2022 Mississauga Election Profiles - Mayoral Candidate George Tavares
/Leading up to the 2022 Mississauga elections, Modern Mississauga Media reached out to all incumbents and candidates via email with the same set of questions to help our community learn more about them leading up to the Monday, October 24, 2022 election.
For full information on how and when to vote, click here.
Image provided by George Tavares
1. Why are you running for Mayor?
In 2014, the Legend ended her 36-year Mayorship, and for the past 8 years, we have been developing the city using an old playbook. A playbook that depended on money from construction and development fees. A playbook when gas was cheap, land was plentiful and housing affordable.
But these days are gone.
We must look ahead at new ways of generating revenue. I do not subscribe to punishing those that choose to stay in Mississauga, in raising property taxes. Nor do I believe in squeezing what little money left in the smaller business.
There are new, untapped financial potential. Using the current infrastructure, Mississauga will be the World Wide Example of financial success.
It will take a new kind of leadership to make this a success.
I thank Bonnie Crombie for getting Mississauga to this point, but I need the people of Mississauga to vote me in, take the ball, and run it the rest of the way.
2. What makes you stand out over other candidates?
While an education to include a Mini MBA, a Diploma in Political Science and Canadian Indigenous Studies makes me a strong candidate, what people are impressed with is my 20 plus years of International Business travels. With a history of contract negotiations, project management and conflict resolution in other countries and other cultures, it should give the voters a lot of confidence that I will get things done.
3. What are your campaign priorities?
My priorities will be to ensure the Campaign Promises made by the candidates in each ward are managed and kept. Timelines and budgets will be assigned and a website to keep the people informed.
In addition, my focus will be on the following:
· Affordable Housing
· Property tax freeze
· A Safe City
4. If you could change one thing about Mississauga's zoning laws, what would it be?
Our zoning laws are either not managed well or are not followed at all. As an example, in some areas of Mississauga there are restrictions regarding the height of buildings. But when a new development is submitted, and it is well beyond the Zoning laws, council appears to consider it. People in the developments neighbourhoods are upset and the optics are bad.
However, the Zoning Bylaws need to be re-evaluated. They were written sometime ago, and with a different set of eyes. Change where it adds value and increases the quality of living, not just lining the pockets.
5. How do you plan to actively involve and include residents in decisions?
There is an “App for that” or there should be. There are YouTube streaming of council meetings and Twitter feeds but that is not enough. The City Of Mississauga needs a Streaming Service, dedicated to the Citizens of Mississauga, and available on their digital device. At one time we had “Rogers, Channel 10”, where many TV newscasters cut their teeth in the TV industries. You know who you are.
Rogers, Channel 10 helped form and develop the Culture of Mississauga. It kept the people informed and engaged. But we are in a new generation, and new ideas are needed. So for today, an App.
6. What budget item is the most important as Mayor?
Every line item in the budget is important, but the one that stands out is “Culture”. We spent a small fortune on Culture, but no one can identify what the Mississauga Culture is?
Are we Toronto’s suburbs, forever tethered to it by the LRT? Or are we an independent city, free to come and go, by the travel method of our choosing.
I know what my Mississauga will look like. Culture, is important.
7. What are your favourite aspects of Mississauga?
The Waterfront. There is so much potential, and so much fun.
Streetsville. If you’ve lived there, you know why, and if you haven’t been there, go!
YYZ, the Person Airport. We have one of the most advanced airports in the world, with non-stop flights to every major city in North America, and the Caribbean.
8. How will you be supporting our local businesses if elected?
In a word, Tourism. In this article, I used the term, “Untapped Potential”. We have the ability to host hundreds of events, bringing in Millions of dollars, but we are falling short. Tourists land in the busiest and largest airport in Canada, only to bypass the city that manages it. I intend on making Mississauga a destination not just a stop over.
9. What does Mississauga currently excel at?
I think the people of Mississauga excel at opportunities. If there is an opportunity to buy a house, car or start a new job, they are in. If there is an opportunity to try something new, it does not take much to convince them. And if there is an opportunity for change… we will see.
10. How would you communicate with residents and what communication standards can voters expect?
We have a budget for printed materials and websites but we can do more. I think the Mayor should be more accessible, and not just for the high-ticket dinners and lunches. I still play hockey, and as a goalie, I always find a game to play. I hear some wonderful ideas in the change room. Bad ones too. But when you are in an element that people are comfortable in, people… speak from the heart. It is not always easy, but the job I am applying for isn’t easy either. There will be a lot of long days and sleepless nights, but the city, and the people it protects, are worth it.
11. Please provide your campaign website:
