Mississauga has reacted strongly to Brampton’s claims that the dissolution of Peel Region comes with a heavy financial burden on tax payers.
Brampton, on Friday, released an “independent” report with claims that Peel’s break up will mean an addition $1.31 billion in operating costs and a historic tax increase of 38%.
However Mississauga claims that this report was not sent to any of the members of the province’s Transition Board or the city. “The numbers have not been validated by the City of Mississauga or the province’s Transition Board and are therefore not reliable,” the City said in a statement.
“This is nothing more than a political stunt,” Mayor Bonnie Crombie stated. “The province has passed the Hazel McCallion Act. The work on transition continues and is going well. This report is nothing more than an attempt to distract from the tough conversations that Brampton will have to have with its residents and businesses in the months and years to come.”
Crombie says that Mississauga has been ready to stand on its own two feet for some time, as are Brampton and Caledon.
“It is time for the politics to stop and for the hard work to continue. Hazel McCallion knew this was the right thing to do for decades and as we know, she always did her homework. Nothing’s changed – it’s still the right thing to do today,” her statement read.
“The reality is that as the cities have grown over time, the priorities of Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon have diverged in many areas. Single tier status allows each City to make decisions in the best interest of its own residents and businesses. Vital decisions are not left up to the votes of the two other municipalities,” she continued. “A single tier city council would be fully accountable for the decisions made on all matters, so accountability is clear. And, funding and scarce resources can be focused on the most important priorities for each city.”
Mississauga has taken steps to get ready for independence, including appointing an Interim Commissioner of Health and Human Services, and a Director of Municipal Transition and Integration. The city is ready for independence and will continue to work toward this important goal, according to Crombie.
Mississauga claims that the new “independent” report from Brampton (according to media reports) builds on the 2019 Deloitte Report crafted in secret at the Peel Region to justify the status quo during the province’s 2019 Regional Governance Review. The report has been discredited largely due to its questionable methodology, misguided assumptions, and the fact that there was no input from any of the Region’s member municipalities in its creation.
That being said Mississauga has a tough road ahead with Crombie leaving to take on her new role as Ontario Liberal leader. She expects to resign from her mayoral position early next year. That means Mississauga will be electing a new mayor who will shepherd the city throught its transition to an independent municipality.
