Shove over, Toronto, Mississauga wants the limelight.

When tens of thousands of visitors fly in for the Pan Am Games in 2015, Mayor Hazel McCallion wants them to know exactly where they’re landing — Mississauga, not Toronto.

“I would ask you to make sure that the banner at the airport . . . that it recognizes Mississauga, because the airport is in Mississauga, except for a very small corner — with nothing on it — that is in Toronto,” said McCallion after Ian Troop, Pan Am chief executive officer, made a presentation to council.

“I think it’s extremely important that they’re welcomed to Toronto, yes, but to Mississauga first. And then they go to Toronto, OK?”

Toronto Councillor Josh Matlow said a fight over what city gets the spotlight won’t benefit the Games.

“With all due respect to Mississauga, our beautiful neighbour with some of the finest downtown towers anywhere, I think any reasonable person would conclude that most people visiting from across the Americas will be, in their minds, coming to Toronto,” said Matlow, who represents Ward 22 (St. Paul’s.)

Currently, Pearson International Airport sports a sign welcoming visitors to Toronto, with faces of McCallion, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell. Welcoming new arrivals to the GTA “might be a nice compromise,” Matlow said.

McCallion, who turned 92 last week, has arguably been on an anti-Toronto tear of late. In council last month she blasted the multibillion dollar provincial funding of Toronto’s transit system, while Mississauga waits desperately for money to fund its planned $1.5 billion LRT.

A couple of weeks later she was livid when told the Toronto Board of Trade was being changed to the Toronto Region Board of Trade, and she questioned whether Toronto now thinks it speaks for the entire GTA on business and economic matters.

Of course, her cutthroat devotion to Mississauga has turned “Hurricane Hazel” into a larger-than-life celebrity-mayor, who has appeared on shows such as Regis and Kelly and the Rick Mercer Report.

Getting every last ounce of recognition from the Pan Am Games is her latest mission, even if it comes at the expense of her favourite punching bag, the big city next door.

Councillor Paula Fletcher mused there is “obviously some sensitivity.”

“I’m sure they can make everybody happy at the Pan Am, they have bigger issues to worry about like getting all the venues finished, long before the airport sign,” said Fletcher, representing Ward 30 (Toronto Danforth.)

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Greater Toronto Airport Authority spokesman Scott Armstrong said in an email that it is working with the Games organizers to welcome everyone.

“We know that the airport will play an essential role as we will be the first and last impression of the Games for athletes, coaches and fans.”

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