🏗️ The Growth Is Real
Mississauga is already home to over 800,000 residents and is on track to exceed 920,000 by 2051. But some projections say it could push past 1 million.
The province has assigned Mississauga a target of 120,000 new homes by 2031 as part of Ontario’s 1.5 million-home housing plan. That number alone puts it among the top housing growth zones in the province.
But is it enough?
If Mississauga adds 120,000 homes, and the average household size is around 2.5 people, that supports roughly 300,000 new residents. If the city reaches 1 million people, it’ll need to be ready with more housing options—including higher-density builds, mixed-use neighbourhoods, and transit-oriented communities.
🚈 Rethinking Transit: The LRT Era Begins
The Hazel McCallion LRT (formerly Hurontario LRT) is under construction and will stretch from Port Credit to Brampton. This is a major win for Mississauga’s urban core.
But one line is not enough.
If Mississauga is serious about being a million-plus city, it needs a network.
GTA Weekly proposes:
- Square One to Pearson LRT: Connect Square One to Pearson Airport, linking with the existing Eglinton Crosstown West Extension in Toronto, the Hurontario LRT and a possible TTC Subway Line 2 extension at Square One.
- TTC Line 2 Extension to Square One: Extend the TTC’s Line 2 from Kipling Station to Square One.
These connections aren’t just transit upgrades—they’re city-building projects.
🌆 Where the Puck Is Going
Mississauga is not a suburb.
It’s already Canada’s 7th largest city and could soon be in the top 5.
It has its own skyline, business core, university campuses, and rapidly densifying neighbourhoods.
The question isn’t whether Mississauga will grow.
It’s whether we’re ready.
🏁 Final Word: A Standalone City with Metro Potential
Mississauga has:
- The people.
- The land.
- The LRT underway.
What it needs now is vision.
Mississauga can build out its LRT into a full rapid transit system. It can embrace high-density growth near Square One, Cooksville, and its waterfront. And it can become a key hub in Ontario’s high-speed rail future, with direct connections at Pearson airport.
It’s not a suburb. It’s a standalone metro on the rise.
Let’s build like it.
📏 Square Footage is GTA Weekly’s ongoing blueprint series for Ontario’s next million-plus cities.
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