Citing results of an independent financial analysis, Brampton issued a statement saying the dissolution of Peel will create serious hardship and uncertainty for the taxpayers of the soon-to-become independent cities.
This includes an additional $1.31 billion in operating costs and a one time tax increase of 38% across the three municipalities of Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon. These outcomes are consistent with independent reviews first completed in 2019, only with further exacerbated financial implications for taxpayers, according to the statement.
The City says that Deloitte’s report also highlighted that dissolution could risk and negatively impact the stewardship of assets and services offered to citizens across all three municipalities, including essential and critical emergency services.
“This uncertainty and disruption of adequate servicing would also impede all municipalities’ ability to deliver on and support the provincial priority of more housing options for citizens,” the statement read.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, who has locked horns with Mississauga on getting a fair deal for his city amid the breakup, also says Brampton never asked for the region to be dissolved.
“We never asked for the Region of Peel to be dissolved. We have always asked for redundancy to be removed,” Brown stated. “The independent financial analysis clearly shows the net result would be a financial disaster for Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon.”
Brown says the dissolution would result in the largest tax increase in Peel Region’s history and that the province and Transition Board “really need to revisit this decision”.
“Taxpayers already struggling with high interest rates and inflation can’t afford the largest tax increase in history,” Brown added. “The dissolution financial train wreck would be an albatross around the necks of taxpayers in Peel Region.”
The Brampton mayor says that there are “growing concerns from emergency services in Peel that the division of their departments would result in acute problems” and “will be sharing more about this next week”.
On May 18, 2023, the Province of Ontario introduced Bill 112, Hazel McCallion Act (Peel Dissolution), 2023 with the intent to make Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga single-tier municipalities and dissolve the Region of Peel by January 1, 2025.
Brampton says it is continuing to work closely with the Province and Transition Board on a path forward that is in the best interest of taxpayers in Brampton and across the Region of Peel.
