Doug Ford considering reversal of dissolving Peel Region: sources

Doug Ford’s provincial government is reconsidering its plan to dissolve Peel Region, sources tell CityNews.

A formal announcement is expected, likely later in the week.

In May, the Ford government tabled legislation to turn Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon into independent cities and towns.

A month later, the Ontario government passed Bill 112, also known as the Hazel McCallion Act. The province aimed to complete the dissolution process by Jan. 1, 2025.

The province appointed a facilitator to review the community needs of Durham, Halton, Niagara, Simcoe, Waterloo and York and determine if it should pursue a similar-type dissolution for those regions.

Caledon mayor Annette Groves urged the province to rethink its plan to dissolve Peel Region.

“At this time, there are too many unknown costs to fully understand the true impact on taxpayers if Peel dissolves,” Groves said in a statement to CityNews.

“It is also uncertain how dissolution will negatively impact the town’s ability to reach its housing pledge and the provincial goal to build 1.5 million new homes.”

Brampton mayor Patrick Brown has expressed some concern about the fate of his city, with much of the existing infrastructure in the region sitting in Mississauga. Brown claims Mississauga owes Brampton nearly $1 billion and will take the city to court if they don’t pay their share back.

New Ontario Liberal Party leader Bonnie Crombie had long sought an independent Mississauga after taking over the fight from her predecessor, Hazel McCallion.

Crombie, who was at Queen’s Park for her first legislature appearance on Tuesday, said she’ll resign as mayor of Mississauga in the new year after she gets the city’s budget passed.

Ford and the conservatives have been attacking Crombie since she won the Liberal leadership, criticizing her housing record and painting her as an elite who is out of touch with voters.

With files from The Canadian Press