Peel mayors at odds after release of Deloitte financial analysis on regional governance

Thestar.com
April 10, 2019
Graeme Frisque

A recent financial analysis report by Deloitte Canada released by Peel Region council is causing controversy among the mayors of Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon as the three communities try to predict the ramifications of a municipal breakup.

Members of regional council -- made up of city councillors from those three lower-tier municipalities -- voted last month to release the expansive report.

The Deloitte analysis did nothing to alter the views of Missauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, left, or Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown. Crombie wants Mississauga out of Peel, while Brown doesn’t believe Mississauga can now skip out on paying regional funds after years of growth.

Deloitte’s report, which Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie called “a secret report” her city was neither aware of nor agreed to, hasn’t brought any more clarity or agreement in an ongoing back-and-forth in the media between Crombie and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.

The region’s Deloitte analysis concluded keeping the region as is would be the cheapest option for taxpayers across the region, while dissolution would be the most costly, at least in the short term.

Part of the report also included a review of an earlier financial analysis by the City of Mississauga, claiming Mississauga subsidizes its regional counterparts to the tune of $85 million per year, and would be better off exiting the 45-year regional partnership.

The two reports are contradictory in many regards, but both mayors are sticking with their original positions.

Crombie wants out, and Brown doesn’t believe Mississauga can use regional funds through decades of growth and then just leave without paying up now that it is Brampton and Caledon’s turn to grow.

“Right now, Mississauga is only looking at its contribution this year, not looking at the totality. For years, when Mississauga was a growing community, when they needed regional roads built, when they needed infrastructure built, Brampton taxpayers subsidized it,” said Brown last month.

“The Deloitte report shows Mississauga’s numbers were flawed. It specifically says that. I am glad the truth is out,” he added after the report’s release this month.

Crombie sent an email -- the Mississauga News obtained a copy of it -- to Peel Region chair Nando Iannicca shortly after regional council voted to make the Deloitte documents public, accusing him of circumventing council by commissioning the report.

“I’ve asked that this correspondence be placed on the regional agenda for April 11. Like all members of Mississauga council, I was shocked last week when I found out that … the appointed regional chair commissioned what we now know is a $325,000 report,” Crombie said in an interview, adding the Deloitte report changes nothing in her mind.

“Our position remains constant, our position remains the same. We intend to move forward with our motion in principle,” she added.

On March 20, Mississauga council passed a motion in principle asking the provincial government to pass legislation making Canada’s sixth-largest city independent, which Crombie said has already been delivered to the province.

Brampton and Caledon councils have yet to decide and vote on their official positions as it relates to the provincial government’s ongoing review.

However, Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson did offer some thoughts about the Deloitte report during an interview.

“I think the Deloitte report is pretty accurate,” he said.

“They have the actual information. I know Mississauga, what they really want is full independence. But at the expense (of) the Region of Peel and all taxpayers, it’s going to hurt Mississauga."

“I think (Mississauga should) be careful what you ask for, because it may come back to bite you,” he added.