21.3% budget hike for Peel cops prompts resignation of Mississauga mayor from police board

Citing her “responsibility as mayor” to Mississauga taxpayers and their wallets, Mayor Carolyn Parrish resigned on Friday from the Peel Police Service Board as that body is set to increase its latest budget by 21.3 per cent.

“We are in very difficult times with housing costs escalating, an unprecedented food insecurity crisis that sees one in 13 of our residents forced to use food banks (and) seniors struggling to stay in their homes as property taxes rise,” Parrish said in a statement announcing her immediate resignation posted late Friday night on her X account (formerly Twitter).

“In light of the required compliance with PPSB decisions, including supporting a budget increase of 21.3 per cent this year, I have chosen to resign my seat on the Peel Police Service Board to concentrate fully on the needs of the people of our fine city.”

As it moves toward finalizing its budget for 2025, the Region of Peel is looking at a 5.5 per cent increase for Mississauga and Brampton residents on their property tax bills.

The Peel Regional Police budget represents 4.1 per cent of that 5.5 per cent hike.

In making her decision, Parrish said “I cannot wear two hats.”

“My responsibility as mayor is to all of the citizens of Mississauga including preparing budgets at both the city and regional levels and being constantly aware of the impact those budgets will have on the taxes paid by all our residents.”

Parrish joined the Peel police board this past summer after emerging victorious in a mayoral byelection to fill the vacancy left when former Mississauga mayor Bonnie Crombie left to join the Ontario Liberal Party.

The Peel Police Service Board is a civilian agency that oversees Peel police and sets its annual budget. Its members also include Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Region of Peel chair Nando Iannicca, a former longtime Mississauga councillor, in addition to three provincial appointees and other community members.

Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said 600 new police officers are needed immediately to patrol Mississauga and Brampton.

The board’s latest budget deliberations took into consideration word from Peel police brass that Mississauga and Brampton are facing a “crisis” as not enough front-line police officers are available to meet all calls for service.

Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said his organization needs 600 new officers immediately in order to answer the call for residents. That number, though, is not realistic in the short term, the chief noted, so the plan is to add 300 police officers by 2025 and then look to further bolster ranks the following year.

Prior to her resignation, Parrish acknowledged the immediate need to beef up Peel police front-line ranks.

She also asked Duraiappah if the Malton area of Mississauga could get a smaller police sub-station that would be staffed by 30 to 40 officers ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice to where they’re needed in the community.

Peel police Deputy Chief Marc Andrews told the Mississauga mayor they’re looking into such a facility to address the underserved Malton area.