

still seen as a male-dominated realm. As

one of the longest-serving female

politicians in the country, you have

become a role model for women without

having been labelled a feminist.

MILESTONES (MS): Did you face any barriers to entering municipal politics because of your gender?

MAYOR HAZEL MCCALLION (HM): Yes, most defi nitely. When I fi rst started out in politics in 1967 the world was far diff erent than it is today and being a woman was not as accepted as the “old boy’s network” was still fi rmly entrenched.

MS: Compared to when you fi rst entered politics over 30 years ago, do you believe there are now fewer barriers to women entering municipal politics? Which barriers continue to exist?

HM: I do believe there are fewer barriers, however, women all over the world are still fi nding themselves under represented at all levels of government and some political parties are somewhat reticent to consider women candidates. Women today also have the challenge of balancing work with family responsibilities and are often asked to make sacrifi ces for their careers that are not necessarily expected of men.

MS: Over the course of your political career, have you faced any challenges specifi cally as a result of your gender?

OGRA MILESTONES SUMMER 2014 / 9

interaction BY THOMAS BARAKAT

HM: When I was fi rst campaigning for mayor in the early days, following a debate, an opponent told a reporter than having a challenger who was a woman required him to treat me with kid gloves which was off ensive. I wanted to be seen as a political equal and as someone who had something to contribute and not judged on my gender.

MS: What advice do you have for aspiring female municipal politicians?

HM: I would advise them that women are not just here to represent “women’s issues”. When children don’t have a safe place to go after school, when employees don’t earn equal pay, when violence plagues a neighbourhood these are issues that aff ect families and communities as a whole. I feel that women bring a certain humanity and consciousness to politics and that they make society more sensitive to issues such as poverty, education, healthcare and human rights. I

would also encourage women to get as much experience as possible before entering the political arena by serving on citizen committees, volunteering and getting involved in their community.

TRANSPORTATION & TRANSIT

INFRASTRUCTURE

Gridlock has become a major issue in the

City of Mississauga due to suburban

sprawl and the automobile-oriented

values of its citizens. You have

acknowledged that transit planning in

the city must be improved in order for

Mississauga to continue to prosper. In

terms of planning, the city has already

taken steps to combat gridlock by

intensifying its downtown core with high-

density mixed use planning. The next

logical step to this plan is major

expansion to public transit.

MS: How important is the Hurontario LRT project to

Mississauga’s future prosperity? And while there are many

supporters of this project, what do you say to those who

believe that a subway is a better option?

HM: When you consider that the Cities of Mississauga and

Brampton are designated Urban Growth Centres within the

GTHA; have a combined population of close to 1.3 million

people; that in the next 20 years, the Region of Peel will

need to accommodate over 350,000 people and

approximately 200,000 jobs, much of which will be in

“…When I was fi rst campaigning

for mayor in the early days,

following a debate, an opponent

told a reporter than having a

challenger who was a woman

required him to treat me with

kid gloves which was off ensive. I

wanted to be seen as a political

equal and as someone who had

something to contribute and not

judged on my gender. ”

OGRA MILESTONES SUMMER 2014 / 11

interaction

Mississauga and Brampton and that nearly a third of that

growth is expected to live in the area immediately

surrounding the Hurontario-Main corridor, I would say that

the LRT is very important to Mississauga’s future.

Th e LRT was designed to be a catalyst for economic

development, mixed use development and residential

intensifi cation, improved quality of life and long-term

municipal sustainability. We did look at a range of rapid

transit technologies, including subways, and the LRT was

identifi ed as being most appropriate because of its ability to

operate exclusively or in mixed traffi c and the ease of

integration with other systems. Also, the LRT is a fraction

of the cost to build allowing us to get at least 4 kilometres

for every kilometre of subway.

MS: Some believe that a “build it and they will come

approach” to public transit will be enough to entice people

to take transit. Although the availability of public transit is a

major factor in convincing individuals to leave their cars at

home, this approach fails to acknowledge the cultural

obsession with the automobile found in the suburbs. How

can Mississauga’s elected offi cials go about breaking this

obsession?

HM: While Mississauga Transit (MiWay) revenue rides per

capita have been steadily increasing, elected offi cials

continue to look at alternative forms of transportation

which is one of the reasons why we chose to proceed with

the LRT. We also have plans in place to reduce reliance on

the automobile by providing employment and services close

to where people live and through intensifi cation. Our goal

as a Council is to make the city more pedestrian and transit

friendly. It is not only good for the environment, it helps to

keep our citizens healthy and creates community

connectivity. Also, Council has approved Mississauga’s

Cycling Master Plan which outlines a strategy to develop

over 900 km of on and off -road cycling routes in the City

over the next 20 years. When fully implemented, the plan

will provide an integrated multi-modal transportation

approach through the city connecting destinations and

placing 95% of the city’s population within 1 km of a

primary cycling route.

MS: Although the City of Mississauga does not have the

ability to toll roads under the current Municipal Act, do you

believe that tolling roads would deter individuals from

driving and push them onto public transit?

“Th e City has had to take on debt and has introduced an infrastructure levy that has been added

to the property tax bill to help reduce the funding gap. Municipalities need sustainable funding

resources to help fund infrastructure projects and we cannot keep using the property tax; we

have been appealing to the provincial and federal governments in this regard.”

