May 18, 2023 | TORONTO — Today, the Ontario government introduced the Hazel McCallion Act, which would, if passed, begin the process to dissolve the Regional Municipality of Peel and make the municipalities of Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon independent.
The proposed legislation honours the legacy of Peel Region’s longest-serving mayor, the late Hazel McCallion, who was central to the region’s remarkable growth during her 36 years as Mayor of Mississauga and a long-time advocate for greater autonomy for her city.
According to the media statement, the province’s plan would help ensure the continuation of high-quality services for taxpayers while improving the efficiency of local governments as they prepare for future growth, including by making good on their municipal housing pledges.
The province would establish a transition board of up to five people to facilitate this change in local government and, if needed, oversee the financial affairs of Peel and its lower-tier municipalities to help ensure prudent financial stewardship until dissolution. The board would provide recommendations to the province to help Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon prepare to become single-tier municipalities on January 1, 2025, when the proposed changes, if passed, would come into effect. If the legislation passes, names of the members of the board will be released in the coming weeks.
Mississauga Mayor, Bonnie Crombie, took to Twitter and stated, “Mississauga, we are capable and ready to take on the future as an independent City.”
“We’ve known for a long time that Mississauga could always stand on its own two feet and after years of advocating of becoming an independent city, today Mississauga is finally whole,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “I’d like to sincerely thank the Government of Ontario, Premier Ford and Minister Clark for listening to Mississauga’s requests and doing what’s right. With today’s announcement, we will be able to deliver faster, better and more integrated decisions and services, especially in land use, transportation planning and financial services. We are moving in the right direction. Mississauga is a vibrant, diverse and growing city that can now make its own decisions. We have a separate identity that is worth protecting and a promising future ahead. Today’s decision is one I know former Mayor Hazel McCallion would be very proud of.”
According to the Ontario Government media release, the transition board would help implement the province’s clear expectation that the affected municipalities work together fairly and in a spirit of partnership in order to ensure value for money and efficient, high-quality services for taxpayers.
