Ford government tables new bill to begin Peel Region split

The Ford government has outlined the steps it will take over the next couple of years to split up Peel Region into three separate municipalities.

The province tabled legislation on Thursday that will begin the process of turning Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon into independent cities and towns.

The province says it aims to have the dissolution process complete by Jan. 1, 2025.

The Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Steve Clark outlined the government’s plan at Queen’s Park on Thursday afternoon.

“Our government is working with our municipal partners to provide the tools and autonomy required to deliver on our shared commitments to the people of Ontario, including addressing the housing supply crisis,” said Clark.

“The Region of Peel includes some of the largest and fastest-growing municipalities in Canada and is poised for significant growth over the next decade. Our government is supporting this growth by cutting red tape and improving efficiency while maintaining and improving the high level of local services Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon residents rightly expect.”

The Ministry says the move toward dissolving the region has the support from the three affected lower-tier municipalities and will better position each for “future growth.”

The new bill, if passed, aims to “provide stability and fairness throughout the dissolution process, prioritize respect for taxpayers and value for money, and ensure front-line services and workers can continue without disruption.”

Peel Region is currently responsible for services such as paramedics, health programs and recycling in the lower-tier municipalities. The new legislation will create regulation-making authority and establish a transition board which the province says will oversee the process and ensure it is fair and balanced.

The Ford government’s proposed plan to dissolve Peel Region into three separate municipalities. (Source: Government of Ontario)

The transition board will have up to five members that will be appointed by Clark sometime in 2023. The board will make recommendations to the government in mid-to-late 2024 and the province will table a second bill before the end of that year to address any “outstanding matters.”

Peel Region and the three municipalities will be responsible for providing the board’s compensation.

Premier Doug Ford has vowed that the goal of any changes would be to ensure each of the three lower-tier municipalities have equal or better service.

Mississauga mayor Bonnie Crombie has been pushing for her city to become independent, saying it will save her municipality $1 billion over 10 years and make it more efficient.

Crombie called it “”an historic day for the people of Mississauga and for our future.”

Brampton mayor Patrick Brown has expressed some concern about the fate of his city, with much of the existing infrastructure in the region currently sitting in Mississauga. He claims Mississauga owes Brampton close to a billion dollars as a result and will take it to court if they don’t pay their share back.

The province says it will begin reviewing the ‘upper-tier municipalities’ of Durham, Halton, Niagara, Simcoe, Waterloo and York in the coming weeks. A facilitator will be assigned to assess the community needs in each region and determine of the province should pursue a similar-type dissolution in each case.