And the idea that Mississauga taxpayer dollars are being used to fund the development of Caledon didn’t sit well with councillors Parrish and Iannicca.

“We’re no longer going to fund the country club known as Caledon,” said Parrish.

Ward 2 Coun. Karen Ras wasn’t as eager to cut the umbilical chord.

“I like this relationship of us being a family and Mississauga being the oldest sibling. At some point, the youngest sibling will be supporting the oldest sibling that’s going to be in a retirement home,” she commented.

Ras added, by 2031, the populations of Caledon and Brampton will exceed Mississauga.

“I want to see the financials behind it… Our tax dollars that are going to the Region are used so they can do a lot of the heavy lifting that we don’t have the experience to do,” said Ras.

Councillor Jim Tovey agreed with Ras, but took the conversation one step further, saying he wants to discuss the creation of the City of Peel.

“We would have area-wide distribution of costs and services, which may or may not save us money. We don’t know. I want to see the business case.”

“I fundamentally disagree,” said Parrish.

“The demographics are different, the budget process is different, our planning approach is different. We are at different stages of growth. Caledon should be growing up with Orangeville and Dufferin,” said Parrish

Tovey cautioned, Caledon is going to be Mississauga’s “food basket” one day and that severing ties is premature.

Crombie argued the significance of optics: “This is our identity as a City. This is who we are.

“Should the City of Mississauga not control its own destiny?”

The motion for a report coincides with governance discussions that will begin Thursday with a facilitator who has been hired by the Region. Crombie will sit on a task force assigned to holding initial discussions and brainstorming proposed changes to regional council.

Crombie said her motion to have a City report in the works will help clarify Mississauga’s position and provide some facts and figures to back up any proposed changes surrounding a possible separation from Peel.