Mayor Crombie reveals her last day on the job in Mississauga and bids emotional farewell

An emotional Mayor Bonnie Crombie said goodbye to councillors, other City of Mississauga officials and residents at the outset of this morning’s meeting of council where she revealed her last day on the job will be Jan. 12.

The third-term mayor of Canada’s seventh-largest city won her Liberal Party of Ontario leadership bid two weeks ago and at Wednesday’s council meeting officially turned in her letter of resignation.

She said in the wake of her recent political victory that she wanted to remain in the mayor’s seat until early January to oversee passing of Mississauga’s 2024 budget.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work that we’ve all done here together to grow and to transform our city, the third-largest in the province, into the thriving and urban hub that is the envy of the world,” Crombie, 63, told councillors, city staff and those in attendance inside council chambers.

“The issues that our residents face, from housing to the cost of living to access to health care and education, are the very same ones that millions of Ontarians across this province are also grappling with. So, it’s time for me to take on a new challenge as leader of the Ontario Liberal Party in tackling these issues; these and many more.”

Crombie, who succeeded the iconic Hazel McCallion as mayor in 2014, added she’ll make sure her business in Mississauga is complete before leaving for Queen’s Park.

“I will continue to work with our CAO and our council to ensure a smooth and orderly transition, including passing of the 2024 budget and ensuring the city is set up for success until a new mayor is elected.”

An emotional Crombie then concluded her remarks.

“I’ll never forget my time here as mayor, in this chair…” she said, her voice breaking. “Thanks.

“And I hope to continue to give back and do more for this city, and others, on a provincial scale. I want to thank you all.”

After Crombie’s departure in January, the city will return to its plan of rotating councillors as acting mayor until it can get things in order for a mayoral byelection, which under the Municipal Elections Act must take place no later than summer 2024.

The next municipal election in Ontario takes place on Oct. 26, 2026.

Crombie, who served as a Liberal MP from 2008 to 2011, won a third-straight term in fall 2022, earning 77 per cent of the vote in the 2022 municipal election.

At least two people have already thrown their hats into the ring to succeed Crombie as mayor of Mississauga — councillors Carolyn Parrish and Stephen Dasko.

A recent insauga.com interview with Mayor Bonnie Crombie.