The city of Mississauga will be 50 years old in two years. Created in 1974, the city to the west of Toronto has gradually become a bustling metropolitan, the third largest in Ontario.
“We’re not farmland and fruit trees like we were 50 years ago,” says Bonnie Crombie, the mayor’s office. “We are the economic engine of Ontario.”
And that’s why Crombie wants out of the Peel region, which was also established the same year that Mississauga and Brampton were incorporated as cities.
It’s a proposal that has been raised frequently over the years, including by Crombie’s predecessor, Hazel McCallion.
But in the midst of a mayoral campaign, Crombie’s latest secession bid has drawn attention and is injecting some intrigue into a race that lacks a high-profile challenger.
Crombie says that the separation of the Peel region is long overdue. Since she was elected eight years ago, the 62-year-old has advocated for Mississauga’s independence, which she says will allow her to control her own “destiny” like other Ontario cities, including her neighboring Toronto.
“This is because Mississauga is a mature independent city. The other municipalities that are partners in the Peel Region are at different stages of their growth and development,” he told CP24.com in an interview last week. According to the 2021 census, there are more than 717,000 residents in Mississauga.
For Crombie, ensuring fairness has been a driving factor in pushing for independence, specifically how taxpayer money should be spent.
“I believe we want to invest Mississauga taxpayer dollars directly into our city. Our tax dollars should be invested to support our programs and services, which directly benefit our residents,” he said.
The Peel Region oversees the delivery of various services in Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon. They include police, paramedics, roads and traffic lights, running water, waste management, childcare and social services, and affordable housing.
“We fund 60 percent of the cost of the Peel Region and we only have 50 percent of the vote,” Crombie said.
He adds that his city will save money, an excess of $1 billion over 10 years, if it becomes its own city.
“An independent Mississauga will reduce a lot of duplication, reduce red tape and speed up the application development process. It will also help create jobs. By speeding up development applications, it will help build more housing and more affordable housing.” Crombie said.
“So if we cut red tape and reduce duplication of services regionally, we can accelerate development and build more affordable housing.”
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie attends an announcement at Mississauga Hospital in Mississauga, Ont., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
The Ford government did a review of the regional governments in 2019 and decided not to change the current systems.
Crombie, however, is giving independence a new push as Mississauga residents prepare to go to the polls. She says the need to become independent has never been more apparent during the height of the pandemic. Peel Region was a COVID-19 hotspot during different waves of the pandemic, resulting in business closures.
She says that Mississauga had lower case rates than the other regional municipalities, but the city was affected because they all share a public health officer.
“We would have been open … if we were an independent city with our own public health officer,” he said. “We have outgrown two-tier government and regional governance.”
While she doesn’t have the power to make the exit happen, Crombie says she will continue to push the provincial government to act on her request if she is re-elected mayor again.
“It requires political will in the province. As you know, I cannot make that decision. It is the will of the prime minister and the provincial government,” he said.
Andrew Sancton, professor emeritus of political science at Western University, doesn’t think Mississauga will be leaving the Peel region any time soon. He says the 2019 regional review was the city’s biggest opportunity to break away.
“A lot of people thought there would be big changes after that,” Sancton said in an interview with CP24.com on Monday. “But the government didn’t even publish the report. And given that they went through all of that in 2019 and did nothing, I find it hard to believe that they would turn around and do anything.”
SEVEN OTHER CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR
Seven other candidates hope to unseat Crombie. One of them is Derek Ramkissoon. The longtime business owner says a change is expected in Mississauga at the mayor’s office.
“People want to see a person with vision. They want to see people who can think outside the box, a new face, a new vision,” he said. “And I think we brought that to the table in town.”
Ramkissoon says his experience as a businessman and his time volunteering in prisons, homeless shelters and nursing homes make him the best choice to become Mississauga’s next mayor. Speaking to CP24.com last week, he recounted how he spoke to former Mayor McCallion one afternoon and how she told him that running the city like a business was the key to success.
“It’s the sixth largest city in the country. You have to know when to make decisions, when to spend, when not to spend, when to cut back, when not to cut back, and where to look for places where you can save. And, you know, I have business experience for 20 years, a successful business,” said Ramkissoon.
“I would bring the same experience to the city that I have in business. With the right people around us, we can make the city a prosperous city.”
