What Matters Most to You?

It takes more than promises to be a good representative. It takes experience that comes with doing the job. It takes leadership and a strong voice at both the region and city. It takes knowledge of the ward and the issues that are important to you that comes from living and raising a family here. It takes the ability to introduce new ideas and implement them. It takes the initiative to search out new programs and technologies and make them work. It takes a good grasp of municipal finances and policies. It takes a total commitment to making our community safe and vibrant and the knowledge to do that.

It takes a caring, experienced person like Pat Saito to be the best representative Ward 9 can have.

Pat’s record speaks for itself. Click on the topics below to find out how Pat handles the issues that are important to you.

Integrity

The key issue for the 2010 election is to ensure that we keep strong people like Pat on Council. The need for a Councillor who has shown integrity and honesty has never been stronger. Ward 9 has had the best representation of any ward for many years and we need to continue to keep Pat working for us.

Pat is known for her tenacity when she works for her residents. She will fight for what she believes in and for what is in the best interest of Ward 9 and the City.

Innovative Ideas
When people talk about bringing fresh ides to the City, you only have to look at Pat’s record to see that we already have a Councillor who is constantly introducing new ideas and innovative projects. The difference is that Pat knows how to implement these ideas. She never makes idle promises that she knows cannot be achieved. Pat has the experience, the knowledge and the drive to get things done and to do them right the first time.

Transportation

Pat continues to work for better transportation to serve Ward 9 and the City. Pat is a strong proponent of alternate forms of transportation and encourages and initiates projects in the ward that meet this mandate.

Improving Traffic Flow
The usual response to congestion is to add lanes of traffic. But Pat knows there are other and more-effective ways to deal with this - widening roads is not always the answer. Additional lanes are quickly filled with additional vehicles, while negatively-impacting pedestrians. Smarter solutions include improved intersections, traffic light timing, and alternative transportation. Pat did not support widening Derry Road to six lanes through our residential neighbourhoods in Meadowvale. She knows the community and she worked with local residents to determine what was best for them.

Active Transportation
Many roads are being relined to add bike lanes. This is not always an easy process and Pat takes the time to hold neighbourhood meetings and discuss the pros and cons with all road users. She is keeping an ongoing dialogue with citizens about Glen Erin Drive changes and will not rush a decision until she is sure it is the best one, for all concerned.

Pat promoted bikes on Mississauga Transit and worked with GO Transit to build covered bike facilities at our Ward 9 GO stations.

GO Transit
Pat is working with our MPP and GO Transit senior staff to ensure that GO Transit proceeds with all day service on the Milton Line. She worked with First Gulf, a Meadowvale Business park company, to convince GO to build a walkway from Argentia Road to the Meadowvale GO Station – this is being built this year and will be a help to people working in the business park.

One of Pat’s greatest successes is the opening of the Lisgar GO Station – making Ward 9 the only community with two GO stations.

Mississauga Transit
Pat continues to seek input from transit users through her forums. These small group opportunities give transit staff and Pat information that helps the City to improve services.

Transit service in Ward 9 has improved in the past 4 years and Pat continues to advocate for more frequent and increased service to our community.

407 Transitway
Pat recently met with MetroLinx staff to discuss the Hwy 407 Corridor Transitway and is ensuring it remains a priority in their plans.

Community Safety

Since 2003 Mississauga has been recognized as the Safest City in Canada. This is due to the hard work of people like Pat Saito, who is an acknowledged proponent for community safety. Recognized in 2006 by Peel Regional Police, with the Robert Boyne Award for her efforts in developing crime prevention programs, she continues to make safety a priority.

Working Together for a Safe Community
A founder of the Mississauga Crime Prevention Association in 1992, Pat stepped forward to help rebuild the organization when it floundered in 2007 and helped form the new Safe City Mississauga, on which she sits as an active board member. As a member, Pat has been a driving force behind the Neighbourhood Watch program and the Youth Academy in high schools and ensured funding was available to support these important initiatives.

Staying Connected
Pat holds regular Crime Prevention meetings in Ward 9 neighbourhoods throughout the year. Detailed statistics on recent criminal activity in the community are also posted on her www.ward9.ca Web site.

Youth Services

Pat is well known for her work with youth and supports numerous youth programs and organizations in Ward 9 and across the region. These include the Dam Youth Drop In, Youth 4 Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel and many others. She continues to sit on the Meadowvale Community Partnership, a local group that meets to network on youth issues. Pat helped found this organization more than 10 years ago and has been an active participant for many years.

Pat’s three children were raised in Ward 9. They attended school and participated in community organizations in the Ward. Pat and her husband Ron were always involved in these activities giving Pat another perspective on the needs of the community.

