An emotional Bonnie Crombie announced her last day as Mississauga Mayor Wednesday morning.
In the letter of resignation filled with the city clerk, she stated that her last day as the head of the GTA’s second most populous city will be January 12.
In the meanwhile Crombie will work with City Council to pass the 2024 budget reportedly projecting a more than seven per cent increase in property taxes which many are hoping she will use her strong mayor powers to veto.
A champion of the Peel Region dissolution and an independent Mississauga, Crombie leaves the city at a challenging time of transition.
However with Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown’s revelation of the huge cost of breaking up Peel and rumours that the Doug Ford government may be reconsidering its decision, it remains to be seen whether the dissolution will actually take place in 2025.
Crombie’s resignation comes as she was elected leader of the Ontario Liberal Party on December 2. She has shepherded the city since 2014.
After the resignation takes effect on January 12, 2024, City Council must then declare the Mayor’s seat vacant at the next Council meeting, which will be held on January 17, 2024.
Once the resignation occurs on January 12, 2024, Council has 60 days to pass a by-law for a by-election for the vacant seat. No further details are available on the date of a by-election, but will be shared once Council has passed the by-law.
Once the Mayor’s seat has been declared vacant, her seat on Peel Regional Council will also be deemed vacant.
Mayor Crombie is currently appointed to the Alectra and Peel Police Services boards. Council will be asked to appoint new representatives. Today, Council nominated Ward 8 Councillor Matt Mahoney, as the City’s representative on the Peel Police Services Board.
Mississauga has an Acting Head of Council By-law where councillors rotate into the position every two months on an ascending basis by ward. The Acting Mayor for December and January is Ward 4 Councillor, John Kovac.
Seen as the strongest candidate to defeat Ford in the 2026 provincial elections, Crombie has a tough task ahead of her with the Ontario Liberals having no official party status.
