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.

Gridlock and Transportation

Pat knows that safe and efficient access to and from our community is a priority. Pat has worked with provincial ministries, city staff and agencies to develop road and transit network plans. This solid working relationship with both our provincial and federal representatives is what is needed to ensure success.

While working towards improved and better transportation services, Pat has been able to achieve improvements in various ways:

• Lisgar GO station opening 2007
• Meadowvale GO shuttle
• Rapid transit program on Hurontario
• Rapid transit on 403
• Gas tax achieved
• Improved transit routes and more buses
• Churchill Meadows designed for transit/pedestrian access
• Early transit service in new Ward 9 neighbourhoods
• Transit to new business areas (Argentia/Winston Churchill)
• Road improvements: Derry at Winston Churchill and Mississauga Road; Eglinton widened, Winston Churchill/Argentia, Winston Churchill north of Derry
• Traffic signal improvements: better progression on major arterials in Ward 9; advanced signals at Britannia/WC;Thomas/WC, Aquitaine/WC,etc.
• Promotes commuter parking lots (Mississauga Road/401)
• Promotes car pooling
• Holds transit focus groups

Community Safety

Pat was recognized in April, 2006 by Peel Regional Police for her outstanding work in crime prevention. She was awarded the Bob Boyne Memorial Award for her efforts in developing and supporting crime prevention programs.

Mississauga has the distinction of being selected as the Safest City in Canada every year since 2003. Ward 9 continues to have one of the lowest rates of crime in the City. This is because we have an excellent police service and crime prevention programs that work. Our community works together with Council , the police and these organizations to ensure that our streets are safe for everyone.

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.

Some of Pat's other community safety initiatives include:

• • Community police station at Meadowvale Town Centre
  • New Fire station 122 in Churchill Meadows
  • Initiated Mississauga Crime Prevention Association
  • Successfully advocated for hiring more police officers
  • Led initiative to deter marijuana grow houses
  • Introduced CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) into City/Region planning
  • Anti- graffiti and anti-vandalism programs
• • Initiated Peel Youth Violence Prevention Strategy

Traffic Safety

Pat takes traffic concerns very seriously and works directly with residents to find solutions to speeding and aggressive driving problems. Pat conducts site inspections with staff, residents and police and works to help resolve the issue.

Pat knows that there is no simple cure to these challenges and each situation requires individual review. There are some common solutions that can be used and Pat has been instrumental in bringing many of them to Mississauga and to Ward 9. Pat's record on traffic safety includes:

• • Mississauga Safe Driving Committee founding member
  • Chair of pedestrian safety strategy
  • Traffic Safety Council vice chair- Works with residents and schools to deal with school traffic issues
  • Works with residents to deter speeding on local roads
  • Neighbourhood Speed Watch and Road Watch programs
  • Works with residents to ensure proper traffic controls in place
  • Initiated Mississauga Traffic safety handbook
  • Director Ontario Traffic Conference

Youth Services

Pat's three children grew up in Ward 9, attended school here and were involved in community activities. Pat knows the pressures and the needs of our young people and she has worked successfully with them and for them to ensure that their specific needs are met.

Pat worked with business and organizations to bring the Dam Youth Drop In to the Meadowvale community and has always been a supporter and an advocate for the organization. She meets with young people on many occasions to get their input and to involve them in the process. Pat worked with residents in the community as well as police and various businesses and organizations to form the Meadowvale Community Partnership. This group started to address youth violence and has evolved into an advocate for youth in Ward 9. Pat continues to be an active part of this group and helps provide programs for parents and young people on such topics as bullying, self esteem and healthy lifestyles. Pat's work in this area also includes:

• • Sponsors annual parenting/youth seminar
  • Supports The Dam Youth Drop-In
  • Initiated Peel Youth Crime Prevention forum/strategy
  • Works with Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee
  • Youth Recreation Strategy underway

Seniors

As Ward 9's older population increases, there are new and emerging needs to be met. Pat maintains a working relationship with the seniors' organizations in Ward 9, such as Meadowvale Seniors' Club, and is always ready to assist them with concerns and issues.

Seniors housing is a major need and, as a member of Peel Living, Pat is working towards the construction of more affordable housing for seniors in the region. Pat is also a member of both the City and region Accessibility Advisory Committees to ensure safe and easy access for everyone to public facilities. Pat's other involvement in seniors' issues include:

• • Assists Meadowvale Senior’s Club
  • Long term care facility at Erin Centre/Winston Churchill
  • Support of Heritage Square improvements
  • Works with Eden Wood Seniors Village
  • Promotes senior’s snow subsidy program
  • Older Adult Strategy underway

The Environment

• 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
• Alternative energy sources (i.e. wind power)
• Enersource hydro conservation programs

Health and Social Services

Pat plays an active role at Regional Council in providing health services to our community. As a former Governor on the Credit Valley Hospital Board, Pat has worked diligently to improve hospital services.

Some of the other ways in which Pat has worked to improve public health services in Ward 9 include:

• • Regional Health Centre opened at Meadowvale Town Centre
  • Expansion of regional health programs
  • Ongoing reports to residents on SARs and West Nile
  • Supports affordable housing across the region
  • Additional funding for daycare programs
  • Additional paramedic training, improved ambulance service

Parks and Recreation Programs

Pat believes that all residents should have equal access to recreational facilities and programs. She works with City staff and residents to review community needs and then she is a strong voice at Council to get the needed facilities and programs for Ward 9.

Pat works with all age groups in the ward to make sure that needs are met. She involves residents in the planning of programs and facilities. Some of Pat's initiatives and successes include:

• • Initiated joint City/school projects such as Erin Meadows Community Centre, Churchill Meadows Library
  • BMX track in Meadowvale Sports Park
  • Central Mississauga and local skateboard parks
  • Purchase of lands for recreational use on Ninth Line
  • Redevelopment of Lake Aquitaine and Meadowvale Four Rinks
  • Construction of off-leash dog parks
  • Initiating indoor soccer facility for Ward 9
  • Splash pads in local parks (one more under construction)
  • Local bike parks
  • Meadowvale Community Centre redevelopment survey
  • Working with sports groups to resolve issues

Managing Waste

Pat has been involved in waste management issues for the past 18 years and is well educated on existing and emerging programs.

The region of Peel has one of the most comprehensive and cost effective waste management programs in the province and Pat is working with staff and her colleagues on the Waste Management committee to expand the programs even further. The following are a few of Pat's successes in this area:

• • Expansion of blue/grey box program
  • Curb-side composting program starting in 2007
  • New recycling facility for Peel
  • Battleford neighbourhood Recycling Centre
  • Garbage tag exemption periods

Keeping Taxes Low

• • Mississauga is the only municipality its size to have 10 years of no tax increases
  • reviews all services to minimize tax impacts
  • maintains good levels of service
  • Mississauga debt free
  • Peel region became debt free with Pat as Budget chair
• • Built reserves for future infrastructure replacement to avoid debt
  • Low water/sewer rates
  • No increases in region taxes for departments (increased policing costs only)