Supporting Small Business Across Ward 2

My Responses to the Clarkson Village BIA Candidate Questionnaire

As a local small business owner for 34 years, I know firsthand that local businesses are vital to our ward. When commercial districts like Clarkson Village thrive, all of Ward 2 benefits. A strong local business sector expands our commercial tax base, eases property tax pressure on residential homeowners, keeps local dollars circulating in our community, and provides essential services close to home.

The Clarkson Village BIA recently surveyed local candidates to identify key priorities, challenges, and opportunities along Lakeshore Road West. I was pleased to submit my complete responses to their questionnaire. 

Below is my full response outlining how I will advocate for local business owners, stretch tax dollars, and keep our main streets accessible, clean, and practical for everyone.

Question 1: How would you support Mississauga’s small businesses and help address the increasing costs of doing business?

As a local small business owner for over 34 years, I wear many of the same hats our Clarkson business owners wear every day: handling sales and customer service, managing day-to-day operations, and overseeing marketing. I get how quickly rising overhead and small cost increases add up. If elected, I will advocate for treating taxpayers' money with the same care I use in my own business budget:

• Managing Property Tax Impact: I will actively participate in city budget discussions to keep property tax growth in check, which directly helps protect local businesses from commercial rent increases.
• Cutting Red Tape & Fees: I will push to trim unnecessary administrative fees and simplify municipal approval processes so local owners spend less time on city paperwork and more time serving customers.
• Practical Municipal Support: I will support practical city levers like streamlined patio and event permits and direct access to small-business grant opportunities to help ease operational burdens for main-street shops.
  

Question 2: How would you support initiatives that increase customer and visitor traffic to established commercial areas such as Clarkson Village?

The BIA survey makes it clear that getting more foot traffic and improving visibility are top priorities for our Clarkson businesses. Drawing on my professional background in marketing and media, I will bring that practical experience to the table to help drive desired results:

• Year-Round Tourism Integration: While Tourism Mississauga currently promotes seasonal events like Taste of Clarkson, I will advocate integrating Clarkson Village into broader, year-round city promotional campaigns. This will highlight our unique dining, retail, and health spaces to draw regional visitors outside peak event weeks.
• Community Events & Main Street Support: I support working closely with the BIA to help secure municipal matching grants and streamline approvals for seasonal sidewalk markets, outdoor patio programs, and local community activations that bring residents out and encourage visitors to stay longer.
• Physical & Digital Visibility: I will push for clear, practical street signage along Lakeshore Road West so drivers and pedestrians do not miss our plaza shops and side-street businesses. At the same time, I will support BIA-led learning sessions where local owners can share best practices on digital marketing, local search, and online visibility.
  

Question 3: What opportunities do you see for City investment and grants in main street streetscapes, infrastructure, accessibility and public spaces?

Good streetscapes bring people in and keep them around longer. City investment in Clarkson Village needs to be practical, clean, and directly useful to shoppers and businesses:

• Matching Grants That Work: Keep local improvement grants simple so shop owners can easily use them to upgrade storefronts, build patios, or make shop entrances accessible without getting stuck in paperwork.
• Prioritizing Essential Upgrades: During municipal budget discussions, I will advocate for basic streetscape priorities that make an immediate, visible difference: cleaner sidewalks, comfortable benches, proper lighting, clear signage, and garbage bins that are emptied regularly.
• Safe, Easy Access: I will push for targeted repairs to broken curbs, uneven sidewalks, and crosswalks so seniors, parents with strollers, and customers of all mobility levels can walk the strip safely.
• Better Maintenance Timing: Maintenance like snow clearing or emergency repairs cannot always be avoided, but I will work with city staff to help mitigate disruptions to retail traffic by pushing for advance notice and better coordination around peak shopping hours and BIA events.

Question 4: How would you support business retention while encouraging a diverse mix of new businesses in established commercial districts?

