For Immediate Release
May 6th, 2016
Mayor Crombie Welcomes Finance Minister Morneau to Mississauga
Mississauga – Today’s meeting with Finance Minister Morneau was an important opportunity to discuss the Trudeau government’s 2016 federal budget, which is a bold plan that will position Canada’s municipalities to grow, prosper and secure important funding to invest in transit, infrastructure and ultimately, ignite economic development, Mayor Crombie said today.
The occasion marked the first official visit, by Minister of Finance Bill Morneau, to City Hall. In attendance were Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development; Members of Parliament Peter Fonseca (Mississauga East-Cooksville); Gagan Sikand (Mississauga-Streetsville); Sven Spengemann (Mississauga-Lakeshore). Also in attendance were Members of Council Jim Tovey (Ward 1); Karen Ras (Ward 2); Chris Fonseca (Ward 3); John Kovac (Ward 4); and Matt Mahoney (Ward 8).
Minister Morneau said “Today’s meeting with Mayor Crombie was a great opportunity for us to discuss how we can work together with Cities like Mississauga to advance some of the highest priorities for middle class families. Investments in public transit and community infrastructure not only sustain and grow the economy long-term, they also help dad get home for his daughter’s soccer game, reduce emissions and lead to a better quality of life for everyone. Over the next 10 years, our government will make historic investments in infrastructure to improve public transit, reduce traffic, create and repair affordable housing, and much more.”
“Serious, smart, dedicated and long-term funding for local priorities will grow our national economy and budget 2016 presents an opportunity to make both short and long-term investments,” Mayor Crombie added. “I thank the Minister for making Mississauga a priority and for making our city one of his first stops on his post-budget tour.”
The Trudeau government also plans new investments in infrastructure that total more than $120 billion over the next decade. Minister Morneau and Mayor Crombie discussed in depth a number of Council-approved priorities, as detailed in the City of Mississauga’s 2016 Budget: Pre-Budget Submission to Finance Canada, including economic development, investing in communities, building transit and all-day, two-way GO Train service to the Milton and Kitchener GO Train lines, with the Missing Link Plan.
“The Missing Link plan will finally make way for all-day, two-way, GO Train service on both routes,” Mayor Crombie said. “It will reinvigorate our transit hubs.
“A project of this magnitude also has national and international implications. This line is critical to Canada’s economy. It is a Continental Gateway, allowing for the movement of large amounts of goods to and from the central Canadian market.”
“Because of the magnitude of the Missing Link, there is a strong case to be made that all governments must partner together to move this plan forward.”
Minister Morneau’s visit concluded with a tour of Therapure Biopharma, a global biomanufacturing company in Mississauga. Mississauga is Canada’s second largest life sciences cluster by employment.
Mayor Crombie concluded “I believe when we work to achieve real results for the people of Mississauga, our nation’s sixth largest city, all of Canada is better positioned to grow, prosper and succeed.”
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