His election promises include: freezing property taxes during his first two years as mayor, investing funds in youth and children, working to reduce crime, and attracting businesses and tourists through development.
When it comes to moving out of the Peel region, Ramkissoon says he supports the move, but says it needs to be done gradually.
“It’s not easy to do. But you need to put the process and procedures in place to do it. And we’ll be working through those processes and procedures with all members of the city council to see how we can make it effective,” he said. he said she.
“You just don’t want to walk away. You want to make sure everything is done right and maintain that relationship with your neighbors. And we’ll take the same approach, but we have a plan for how to do it.”
He also points to what happened during the pandemic as an example of why the break with Peel should be made.
Ramkissoon adds that the city will continue to grow in the future and that it is time for Mississauga to go it alone.
“We want to prepare to do it, but we are going to need the resources to do it. I think we are in a good position, bringing better business, good paying jobs to the city,” said Ramkissoon. “We are able to do it with people with good vision.”
ALL EYES ON HEALTH CAREERS
Beyond the mayoral race, in which Crombie is widely considered the favorite, the race in Mississauga’s 11 boroughs is being closely watched, especially in three of them.
The incumbents of Districts 2, 9 and 11 have decided not to seek reelection, which means there will be three new faces in the next council term. A variety of candidates, from former members of parliament to relatives of influential politicians, have thrown their names into the hat.
In Ward 2, eight candidates are running to replace appointed councilmember Pat Mullin. She was a ward councilor for 29 years before retiring in 2014. The council voted Mullin in February to fill the seat vacated by former councilwoman Karen Ras.
In 2018, Ras won 92.8% of the vote in the district, which includes the Clarkson and Lorne Park areas. Ras resigned in January this year due to “problems in the workplace”, believed to be related to the key to his car while he was parked in the city hall’s underground garage.
In July, the Mississauga Integrity Commissioner discovered that District 6 Councilman Ron Starr was responsible for the incident. Starr, who is running for re-election, has repeatedly denied his involvement.
Among the eight District 2 candidates are former Ontario Liberal leadership candidate Alvin Tedjo, political stalwart and mother-in-law of Mayor Patrick Brown, Silvia Gualtieri, and community activist Sue Shanley.
Also participating in District 2 are Ayushe Sharman, Gulraiz Bajwa, Chris Cunningham, Syed Jaffrey and Reead Rahamut.
In the north of the city, 11 people are running to replace former Ward 9 Councilor Pat Saito. He has been a member of the city council since she was first elected in 1991. Saito is retiring after nine terms.
A McCallion could replace her on the council. Former Mayor McCallion’s son, Peter, is among the district’s candidates. Also on the ballot will be former Mississauga MPP Bob Delaney and school board trustee Nokha Dakroub.
Meanwhile, the owner of the company, Martin Reid, is the one endorsed by Saito to take his seat. Reid was selected in 2020 as one of Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s Black Caucus members.
The other candidates in the crowded field are Chacko Athanasius, Isaiah Bryant, Scott EW Chapman, Frank Fang, Len Little, Nicholas Rabba and Mohammad Shabbeer.
In the meantime, six hope to become the new District 11 aldermen. Incumbent George Carlson, who was first elected in 2000, decided to call it a race.
Former Mississauga Rep. Brad Butt is one of the candidates running in the district. He is up against company owner Imran Hasan, who finished second to Carlson in 2018.
The other four candidates are Annurag Chawla, Kulbir Gill, Brian Rylance and Kushagr Dutt Sharma. (Click here to see all the candidates running for Mayor, Councilmember, and Trustees in Mississauga.)
“I’m hoping that some young talent, diverse ideas, diverse people will join the council so that we can better reflect the demographics of our city,” Crombie said. According to the 2016 census, 57.2% of Mississauga’s population identified as visible minority. However, Dipika Damerla of District 7 is the only person of color on the council.
That’s why, Crombie says, it’s important for residents to vote on Oct. 24 to choose the people they want to represent them.
“It is vitally important to vote in this election to give the council a new mandate. We are the closest government to the people and we can influence their lives. We build their neighborhood,” he said.
“It is vitally important that people exercise their civic duty, their democratic right and support the kind of government they want to see to help build the kind of neighborhood and city they want in the next 50 years.”