Keeping our current shops open and bringing in great new ones comes down to direct communication and cutting unnecessary delays:

• No Construction Surprises: When the city plans roadwork or sidewalk repairs, business owners need clear, advance notice, not a surprise barricade in front of their door. As your representative, I will help ensure the city coordinates with local owners early to protect customer access and foot traffic.
• Filling Empty Storefronts: Vacant shops hurt the whole street. I support working with the BIA and local property owners to help recruit the kinds of independent shops, cafes, and services that fill local gaps and bring new shoppers to Clarkson.
• Faster City Permits: Opening or expanding a business shouldn't mean waiting months for city paperwork. If elected, I will push for ways to speed up municipal permits and signage approvals so new owners can open their doors and start doing business without costly delays.

Question 5: How would you strengthen the City-BIA partnership, including potentially exploring a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)?

City Hall and the Clarkson BIA need a clear, practical working relationship that directly supports street-level store owners. An MOU makes sense if it keeps things simple, clarifies roles, and prevents unnecessary delays:

• Clear Service Boundaries: Establish clear guidelines so business owners know the City's and the BIA's specific roles and responsibilities.
• Direct Operational Access: Strengthen existing lines of communication between BIA leadership and city departments so routine service issues are resolved quickly without administrative delay.
• Simpler Permits: Work with city staff to streamline approvals for local events, seasonal lights, and banners so businesses can attract foot traffic without getting buried in paperwork.
• A Dedicated Champion at City Hall: If elected, I will serve as an accessible point of contact for escalating issues, amplifying the BIA's unified voice, and advocating for small business interests when municipal policies and budgets are decided.
  

Question 6: Would you support exploring municipal purchasing and economies-of-scale opportunities to help BIAs maximize levy dollars?

Yes. Local businesses expect every dollar to deliver real value, and tapping into the City's buying power is a common-sense way to stretch BIA budgets:

• Bulk Buying for Street Improvements: I will support allowing the BIA to opt into City purchasing deals for physical items (benches, waste bins, planters, and seasonal lights) to secure lower bulk prices that a single BIA cannot get alone.
• Shared Maintenance Contracts: I will explore options to include the BIA in larger City service contracts (street washing, lighting repairs, or holiday setups) so local businesses benefit from lower group rates.
• Joint Marketing & Tourism Promotion: I will support connecting BIA campaigns with Tourism Mississauga and City Economic Development initiatives to help amplify local promotion through established City channels and stretch marketing dollars.
• Protecting BIA Autonomy: I will advocate for keeping shared programs voluntary so the Clarkson BIA retains control over its budget priorities, marketing direction, and local programming.
• Cutting Red Tape at City Hall: If elected, I will work with City staff and BIA leadership to make these cost-saving opportunities simple and straightforward for the BIA to use.
  

Question 7: If elected, how would you engage with Clarkson Village BIA and our businesses to ensure the local business voice is considered in municipal decision-making?

Strong representation starts with active listening, availability, and clear communication. As a big fan of entrepreneurship, I believe it is vital to meet with BIA leadership regularly so local business owners don't have to chase City Hall to stay informed:

• Regular Meetings & Follow-Through: I will meet regularly with BIA leadership to review upcoming municipal items, discuss local priorities, and address operational concerns before Council votes. I will also keep the BIA updated on Council outcomes.
• Proactive Policy Updates: I will share early notifications with the BIA board whenever upcoming city policies, zoning changes, or budget decisions impact local commercial operations.
• In-Person Business Check-Ins: Connecting face-to-face is my favourite part of the job. I look forward to regular in-person check-ins across Clarkson Village to meet business owners directly in their own spaces.
• Responsive Troubleshooting & Escalation: I enjoy hands-on troubleshooting and will serve as a direct point of contact when routine municipal service requests stall, advocating on your behalf to move issues through city channels.
• Championing Shop Local Initiatives: I will bring the BIA's unified perspective directly to municipal discussions, supporting Shop Local efforts and championing local entrepreneurs when city budgets and policies are decided.

💬  Are you a local business owner or Ward 2 resident? I'd love to hear your thoughts on these main-street priorities. Feel free to reach out directly at alex@alex4ward2.ca or call me at 905-891-6234.