Mississauga residents have their say at CBC byelection events

On May 15 and 22, CBC Toronto invited Mississauga residents to two free Listening Sessions at the Malton Community Centre and River Grove Community Centre in Streetsville.

Over 60 attendees had their say, meeting with journalists and voicing the most pressing issues facing their community topics they feel are often under-reported due to what residents say is a lack of mainstream media in Mississauga. In September 2023, Metroland ceased print publications of dozens of community newspapers across Canada, including Mississauga News, which was the only remaining print newspaper in the city. In addition, Rogers TV Mississauga, a community television news station, was shut down in 2017.

A Listening Session is a form of engagement journalism that brings people together for a two-way dialogue in an intimate setting. The goal is to foster trust, build community connections and inform CBC Toronto's reporting.

The impact of civic discussions

In a room filled to capacity, seven journalists were spread out across the room at different tables to facilitate conversation with groups of 6-8 residents. People came from all walks of life to engage in discussion, representing a variety of identities and ages, from local communities such as Cooksville and Meadowvale, to student and senior groups.

The questions journalists asked community members centered around the challenges and benefits of living within Mississauga, with the central question "What do you want the candidates to be discussing as they compete for your votes?" leading to honest discussions about the ongoing challenges longtime community members are facing. Participants of the Listening Sessions spoke about how important in-person community conversations are to the community.

"Residents have a deep need to feel heard and respected," said Mississauga resident Bev Knox. "[CBC] created a safe space for folks to express their opinions and hear each other without fear of reprisal."

At the Streetsville Listening Session, a number of issues were brought up from the candid conversations between residents. Civic apathy was cited as an existential problem facing Mississauga, which had around 20 per cent voter turnout in the previous municipal election. Residents also said that real accountability for politicians was needed.The need for better public safety measures and better transit came up numerous times, as residents discussed the crossroads that the city faces as it hopes to emerge from being a bedroom community to a standalone city.

At the Malton Listening Session, residents noted that this was the first time residents came together in many years. They discussed a range of issues from homelessness around Westwood Mall, food insecurity, and the lack of competitive priced food choices with only one grocery store in the area to rely on. Residents pointed out that due to its proximity to Pearson airport, Malton drove a large portion of Mississauga's economy, taking on the task of newcomer integration, without any of the benefits or additional support.

The lack of police presence in the community was brought up by many residents, including a call for more community-style policing. However, the central issue that residents discussed was the need for a city councillor who lives in the community, since they noted that the past two councillors, Carolyn Parrish and Bonnie Crombie did not reside in Malton. Residents felt that Malton is seen as a stepping stone for councillors to become mayor, with Crombie becoming mayor and Parrish running for Mayor. Residents believed that this trend historically did not translate to better conditions for the residents

"The Listening Session allowed me to see, in its purest form, members in our community," said Malton resident Camar Cameron. "We are a rich and diverse community, from young adults to seniors and our concerns were clearly not all the same, but it does not prevent us from still pushing for what we deserve from city hall."

Why Mississauga?

This month, CBC Toronto has been reporting on the Mississauga mayoral byelection as part of the Communities in Focus initiative. On May 30, CBC Toronto hosted three of the top candidates for a debate in the heart of Mississauga at the Living Arts Centre.

Keep up with our election coverage at cbc.ca/toronto and stay tuned for more information on CBC Toronto's election night special taking place on June 10. Details will be posted online and on the CBC News App.

Special thanks to the CBC journalists who participated in the Listening Sessions: Cassie Argao, Shana Cohen, David Common, Salma Ibrahim, Nav Nanwa, Clara Pasieka, Talia Ricci and Kirthana Sasitharan.