Ontario Construction News staff writer
Updated independent data has confirmed that dissolving the Region of Peel would create serious financial hardship and uncertainty, the City of Brampton said in a news release.
The claim is based on information from Deloitte that updates 2019 data produced for the Region of Peel and combined with inflation and high interest rates, the City of Brampton says all three lower-tier municipalities would see “catastrophic financial impacts,” if the region is broken up, including an additional $1.31 billion in operating costs and a one time tax increase of 38 per cent.
The report also highlighted the dissolution could “risk and negatively impact the stewardship of assets and services” including essential and critical emergency services.
“We never asked for the Region of Peel to be dissolved. We have always asked for redundancy to be removed. The independent financial analysis clearly shows the net result would be a financial disaster for Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon,” said Mayor Patrick Brown. “The Province of Ontario and the transition board really need to revisit this decision and take a long, hard look at the data collected by their officials.
“The dissolution financial train wreck would be an albatross around the necks of taxpayers in Peel Region.”
Ontario introduced Bill 112, Hazel McCallion Act (Peel Dissolution) in May, with the intent to make Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga single-tier municipalities and dissolve the Region of Peel by January 1, 2025.
Earlier this year, the Province of Ontario established a Transition Board to help ensure an effective, efficient and fair outcome for the three municipalities that prioritizes frontline services and workers, respect for taxpayers and seamless delivery of the vital services that communities depend on.