“Mississauga Multicultural population = Opportunity.” Derek Ramkissoon Runs for Mayor of Mississauga

BY PAUL JUNOR

As Ontario enters the last week of the municipal election, Derek Ramkissoon is excited to be running for the Mayor of the great city of Mississauga.

Ramkissoon was born in Guyana and migrated to Canada in 1983 where he settled in Edmonton, Alberta. He subsequently moved to Mississauga where he met and married his wife thirty-one years ago. He is the father of two adult children: Ben and Joel. As a long-time Mississauga resident, he has been involved in volunteer and civic activities.

Ramkissoon is the President of Helpfast Personnel Inc since March 2002. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has a demonstrated history of working in the transportation/ trucking/railroad industry. As a business owner of an employment agency, he is able to supply truck drivers and workers to small and large corporations in the Greater Toronto Area. Although the head office is based in Mississauga, there are branches in Montreal and Calgary.

In 2004, he founded a Christian ministry called “In Christ Alone Ministries (ICAM).” According to its website: www.inchristalone.ca, it is a non-profit organization with a vision for people, they passionately reach out to numerous: homeless shelters, prisoners, hospitals, seniors, CAMH, and broken families to carry out what Jesus has commissioned them to do.

“What you do unto the least of my brethren, you do unto me.” ( Matthew 25: 40)

Ramkissoon launched his campaign for Mayor of Mississauga on Thursday, July 21st, 2022. His campaign is focused on, “Unity, Safety, and Prosperity.” According to the website: www.derek4mayor.ca, there are five specific things that need to change in Mississauga. They include the following:

• High property tax
• Crime rate has risen 48 percent in last seven years, and this must be tackled
• Divided communities within city, which must be unified
• Youth ignored and not involved
• Wasteful spending

If he is elected as mayor he will:

• Promote Mississauga on the world stage as an exemplary place to visit, live, work and relocate your businesses (All roads leads to Mississauga)
• Freeze property taxes
• Heavily invested in our youth, young adults, and single parents
• Work to reduce crime. (Safer city for all)
• Work with all levels of government for affordable housing.

Media has covered the idea of Mississauga seceding from Peel Region. CBC News reported in an article by Chris Clover about this debate. Mayoral candidates in the 2022 municipal elections are divided on the idea of Mississauga separating, with Derek Ramkissoon and David Shaw in favour of it. Ramkissoon states, “I believe that the separation has to be gradual so the other cities would also be able to adjust with the change in economics of it.”

Ramkissoon will be challenging Mayor Bonnie Crombie who was first elected in December 2014. The other mayoral candidates include: David Shaw, George Manuel Tavares, Mohsin Khan, Melodie Petty, Bobie Taffe and Jayesh Trivedi. This is the second time Ramkisson has run for mayor, having done so in 2014. As a business owner, entrepreneur, spiritual leader, and philanthropist he believes that he has the business acumen, leadership abilities, and intellectual capacities to lead this city.

For him, “Mississauga Multicultural population = Opportunity.”

Ramkissoon can be reached at 437-533-1457 or info@derek4mayor.ca and his campaign office is located at 5920 Atlantic Drive in Mississauga. Anyone interested  in learning details about Derek Ramkissoon’s platform can check:

Website:www.derek4mayor.ca

Facebook: Derek Ramkissoon

Twitter:@DerekRamkissoon