Ontario Construction News staff writer
In response to severe flooding over the summer, Mississauga City Council has approved several initiatives aimed at providing immediate relief and implementing long-term infrastructure solutions to combat the impacts of climate change.
One new measure is a residential compassionate flood relief grant that provides one-time payments to residential property owners that experienced basement flooding caused by storms on July 16, Aug. 17 and 18.
“These storms are a wake-up call. We must prioritize ongoing upgrades and new investments to ensure Mississauga can continue to protect its residents and businesses from extreme weather,” said Mayor Carolyn Parrish. “While Mississauga is doing its part, we need help from other levels of government.”
Council also established a basement flooding prevention rebate program, providing rebates of up to $6,800 for eligible flood prevention improvements. Applications for the relief grant will open Dec. 1, with the rebate program opening in February 2025.
The city is investing significantly in enhancing its stormwater management infrastructure, which includes more than 51,000 storm drains, 1,900 km of storm sewer pipes, and 80 stormwater management facilities.
Mississauga previously approve a 10-year stormwater capital plan, which allocates $308 million for upgrades and maintenance. Since 2016, the city has invested $231 million in stormwater infrastructure, and new projects are being fast-tracked, including:
- A review of flooding concerns in North Streetsville
- An assessment of the trunk storm sewer system in the Harvest Drive area
- Storm sewer upgrades for Historic Malton Village
- A riverine flooding review
Also, council approved an acceleration of the Dixie-Dundas flood mitigation project by approximately six years and directed staff to apply for funding from the provincial housing-enabling water systems fund, which aims to enhance water management infrastructure.
A public information session is being planned on flood prevention and preparation strategies.