Mississauga is well on its way to becoming a “single-tier” municipality.
On Wednesday, the city’s mayor Bonnie Crombie gained the support of council to ask the Ontario government to separate from Peel Region, which also includes Brampton and Caledon.
READ: The Exchange District Will Completely Transform Downtown Mississauga
“The City of Mississauga is the third largest city in Ontario and sixth largest in Canada, and the largest municipality in Ontario that is part of a two-tier, regional governance model,” reads the motion documents, which Crombie shared on Twitter.
With nearly 800,000 residents, Mississauga provides 59 per cent of the funds used to grow other cities in Peel Region, the motion noted. Crombie argues, that money should be used to fund its own ever-growing population.
READ: Mississauga Could See Nearly 50 New Condos In The Next 10 Years
“Our money should go towards Mississauga priorities. We must be able to govern our affairs and set our vision without interference,” Crombie tweeted.
If Mississauga gains independence, that means it would be governed municipally, without having to answer to a second regional government system.
Despite the fact that city council voted in favour of this idea, some members of the public have voiced their concerns.
READ: Property Brothers Want To Renovate GTA Residences Into Dream Homes
On Twitter, some have wondered how Mississauga will fund their police force and other services, while others wondered what this would do to the city’s relationship with Peel Region.
This isn’t the first time Mississauga’s independence became a hot topic. Former mayor Hazel McCallion has campaigned for separation since the early 2000s, but was never able to get provincial support, CTV reports.
“We see cities like Windsor, London, Guelph, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay... they're single-tier, they're independent,” Crombie argued in a CBC interview. “Why shouldn't Mississauga have the ability to control our own destiny as well?"
READ: New Home Sales In The GTA Are On The Rise, According To New Data
The city council’s vote puts Mississauga one step closer to independence, but the city still plans to have a community meeting in April before confirming their position. A number of administrative decisions would then have to be made, and the separation would have to get approved by the province before becoming official.
