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Information about regional government review from the City’s 2004 Separated City campaign, One City, One Voice.
The following information is archived. It remains online for reference only.
In 2004 the Minister of Municipal Affairs announced the appointment of the Provincial Facilitator to address the issues raised regarding the City of Mississauga separating from the Region of Peel.
Oct 30, 2013
Today at Mississauga City Council, staff presented highlights from the residents’ survey gauging attitudes towards the City of Brampton’s proposed request for additional representation on Region of Peel Council as related to a report presented by the City Manager to Council on October 9.
An online survey of 567 Mississauga residents was conducted between October 15 and October 24, 2013. The findings of the survey indicated that:
56% of residents were not familiar with the composition of Regional Council.
Respondents were clear that they do not want to pay any more for Regional Council with 81% saying they do not think taxpayers should pay any more for Regional Council, even if it grows in size.
Residents also felt strongly (68%) that if changes are made to the representation on Regional Council, they should be made on the basis of representation by population.
Residents also generally want one vote per councillor (61%), as well as no veto powers (68%) for any of the municipalities on Regional Council.
Of the four principles presented to residents, maintaining the “status quo” (40%) and “representation by population” (39%) had the strongest support.
“Clearly, residents don’t understand Regional Council nor do they want to pay for more government,” said Mayor Hazel McCallion. “Once again this raises the question about the viability, necessity and effectiveness of regional government for Mississauga. There is inefficiency and costly duplication and Mississauga as the 6th largest city in Canada can and should stand on its own. If we want to change it, we need a full review of the structure.”
The results of the survey support the principles endorsed by Mississauga City Council and the recommendations of the Region of Peel Task Force for a more fulsome consideration and public discussion before moving forward with the City of Brampton’s request to change the composition of Regional Council. It also raises the issue of the long-term sustainability of regional government in Peel.
Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the “recommendation contained in the “Report of the 2013 Task Force on the Election of Regional Chair and Brampton Representation” that regional staff report to Region of Peel Council early in 2015 to initiate a review of regional governance, including, first, the structure and necessity of regional government, and if regional government is still viable, then secondly, the composition of Regional Council, to be completed before June 1, 2016 in order to allow sufficient time to implement any changes by December 31, 2017 for the 2018 Municipal Election.”
As Canada’s sixth largest city, Mississauga is home to 741,000 residents and more than 54,000 businesses, including more than 60 Fortune 500 companies with Canadian head offices or major divisional head offices. A diverse, progressive and award-winning municipality located on the shores of Lake Ontario in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area, Mississauga is “Leading Today for Tomorrow” by focusing on delivering services, implementing its Strategic Plan, delivering value for money and maintaining infrastructure.
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Ivana Di Millo
Director, Communications
Phone: 905-615-3200 x5047
TTY: 905-896-5151
Email: ivana.dimillo@mississauga.ca
Oct 09, 2013
At today’s Mississauga Council meeting, staff presented four options to address the City of Brampton’s request to have additional representation on Region of Peel Council resulting in an increase to a total of 28 members.
Currently, the Regional Council consists of 24 elected representatives plus the Regional Chair with Mississauga at 12 seats, Brampton at seven and Caledon at five. On September 16, 2013, a Brampton delegation requested Regional Council support a request to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to add four City of Brampton Councillors to Regional Council.
“This is the second time in a decade that a request to change governance in the Region of Peel is under consideration,” noted Janice Baker, City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer. “In 2005, the Province enacted legislation following a review by Justice Adams that saw two more seats for Mississauga and one for Brampton while Caledon remained unchanged. Therefore, we felt it prudent to revisit this historical data and outline Mississauga’s preference for any changes based on a set of principles of fairness and representation by population.”
The staff report outlined governance options based on:
1. Status quo – Maintain Regional Council as is and undertake a more thorough review of this issue to be completed in 2016;
2. Representation by Population – Adjust Regional Council for a true representation by population (Mississauga and Brampton seats would increase; Caledon seats would decrease based on actual population figures);
3. Modified Representation by Population (Increasing Brampton’s seats and decreasing Caledon’s seats over time to move closer to representation by population);
4. Implementing Justice Adams recommendation, including weighted voting (Total number of Regional Council seats would increase, offset by complex voting system).
As well, staff presented principles for a governance model based on: efficiency and cost (keeping the size of Regional Council at 25); fairness (not allowing one municipality to have an effective veto over the others by holding a majority of the total number of Regional seats); and representation by population (supporting any changes to Regional representation that would be closer to this standard).
Following discussion, Council directed staff to consult with the public via a survey explaining why the change in Regional Council was being proposed and what the impact would be. Survey findings are expected to be ready for Council’s review by the end of October.
As Canada’s sixth largest city, Mississauga is home to 741,000 residents and more than 54,000 businesses, including more than 60 Fortune 500 companies with Canadian head offices or major divisional head offices. A diverse, progressive and award-winning municipality located on the shores of Lake Ontario in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area, Mississauga is “Leading Today for Tomorrow” by focusing on delivering services, implementing its Strategic Plan, delivering value for money and maintaining infrastructure.
-30-
Ivana Di Millo
Director, Communications
Phone: 905-615-3200 x5047
TTY: 905-896-5151
Email: ivana.dimillo@mississauga.ca
Taking Steps Forward
June 7, 2004
Achieving full independence for Mississauga could be implemented by making critical changes in the short term which would ultimately lead to a Separated City. Staff have prepared a plan that would address the three main issues but allow a Services Board or a Regional Council to continue providing some services where no overlap exists.
Citizens’ Response to Pledge Cards and Environics Poll
June 3, 2004
The ‘Mayor’s Update’ newsletter was delivered to all Mississauga households during the week of April 26th, 2004. It included a pledge card for residents to show their support to City Council for Mississauga becoming a Separated City from the Region of Peel. As of May 31st, 2004, over 20,000 pledge votes have been tabulated.
Council Report – Citizen’s Response to Pledge Cards
Ward Boundaries
May 31, 2004
Prior to reviewing possible changes to the Mississauga ward structure, it is important to consider Mississauga’s regional representation. Region of Peel Council consists of 21 members plus the Regional Chair. Representation includes the mayor from each municipality, nine council members from Mississauga, five council members from Brampton and four council members from Caledon. Therefore, the total representation from each municipality is ten from Mississauga, six from Brampton and five from Caledon.