Brampton politicians’ trips abroad prompts Mississauga council’s concern about missing out on foreign investment

Thestar.com
Dec. 13, 2019
Steve Cornwell

Recent trips abroad by Brampton councillors and Mayor Patrick Brown have got the attention and concern of Mississauga council.

So far this year, investment missions by Brampton politicians included visits to Boston, Lisbon, Cologne and cities in Turkey, with further trips planned to India and China in 2020.

The conference, fair and summit event trips have been funded by Brampton’s foreign direct investment strategy, a $1.875 million fund from the city’s capital budget aimed at attracting new jobs, diversifying the tax base and raising the city’s global profile.

At a Nov. 18 budget committee meeting Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said that council has to respect their budget, but “we have to look closely” at investment mission opportunities.

“When I see that Brampton has been to Germany, Boston, Portugal and planning to go to India and Africa, I get concerned, I do,” she said. “You know, should I have been at those conferences?”

Crombie said such trips can help build relationships with businesses and investors, but she doesn’t think there’s an appetite on council for a similarly-funded foreign investment strategy in Mississauga.

Coun. Pat Saito (Ward 9) directed the city’s economic development staff to compile a more comprehensive list of possible opportunities at conferences and other events to help direct investment to Mississauga.

“I think it’s more a matter of being proactive and informing all of council of what is coming up, because I think Brampton is just running rings around us on this one right now,” she said.

Mississauga and Brampton both contribute to Toronto Global, an organization that helps connect international investments to Toronto region municipalities. Through Toronto Global, Mississauga landed a local office of Cognizant, an international software firm.

Toronto Global also helped Brampton land local operations of international meat manufacturer Italia Alimentari.

At the Nov. 18 meeting, Mississauga Coun. Karen Ras (Ward 2) said the city is already putting a “whack-load” of money into Toronto Global, and she’s not certain that Brampton’s recent investment trips will pan out.

“I’m comfortable with our steady-the-course type direction,” she said.