“Tolling roads may encourage

some individuals to take transit but I

don’t feel an overwhelming

majority of individuals will feel

compelled to do so. We are still as

you state, a culture obsessed with

the automobile; however, we must

look at all the options available

including tolls.”

12 / OGRA MILESTONES SUMMER 2014

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HM: Tolling roads may encourage some individuals to take

transit but I don’t feel an overwhelming majority of

individuals will feel compelled to do so. We are still as you

state, a culture obsessed with the automobile; however, we

must look at all the options available including tolls.

MS: As most of the vacant land in the City of Mississauga

has disappeared, development charges can no longer be

relied upon to fund infrastructure projects. How can the city

undertake such projects without dramatically raising

property taxes?

HM: Mississauga needs more than $123 million each year to

fund repairs, maintenance and replacements of the City’s

roads, bridges, transit etc. In 2014, the City will raise $32

million through property taxes leaving a shortfall of almost

$91 million. Th e City has had to take on debt and has

introduced an infrastructure levy that has been added to the

property tax bill to help reduce the funding gap.

Municipalities need sustainable funding resources to help

fund infrastructure projects and we cannot keep using the

property tax; we have been appealing to the provincial and

federal governments in this regard.

MS: Do you believe that the Municipal Act should be

updated so that all of Ontario’s municipal governments can

implement the same revenue raising tools as Toronto is

given in the City of Toronto Act?

HM: Yes, I believe all municipalities should be treated

equally so that there is a level playing fi eld.

REFLECTION

MS: Is there one issue or event over the past thirty years

that stands out as having been the most diffi cult to deal

with as Mayor?

HM: Th e most diffi cult event I experienced as Mayor is

undoubtedly the Mississauga Judicial Inquiry. It was a very

stressful time and the personal attacks on my character and

integrity were very off ensive and hurtful. Fortunately, the

interaction

OGRA MILESTONES SUMMER 2014 / 13

citizens of Mississauga, and many others, came out in

droves to support me, both in person and through hundreds

of e-mails, which was very reassuring.

MS: What do you believe will be the biggest challenge facing

the next Mayor of Mississauga?

HM: I think the biggest challenge for the next Mayor will be

to develop their own identity and to make their own mark.

Municipalities will face many challenges in the future and

we need a mayor who will continue to be able to work within

the system but also be a strong and innovative leader who

has a vision for the future of our city and has a solid plan in

place to make that vision a reality.

MS: What are your plans for retirement?

HM: I haven’t made defi nitive plans as yet. I will continue

to be actively involved in my community and assist wherever

possible. I will also continue to fi ght for more authority for

local governments. Local governments are closer to the

people and must have the authority as well as sustainable,

dependable funding so they can discharge their

responsibilities

On June 10, 2014, McCallion was presented with the Order

of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by the Consul

General of Japan in Toronto, on behalf of the Emperor of

Japan, for her support of Japanese businesses in Mississauga

and furthering of Japanese-Canadian relations.[1]

•On March 18, 2012, Shahid Rassam unveiled a portrait of

McCallion at the South Asian Gallery of Art in support of the

SickKids Foundation.[2]

•On June 7, 2010, she received an honorary doctorate

degree from the University of Toronto during the

convocation of the University of Toronto Mississauga's

graduating class.

•The Delta Meadowvale Hotel has a Hazel McCallion Room

in her honour.

•She was named American Woman of the Year in Who's

Who of American Women, as well as Woman of the Year

2001 by an international business lobby.[3]

•The Peel Board of Education has named a school aft er her,

the Hazel McCallion Senior Public School.

•The University of Toronto at Mississauga named its new

library and academic learning centre aft er McCallion in

appreciation of the support she off ered the campus in its

growth and development.

•In 2005 she was made a Member of the Order of Canada.

She is also one of the few non-Germans to be a Member of

the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (see

Bundesverdienstkreuz).[4]

•In 2003, the International Economic Development Council

awarded her its Leadership in Public Service Award. This

award is given annually to an elected offi cial who has served

as a committed advocate for economic development for at

least 10 years in the public sector.

•McCallion is the fi rst woman to hold such signifi cant

positions as president of the Streetsville and District

Chamber of Commerce, president of the Anglican Young

Peoples' Association of Canada, mayor of Streetsville, and

mayor of Mississauga.

•McCallion established the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

Mayors' Committee in 1992. She brought together the 30

GTA Mayors, later adding the Chair of Metropolitan Toronto

and the four Regional Chairs to work cooperatively for the

economic promotion of the GTA. From 1992 to January

2000, the committee, chaired by McCallion, was a strong

voice on key issues aff ecting the future of the GTA.[5]1

1. “Mayor Hazel McCallion Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun”. City of Mississauga. 10 June 2014.

Retrieved 18 June 2014.

2. http://www.mississauga.com/what’s%20on/article/1319243--i-saw-that-picture-before

3. “Toronto Gala”. Consumers Choice Institute. 2000.

4. ”Mississauga”. City Mayors, of Canada.

5. ”About the Mayor”. City of Mississauga. Retrieved 18 June 2014.

Achievements