Free parking for Mississauga holiday shoppers considered in some parts of the city
Published November 22, 2022 at 2:50 pm
It looks like Mississauga shoppers can again park for free in Port Credit and Clarkson this holiday season as City officials consider waiving on-street parking charges.
At Wednesday morning’s (Nov. 23) meeting of general committee, City of Mississauga councillors will discuss a staff plan to waive on-street parking charges in specific areas of south Mississauga from Nov. 30 through Jan. 15, 2023.
The aim, as in past years when pay-and-display parking charges were similarly waived, is to help shops, restaurants and other businesses continue to recover from the devastating financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials say.
Port Credit and Clarkson BIAs have once again asked the City to waive the parking charges in an effort to give area businesses a better chance of competing with shopping malls across the city where customer parking is free.
“The Christmas shopping season is important to the success of the Port Credit and Clarkson Business Improvement Areas, especially this year,” reads a report to general committee from Mississauga’s commissioner of transportation and works Geoff Wright. “The retail members of these BIAs must compete with shopping malls and plazas that do not charge for parking.”
The report continues, noting that a parking fee holiday “…would allow customers of the respective BIAs to park in those areas at no cost. Both BIAs’ board of directors feel that this initiative will be well received by the community and will assist their member businesses during the holiday season.”
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If given the green light by councillors, on-street parking fees will be waived during the holiday season in areas both within and outside Port Credit BIA borders, and within the Clarkson BIA borders.
City staff estimates a loss of revenue totalling as much as $30,500 if the plan is approved.
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