Mississauga Youth Plan
Pat was highly-involved in the creation of the Mississauga Youth Plan. Her decades of work with youth in Mississauga puts her in a position where she can understand the needs of young people in Ward 9. She knows that, in order to provide the necessary services and programs, you have to work directly with the youth who will use them. Pat’s experience and knowledge will help ensure that the plan is implemented.

As Mississauga embarks on implementation of its Youth Plan, we need Pat to be there to champion the cause and support the vital programs that we need for our community.

Supporting Local Organizations
Pat is a big supporter of The Dam Youth Drop In and worked with local businesses to bring it to Meadowvale. Pat initiated the Peel Youth Violence Prevention Network and has been co-vice chair since its inception.

Pat works with local organizations like the Peel Multicultural Council to provide information to youth and ensure they have access to resources in the community.

Pat also sponsors activities that are specifically directed to youth and their parents, such as:

• • Annual parenting/youth seminars
  • The Dam Youth Drop In
  • Youth 4 Life annual fund raiser/dinner
  • Mississauga Youth Plan

Seniors

Pat is very active in ensuring that our seniors are taken care of and have access to a wide range of activities and services in our community. She works closely with the Meadowvale Seniors’ Club as well as the seniors’ residences in Ward 9.

As a Regional Councillor on the board of Peel Living, Pat works hard to improve access to housing for older adults in the Region of Peel. As a long time member of the Accessibility Advisory Committee, Pat knows what is needed for those with disabilities as well as seniors and works with builders to ensure housing meets their needs.

Pat was a strong advocate for a pilot program for snow clearing of windrows for low income seniors and persons with disabilities. Her work on the committee helped ensure the creation of the pilot, while also saving time and money by utilizing the Active Living program. The pilot program rolled out in winter 2009-2010 and was recently approved to continue in 2010-2011.

Pat was involved in the formation of the Older Adult Strategy and will work with her seniors to ensure it is implemented fairly and consistently.

Pat is also a strong proponent for the implementation of a seniors’ dental program at the Region and supported increased funds to provide this necessary service.

The Environment

As your Councillor, Pat has been instrumental in dealing with local and regional environmental issues.

She is very knowledgeable about these issues and her experience makes it easy for her to deal with them quickly and effectively.

Lake Wabukayne
When Pat was alerted about oil spills at Lake Wabukayne, she first dealt with the immediate concerns with City and Region of Peel staff. She then met with the community and worked with residents to bring the neighbours together to form a Lake Wabukayne Stewardship committee (see related Mississauga News article, "Lake Wabukayne Gets a Helping Hand"). Pat allocated funds towards this project and has worked closely with the committee. Pat asked Meadowvale Rotary to get involved and work with the group to apply for a Trillium Grant. This partnership has been successful in the past (with the Osprey Marsh project in the Lisgar community) and is proceeding well at Lake Wabukayne.

Some of Pat’s other environmental initiatives and successes include:

• • Preservation of Osprey Woods with Lisgar Residents’ Association
  • Purchase of 4 woodlots in Churchill Meadows
  • Discovery and preservation of Kindree Family cemetery with LRA
  • Woodlot management plans
  • Preservation of Lisgar Meadow Brook
  • Redevelopment of Osprey marsh to natural state
  • Proponent of green roofs
  • Exploring alternative energy sources, such as the installation of wind turbines at the Lisgar GO Station and the new Fire Training Centre
  • Enersource hydro conservation programs

Click here for Pat's response to Sierra Club Peel's environmental platform.

Health and Social Services

As your Region of Peel Councillor, Pat is a strong advocate for the much-needed social services that Ward 9 residents use every day.

Wise Decisions
“At the Region of Peel, Council must balance the budgets with the intense needs of our most vulnerable citizens. As your Councillor I have a sound record of being able to do this – because I know what is needed and where the cuts can be made that won’t hurt these residents.”, says Pat

Dental
Over the past term Pat has been a strong voice for improved senior and youth services. Accomplishments include a seniors’ dental program that Pat has spoken out in favour of and supported increased funding in the 2010 budget.

Better dental for children and youth is also a priority and one in which Pat has had much success.

Feeding Peel
Pat suggested that the region coordinate a more comprehensive look at how we can feed our hungry in Peel. This work is ongoing but it brought together all providers of food banks in Peel to consolidate ideas and resources. Pat is pushing for a central food distribution building in Mississauga that will serve all the food banks and provide better service to our citizens in need.

New Mothers
When staff cut back on the new mothers breastfeeding services, Pat took the matter to Council and spoke out in favour of keeping this service or at least replacing it with an equal service.
Staff listened and while the active program was not replaced, access to support was increased.

