What you will learn
• How Mississauga property tax increases are built and why affordability is under pressure
• The limits of municipal revenue and where provincial and federal governments shape local budgets
• Why police spending is such a large line item and what council can and cannot control
• How an Auditor General and stronger oversight can protect taxpayers and improve transparency
• Practical ways residents can engage, read the budget, question big ticket items, and hold leaders accountable

Chapters
00:00 Intro and why this episode focuses on community issues
02:00 Dipika’s journey from India to banking to Canadian politics
05:30 Affordability, cost of living, and what residents are telling council
07:00 Breaking down Mississauga’s recent and proposed property tax increases
10:00 Inside the city budget and the realities of police spending
15:00 The case for an Auditor General and why oversight matters for taxpayers
21:43 The seven million dollar transit app and saying no to the wrong spend
28:46 Refugees, shelters, and how federal policy shows up on local streets
32:11 Transparency, information overload, and making city finances readable
36:40 New mayor, leadership at City Hall, and the economic development lens
40:35 Supporting local business, jobs, and why cities compete for talent
42:00 Why good governance starts at the municipal level
44:16 Mississauga as a place to live and do business, closing thoughts

Guest
Councillor Dipika Damerla, Ward 7, City of Mississauga

Host
Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Listen and connect
• Website, www.L10NFiresideChat.com
• Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
• Be a guest, https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
• LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Disclaimer
Opinions are shared for education and discussion. Always apply judgment in your own context.

Credits
Host: Robin Ayoub, Founder, Localization Fireside Chat

Connect and watch more
Website: www.L10NFiresideChat.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OoURgc29R31XPGzOWL9iX
Be a guest: https://calendly.com/robin-ayoub/localization-fireside-chat-podcast-recording
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/

Support the show
Share the episode with a friend. Subscribe on YouTube and Spotify. Leave a short review.

Disclaimer
Views are for education and discussion. Apply judgment in your own context.

Tags
#L10NFiresideChat #localization #hiring #recruiting #leadership #ai

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.