Mississauga mayor challenges Brampton counterpart to back up claims that Peel split is a bad financial move

An angry Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie has challenged her Brampton counterpart to publicly back up his claims that the dissolution of the Region of Peel is a terrible financial plan that should be scrapped immediately by the provincial government.

Crombie’s blistering rebuke of Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his assertion that the breakup of Peel’s three municipalities — approved earlier this year (Hazel McCallion Act) by the Ontario government and set to take effect Jan. 1, 2025 — will cost taxpayers $1.3 billion over 10 years came at a hastily-called news conference at Mississauga city hall late Wednesday afternoon.

Amid media reports and speculation that surfaced on Tuesday that Premier Doug Ford and his government have recently developed cold feet and are considering reversing course on their plan to dissolve the Region of Peel, Crombie and several of her councillors stepped to the podium to insist the dissolution deal makes the best financial sense for taxpayers in Mississauga and elsewhere in Peel.

Mississauga’s third-term mayor, who early in the new year will leave Canada’s seventh-largest city to become leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, claims Brown is basing his information on a 2019 consultant’s report that was purposely skewed toward keeping Peel and its member municipalities Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon intact.

“Dissolving Peel Region and eliminating an additional layer of government will allow all of us — Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon — to become more efficient, reduce confusion among residents, streamline the delivery of services and ultimately save (money for) residents and businesses,” Crombie, flanked by councillors Dipika Damerla, Alvin Tedjo and Joe Horneck, told reporters.

“Yet, as of late, we’ve been hearing (Brampton) Mayor Patrick Brown spout unfounded and highly questionable claims that dissolution could cost taxpayers an extra $1.3 billion over 10 years. Where did he get these numbers from, exactly?”

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Mayors Patrick Brown and Bonnie Crombie have disagreed from the outset on Peel dissolution.

If Brown is gleaning information from any updated or new report, he needs to produce it to the public for proper scrutiny, Crombie asserted.

She noted that the initial 2019 consultant’s report produced by Canadian firm Deloitte was “rightly dismissed by Peel council because of dubious methodology, false and, frankly, outrageous assumptions.

“It was created to justify the existence of the Region of Peel,” Crombie continued. “It was not independent and it did not look at different scenarios — amalgamation, separation or status quo … updating the Deloitte report on the same foundations will only produce the same skewed results. The numbers couldn’t be validated then, and they can’t be validated today.”

Wondering aloud why her Brampton counterpart seems to want to “revel in the status quo,” Crombie asked, “Why is Mayor Brown so afraid to lead an independent Brampton, a city he claims is one of the fastest growing that will soon be home to over a million people?

“Is he not ready to lead an independent city? Does he not have a vision?” the Mississauga mayor continued.

She then challenged Brown directly to back up his claims.

“It’s never too late to do the right thing by releasing your report so residents and the media can scrutinize your claims directly,” Crombie said.

The Mississauga mayor, who succeeded the iconic Hazel McCallion in 2014, then turned her attention to Premier Ford.

“I also ask the Premier and the minister to not make any rash decisions based on faulty numbers and a report that no one has seen,” said Crombie. “Taxpayers expect us to make transparent, evidence-based decisions … it’s how Hazel McCallion ran things here. She did her homework and made decisions based on evidence.

“As someone who considers Hazel a mentor, I’d expect the Premier to do the same.”

Ford is reportedly planning to provide an update on the status of Peel’s dissolution later this week.

Crombie said she hopes the “swirling” rumours this week turn out to be just that and not an accurate reflection of how Ford is leaning.

“It goes without saying if this is truly the direction the province is headed in, I’m deeply disappointed and, frankly, angry for the waste of time and resources,” Crombie said.

“But if there’s something the Premier and I can agree upon, it’s that we need to deliver for taxpayers and local government must be efficient and effective. Walking back the Hazel McCallion Act would be a tough one for the Premier and our local MPPs to explain to Mississauga residents and future generations who will have to continue to bear the burden of sending their property tax dollars to other municipalities.”

Crombie concluded her remarks by noting that while the Ontario Legislature is on break until February, “the Hazel McCallion Act remains in full force and effect today. We need certainty for the thousands of staff at the Region of Peel including Peel police and paramedics who are sitting at the edge of their seats. They deserve answers and they deserve them immediately, as do our residents.”

Brown, meanwhile, has remained steadfast in his characterization of the Peel dissolution plan as a “financial train wreck” that could result in a 38 per cent tax hike for taxpayers.

He has been opposed to dissolution since it was announced in May, raising immediate concerns about what be believes will be the cost to taxpayers.