Ontario Premier Doug Ford Voices Support for Mississauga’s Separation

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has expressed his support for Mississauga’s separation from Brampton and Caledon. The idea of Mississauga becoming an independent city, separate from the Region of Peel, has been a topic of discussion for many years, with former Mayor Hazel McCallion being a vocal advocate for such a move.

The discussions gained momentum when the province announced its intention to address “municipal duplication” in various two-tier municipalities, including the Region of Peel, last November. The goal is to streamline governance and eliminate redundancies. The potential solutions range from the creation of independent municipalities to removing duplication within the Region of Peel or even establishing a larger amalgamated Peel City.

Last week, Premier Ford stated that a decision regarding the Region of Peel would be forthcoming. Today (May 15), during a funding announcement for firefighter training in Mississauga, Ford was questioned about the upcoming decision and its potential connection to Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s potential entry into provincial politics.

Ford affirmed his long-standing support for an independent Mississauga, citing the city’s significant population, nearing 800,000 residents and continuing to grow, as a reason for not being tied to other jurisdictions. He also mentioned that the Progressive Conservatives hold all the seats in Mississauga and assured that the government would continue to support the city to ensure its residents receive the best services.

While Mayor Crombie did not explicitly state her intentions regarding running for the leader of the provincial Liberals during the press conference, she expressed her delight at Premier Ford’s public support for Mississauga’s independence. Crombie emphasized that separation would be more cost-effective for Mississauga taxpayers, allowing both cities to focus on building great communities while enabling Mississauga residents to invest their tax dollars back into their own city instead of supporting the growth of other municipalities, as has been the case for the past 50 years.

In response, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown warned that Brampton residents would be upset if Mississauga took an unfair share during the separation process and cautioned against leaving any financial obligations unpaid.