Opinion Martin Regg Cohn: Why Doug Ford is happy to split up Peel Region
In 2023, Doug Ford wrought separation for Peel.from their regional crucible in Peel, the current premier ― like his Progressive Conservative predecessor decades ago ― is placing a big bet. But there’s a high-stakes delivery date just ahead of coming elections ― for Ford and all the players.
This is big news for two very big cities. Yes, Brampton was born in suburban sprawl and Mississauga was conceived in cookie cutter subdivisions. This day has been a long time coming ― since the day Peel Region came into existence nearly half a century ago. In 1974, then-premier Bill Davis oversaw it while Mississauga’s future mayor Hazel McCallion opposed it.
Her argument is that Mississauga remains Brampton’s big sister, measured by economic prowess and population. Yet it must go cap in hand to Peel’s regional council ― where it holds less than half the votes while bankrolling most of the spending.Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown is demanding “north of $1 billion” as compensation for shared water treatment and other facilities left behind in Mississauga territory.
That makes for a complicated conversation with no time to lose ― and no one willing to lose money. Which is why the premier, for his part, has promised that everyone will be “made whole.” By birthing a stand-alone Brampton and Mississauga, he is also midwifing future “strong mayor” powers for these two sizable cities, which he previously conferred upon Toronto and Ottawa amid much controversy. Toronto had long sought such authority, but now has cold feet because it comes from Ford’s hand; Mississauga and Brampton, brimming with ambition, have no such inhibition.
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