More than a couple of hundred residents attended a town hall in Mississauga Monday evening in response to the City’s proposal to separate from the Peel Region.
The meeting went longer than the two-hour allotment as residents and group representatives made presentations to Mississauga city council both for and against secession.
City Manager Janice Baker presented a top 10 list of reasons of why it Mississauga should leaving the region, such as improved customer service, a single set of bylaws and rules, and cost savings for local residents.
Mississauga is currently a part of the Region of Peel along with Brampton and Caledon, but in late March, city council moved forward a motion approving the city’s wish to become independent. The provincial government is currently reviewing the motion and would have to approve the request.
As the third largest city in Ontario and sixth in Canada, Mississauga is more than ready and capable of controlling its own affairs, in the way that many other cities that are not part of a region already do,” Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said in a release.
When Mississauga first announced its intentions in March, Crombie said Peel Region is “broken” and that it is not fair that Mississauga residents are subsidizing the other two cities in the region – Brampton and Caledon.
Crombie said now is the time for the move because of the provincial government’s undertaking of a review of regional governance across Ontario.
LISTEN: Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie speaks to Global News Radio AM640’s Kelly Cutrara about city’s plan to leave Peel Region
The city’s motion calls on the Doug Ford government to consider Mississauga a “single-tier” municipality, which would allow for matters to only need to be passed at the municipal level rather than with the region, as well.
It is not the first time the idea of separation has come up. Former mayor Hazel McAllion fought for secession from the region back in 2013.
Both mayors of the other two regions have been vocal in their disapproval of Crombie’s plan, with Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson calling her a “newbie.”
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said Mississauga would have a bill to pay if the city is granted secession.
“If they do, the reality is there would be a debt that would be owed to the city of Brampton. For years, the Brampton tax payers have subsidized Mississauga growth,” Brown told Global News on Thursday, noting Mississauga’s water treatment plant among other issues.
“It’s not as clear cut as to say we’re walking away from the Region of Peel.”
However, Crombie said Brown is being “disingenuous” with that argument.
— With files from Nick Westoll
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