Local government | May 23, 2019
The independent financial analysis conducted by Ernst & Young (EY) confirms that it is both feasible and financially beneficial for Mississauga to be a single-tier city.
The EY Report: Financial Impact Analysis of Service Delivery Models was prepared in consultation with and signed off by the four Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) of the Cities of Mississauga and Brampton, Town of Caledon and Region of Peel. It was commissioned as an independent financial analysis of service delivery models for amalgamation and dissolution as part of the provincial Regional Government Review.
“The EY report focused on what is feasible and reasonable in terms of governance and service delivery for both the amalgamation and dissolution scenarios. In fact, the report is consistent with the City’s corporate report released in March where staff estimated that Mississauga was subsidizing Brampton and Caledon by as much as $85 million per year,”
said Janice Baker, City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer.
The EY report was submitted on May 21 to the Government of Ontario’s special advisors as part of their review on regional governance and was presented to Region of Peel Council on May 23.
“We heard from citizens that more financial information was needed. This report helps answer many of those questions. The EY report provides substantive financial analysis including how assets would be allocated,” explained Baker. “With the report, we have a financial blue-print that estimates our one-time costs for transition and for service delivery if we became independent.”
On March 27, Mississauga City Council adopted a motion, approving in principle that Mississauga become independent from the Region of Peel as its preferred option, subsequent to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s Regional Government Review. The Ministry invited online public consultation until May 21.
For its part, Mississauga hosted a Resident Town Hall on April 8, as well as meetings in various Wards. Residents were encouraged to get information on the City’s Regional Government Review web page, show their support for independence by mailing a postage-paid postcard to Premier Ford and provide their comments through the Province’s online channel.
A decision by the Government of Ontario on the topic of regional government is expected in late summer.