Peel region ponders 2019 budget in wake of provincial review

'Carry on as it’s business as usual,' Peel CAO David Szwarc says

Mississauga.com
Jan 27, 2019
Marta Marychuck

With a provincial review of regional government looming, a cloud of uncertainty hung over recent budget talks at Peel Region, as councillors questioned whether they should approve funding for new and enhanced services.

Budget talks resumed Thursday, Jan. 24, with $2.5 billion earmarked for operating costs in the coming year and $1.3 billion for capital spending on larger long-term projects, such as roads, water and waste management.

“Carry on as it’s business as usual,” said Peel CAO David Szwarc.

The long-term care facility in Brampton is well underway, Szwarc said. That building needs to be replaced regardless of governance.

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“Nothing in this budget is a short-term bad investment.”

“I don’t know what the future will bring,” added Peel Regional Chair Nando Iannicca. “But I’m not going to govern my people like they are in a state of lingering death.”

Regardless of what the province decides about the governance structure in Peel, Iannicca said people will still need to turn on the water to brush their teeth, flush their toilets and have their garbage picked up.

“We’re in it for the long haul, until someone officially tells me we are not,” said Iannicca.

Here is a list of what staff are requesting for regionally-controlled programs:

Early Growth and Development -- $15.9 million, a $2.5 million increase from 2018. In 2018, 58,000 children and their parents/caregivers participated in EarlyON programs.

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Housing Support -- $115.4 million, up $600,000 from 2018, and a $4.8 million capital budget. In 2018, 11,568 households received housing subsidies and 903 households were placed in homes from the waiting list.

Homelessness Support -- $11.8 million, down $1.3 million from 2018 and a $17.6 million 10-year capital investment. In 2018, there were 13,519 visits to regional shelters and 1,310 youth were helped in youth emergency shelters.

Income Support -- $22.7 million, down $800,000 from 2018. In 2018, 19,059 households received income support through Ontario Works.

Employment Support -- $3.3 million, up $600,000 from 2018. In 2018, 3,168 people received employment support help, with $957 being the average earnings per month.

Community Investment -- $16.7 million, up $6.2 million from 2018. Services include core funding to nonprofit organization to improve services; advancing outcomes of the Peel Poverty Reduction Strategy; and, help developing community hubs.

Child Care -- $7.3 million, down $1.1 million from 2018 and a $4.4 million 10-year capital investment. In 2018, 45,637 licensed child care centre received funding support and 16,886 fee subsidies were provided to low-income families.

Peel Regional Police -- $423.1 million, up $21.6 million from 2018 and a $403 million 10-year capital plan. Although police are not regionally controlled, services are funded by region with grants from the province. It remains to be seen whether the province will fund $17.9 million in grants for provincially-mandated services, such as court security/prisoner transport and Provincial Anti-violence Intervention Strategy.

Budget discussions resume Thursday, Jan. 31, at the Region of Peel Headquarters, located at 10 Peel Centre Dr. Brampton.