Ontario Government to Share Details on dissolving Region of Peel Today

Ontario government is planning on dissolving the Region of Peel and is expected to share details today during a press conference. This would mean that Brampton and Mississauga will become independent cities. The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing will be joined by the three mayors at the conference.

The Region of Peel consists of three municipalities, Mississauga, Brampton, and the town of Caledon. It has now been reported that the Ontario government is planning on dissolving the Region of Peel effectively making Mississauga and Brampton independent cities. However, it is unclear what the status of Caledon would be.

Now, it has been reported that Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark, as well as the three mayors of Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon, will share details about the dissolving the Region of Peel today, Thursday, at 1:30 p.m.

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie has been in favor of separating from Peel Region because she believes the city can save much-needed revenue by standing on its own two feet. She estimated that this move could save taxpayers of Mississauga about $1 billion over the next decade.

However, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, though he is not opposed to the separation from Peel Region, he does not want Brampton to be shortchanged. “I’m not opposed to the principle of getting rid of the Region of Peel. My contention has been that if Mississauga wants to leave and have a divorce that they have to pay the bill.” He estimates that if the split happens, Mississauga will owe Brampton between $1 and $2 billion for infrastructure.

Crombie responded to the numbers given by Brown and said that she “can’t imagine how the numbers would indicate” that Mississauga owes Brampton money but “if it proves that, so be it. I mean, this is so important to us to stand on our own two feet and control the future of Mississauga. We’re going to do the right thing,” she added.

Vineet Washington