Ontario to break up Peel Region, source says
The Ontario government will announce plans to dissolve the Region of Peel on Thursday, a source tells CTV News Toronto.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark is expected to hold a news conference with the mayors of the three Peel municipalities, the source said.
The move is expected to pave the way for both Mississauga and Brampton to become independent cities, however it is unclear what the fate of Caledon will be.
Mayor Annette Groves told CTV News Toronto Wednesday night that she has yet been briefed about the proposal. However, she has been asked to be at Queen's Park for 1 p.m. on Thursday.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The news comes just days after Premier Doug Ford told reporters that he is “for an independent Mississauga.”
Ford also said last week that an announcement on the future of the cities that make up Peel Region was coming “very, very soon.”
In November, the Ford government appointed facilitators to assess the regional governments in Durham, Halton, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York and determine “the best mix of roles and responsibilities between the upper and lower-tier municipalities in those regions.”
“I've always been for an independent Mississauga. You can't have a city the size of Mississauga, close to 800,000 people and it's continuing to grow, being tied into other jurisdictions,” Ford said Monday. “So we're going to continue supporting Mississauga. My job is to make sure the people in Mississauga get the best services that they have and that we continue to enhance the services.”
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie has long called for Mississauga’s separation from Peel Region and has suggested such a move would save taxpayers $1 billion over the next decade.
However, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has said that his city needs to be “made whole” in the event of a dissolution of the Region of Peel.
“There are some positive aspects of it,” he told CP24 on Wednesday evening. “I don't see value in having two planning departments and two legal departments. So I'm not opposed to the principle of getting rid of the Region of Peel. My contention has been that if Mississauga wants to leave and have a divorce that they have to pay the bill.”
Brown said that regional infrastructure, such as water treatment plants and police headquarters for the region have all been established in Mississauga. The city, Brown argues, owes Brampton between $1 billion and $2 billion. A source have told the Canadian Press the province will be appointing a committee to look at the costs of separation.
“The premier has told me unequivocally that we will not be shafted,” he said. “What is owed to Brampton will be paid.”
Crombie has scheduled a press conference for 3:30 p.m. alongside members of council.
With files from the Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.