Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion wants passengers arriving at Pearson International Airport to know they’re in her city, not Toronto.
McCallion is pushing organizers for the 2015 Pan Am Games to put up a banner at the airport that welcomes athletes to Mississauga.
She made her request to Pan Am chief executive Ian Troop, who was speaking to the Mississauga council about preparations for the games.
“At the end, I said to him just remember, your job is to get a sign at the airport that says ‘Welcome to Mississauga for the Pan Am Games’,” she told 680News.
Pearson is on Mississauga land, it is policed by Peel Regional Police officers. However, the city doesn’t get any public display of recognition beyond a picture of her, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell.
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alot of the people commenting have suggested that mississauga should get a banner at the airport if hazels constituents pay the expenses of the airport. but the sign wouldnt say “mississauga owns this airport”. it would just say its in mississauga, which it is. it might be a little petty for hazel to push for a sign, it doesnt really matter. but its dumb to suggest that mississauga doesnt deserve a sign because toronto is bigger more important. the airport is in mississauga, if hazel really wants a sign then nobody should have a problem with it. if it werent for mississauga, toronto would have no where to put an airport that size. just give mississauga the credit its due, the sign wouldnt be a lie.
And most people in mississauga do NOT work in toronto. a large portion does but its not more than half.
All in all, its just a sign, who cares.
Just say “Welcome to Greater Toronto Area” End of debate.
hey if Mississauga wants to incur all the cost and expense of Toronto Pearson Airport by all means she can rename it
Let’s be honest, do you think the surrounding areas would be as prosperous as they are if it wasn’t for Toronto? The growth they experienced was due to their proximity to Toronto. I would suggest that about a third of the people that live in Mississauga and surrounding areas work in Toronto, benefit from working in Toronto, use the services paid for by Toronto, but don’t pay taxes for those services to Toronto. Can’t ignore the facts.
Am I the only one who finds this petty? What does it matter? Why has Hazel never wanted a “Welcome to Mississauga” sign in the Airport until now? I grew up in Peel (granted, NOT in Mississauga) and I would be surprised in most residents of Mississauga even cared about this “issue”.
Oh and this line…
She made her request to Pan Am chief executive Ian Troop, who was speaking to the Mississauga council about preparations for the games.
“At the end, I said to him just remember, you’re job is to get a sign at the airport that says ‘Welcome to Mississauga for the Pan Am Games’,”
Funny, I thought Mr. Troop’s job was to be head of the Games, NOT banner making. Do us all a favour Hazel and retire 19 months early.
@BG good point…if her constituents pay for the PAN AM games….they can put the banner up.
@Lisa…grow up, most people who live in Mississauga work in Toronto, use the facilities/roads/venues etc. smell the coffee, Toronto has the financial district etc., there would be no Mississauga if there was no Toronto! I also question people who keep voting in a person who has had questionable dealings and been taken to court etc. (yes Toronto has Rob Ford, but he’s only on his first term..hopefully no second term)
Time to stop being petty about all this. I think McCallion is showing her senility
Petty.
If she and her constituents pay for it, I really don’t care.
Good for Hazel trying to get her city on the world map. Hazel has done more for Mississauga than any other mayor for their cities. Maybe the banner should say “Welcome to Mississauga – the gateway to Toronto”
Not only is the airport in Mississauga but several of the venues for the Games are in Mississauga as well as other areas AROUND Toronto, this is not ALL about Toronto! The country does not revolve around Toronto as much as they like to thin kit does. Without the support of ALL GTA the city of Toronto would be the worse.
Go Mayor McCallion, there is a reason you have elected so many times and have continued to bring Mississauga forward!
Hazel has been re-elected over and over not because she does a great job, but because most Mississaugans don’t know any better. I can’t wait for 2014 when the residents of that great city actually are forced to take Mayoral candidates seriously and study their respective platforms rather than simply defaulting a vote to Hazel simply because they don’t like change (a disease common in Canada)
What’s with Mayor McCallion? She has never been so petty!!! Toronto is the city that host the event, if the participants come through different countries/airports should their airport also welcome the athletes? Please, let’s all grow up and work together on making our cities a better place to visit and enjoy their time in our lovely country, province, city etc.etc…….thanks!
Well, can have a banner saying welcome to Mississauga, but not ‘Welcome to Mississauga for the Pan Am Games’ as she has requested as the Pan Am games were awarded to Toronto not Mississauga which is what her banner insinuates!!! Also, McCallion should remember, that people come to visit Toronto – the driver for the revenue she is getting by having the airport in Mississauga. People pass through Mississauga as it’s a thoroughfare to somewhere else, don’t know too many people who actually want to visit Mississauga.
McCallion…stop playing politics. how about welcome to the Greater Toronto Area, home of the PAN AM games….
London England Airport is in Middlesex. London is only one square mile. Any body fancy landing by the Tate gallery.
Absolutely not!!! It’s Toronto that is known all over the world, and it’s Toronto that people have come to see. We could move the airport to Bolton, and they’d be happy to have the jobs!!!
Be careful what you wish for … don’t forget that the airport is located in the Malton district of Mississauga.
To ak….did you read the article?? Mayor McCallion wants a banner that says “Welcome to Mississauga”. Since Malton is in Mississauga, what exactly is the point of your post?!?