Health First
When it comes to public health, Pat is not only a strong advocate, but she is a very knowledgeable Councillor. The vast number of health programs provided by the Region is astounding. Pat has a record of doing her homework and learning about each service so she can make informed sound budget decisions each year. She works closely with staff to ensure that our citizens have access to the necessary services. Pat has supported extra training for our paramedics as well as improved equipment and working conditions as she understands how vital they are to a healthy and safe community.

Parks and Recreation Programs

Pat is a firm believer that, in order to have a healthy community, the City has to provide facilities and opportunities accessible for all ages and incomes. Utilizing community surveys, focus groups and meetings with local clubs and groups, Pat has an excellent knowledge of the needs of our community.

Pat involves residents in all stages of new projects and ensures that tax dollars are spent wisely on the right program at the right price.

Some of Pat’s recent initiatives and successes include:

• • Bringing school boards and the City together to collaborate on the Erin Meadows Community Centre and Library and Churchill Meadows Library and Recreation Centre.
  • Skateboard parks for youth
  • BMX track for youth
  • Purchase of Ninth Line lands for future recreation facilities
  • Splash pads for children
  • Lake Wabukayne Stewardship program - with community and Meadowvale Rotary
  • Ensuring the Wal-Mart at Play program continues at Meadowvale Community Centre
  • Tim Horton’s skates at Meadowvale Four Rinks
  • New lights at Syntex Green baseball diamond

Exciting new projects that Pat is working on to expand our recreation opportunities include:

• • A new outdoor fitness circuit at lake Aquitaine, opening September 18, 2010
  • The redevelopment of Meadowvale Community Centre – design in 2011
  • Purchase of Union Gas land at Tenth Line/Aquitaine for new park (in negotiations)

Pat also works with our local sports organizations and parents to resolve any issues.

Business and Development

Attracting New Jobs
Pat works closely with businesses in Ward 9 to ensure that we continue to have jobs for our residents. The past few years have seen an upturn in business development in the ward and Pat has worked with the development companies to ensure that their projects are built on time. Ward 9 remains very attractive to major companies and is the site of numerous head offices as well as research companies.

When Pat visits companies she takes with her the knowledge of the City and its finances so she can speak with confidence to both the existing businesses as well as the potential future ones.

Smart Growth and Development
Pat’s record of managing good development goes back for years. It was her insight that resulted in the building of the city’s first pedestrian oriented community – Churchill Meadows. Although now no longer part of Ward 9, this community is testament to her expertise in planning issues and her ability to make sound decisions as well as innovative suggestions.

Now that Ward 9 is aging, Pat is dealing with infill developments. She has handled each application with integrity and honesty. Knowing that infill has a much greater impact on a neighbourhood, Pat still believes that being up front and honest about the landowner rights and being realistic is the best way to go. Giving false promises to residents is not Pat’s way of doing business.

While not all applications can be opposed, Pat did oppose strongly 2 in the past two years in the Meadowvale community. One at Tenth Line and Aquitaine and one at Aquitaine and Glen Erin. Both ended successfully with the applicant withdrawing their applications. Pat worked closely with the community to oppose these proposals and the end result is testament to her unwavering support for her residents and doing what she knew was right and more importantly doable.

Taxes and Finance

Keeping Taxes Fair
During election campaigns you often hear candidates make idle promises that they will "cut taxes" and "reduce spending." These claims that are made by people who have no knowledge or understanding of municipal finances. They are seldom realistic, and usually not achievable.

During Pat’s terms in office she has never made unachievable promises. She has always promised to provide necessary services to residents of Mississauga while controlling expenditures and costs at the City and Region.

Budgeting is not about cutting taxes – it is about maintaining the service levels that keep our city healthy while keeping any required increases as low as possible.

Pat has always brought a business-like approach to budgets. More importantly, she understands municipal finance. Running a city is not the same as running a small business, where poor decisions have a lesser impact.

Financial Stability
Mississauga is in a good financial situation. This is due to the past decisions made by Councillors like Pat Saito.

Reserves that were set up years ago have ensured that Mississauga has not had to borrow for capital projects for many years. Council knew that the day would come when debt financing would be required. It is imperative that the people managing that debt and making the decisions are knowledgeable about City finances and can make the right decisions. Pat has proven she can do that and is the only candidate who has that experience and that knowledge.

We cannot afford to have a Councillor who has to learn on the job. Ward 9 deserves and needs a representative who has the knowledge and the experience to make take your hard earned tax dollars and make them work for you as effectively as possible. Ward 9 needs a representative who has a record of making sound business decisions. Pat has demonstrated this over her years on Council and she will continue to do the best job for the residents of Ward 9 and Mississauga.