The provincial government is reviewing the regional government system in Ontario. Mississauga’s mayor, Bonnie Crombie, argues yes, now is the perfect time to right a historical wrong and allow Canada’s sixth largest city to be independent of Peel Region. The mayor of neighbouring Brampton, Patrick Brown, argues no, the costs involved in dissolution of the region are unfair to his taxpayers.

After 45 years, it’s time for Mississauga to leave the Region of Peel and become an independent city. The regional government model in Peel is broken beyond repair, and it’s time for change. Now. Regional government is holding Mississauga back from achieving its true potential as a world-class city.

As an independent city, Mississauga would finally have full control over its future and all decision making. It would be able to deliver services more efficiently and effectively, by reducing waste, by eliminating the duplication that exists between two levels of government (there’s no need for two planning or engineering departments doing the same work). And, it would see Mississauga taxpayers finally treated fairly and with respect for the first time in decades. Separation would result in better government.

Today, Mississauga residents are over-contributing $85 million per year to subsidize Brampton and Caledon – money that should stay in Mississauga to be spent on our priorities. This situation is not new. In 2004, when Mayor Hazel McCallion sought separation, the number was $32 million. Every year, Mississauga’s taxpayers are forced to pay more and more to the Region. Enough is enough.

Mississauga has consistently provided over 60 per cent of the region’s funding, and at times as high as 77 per cent. Yet, despite providing the lion’s share of the funding and having more than 50 per cent of the population, Mississauga doesn’t get an equitable, fair say at the decision-making table. With five regional councillors for 70,000 people (that’s the size of one Ward in Mississauga!), one vote from Caledon is worth four times that of Mississauga or Brampton. This is not fair or democratic.

It’s not surprising that Brampton and Caledon, and the Region of Peel are advocating for the status quo and for Mississauga to remain part of the region, they only stand to continue to benefit. Every study shows Mississauga would be better off by becoming independent, experiencing significant financial gains.

The facts don’t lie.

Ask yourself: if Mississauga wasn’t so important to the Region of Peel, why would Brampton and Caledon be so adamant we stay? If, as some claim, Brampton and Caledon are paying for growth in Mississauga, then why not let us leave?

The answer is simple: Mississauga has paid its fair share, and much more, for close to 50 years, and if we leave the Region of Peel, Brampton and Caledon will finally have to stand on their own two feet and be honest with their taxpayers. They will need to find a way to continue to deliver the services their residents have come to rely on without using Mississauga’s tax dollars. They’ve been along for the ride for far too long.

THE BIG DEBATE: For more opposing view columns from Toronto Star contributors, click here.

Mississauga is the third largest city in Ontario and sixth largest in Canada. Home to almost 800,000 people and more than 91,000 businesses, Mississauga is a global destination, which some have described as a “modern economic miracle.” Our local economy is strong and we are outpacing Ontario’s in terms of job growth. We have a distinct identity from other cities and a strong sense of civic pride.

So, our ask is as fair as it is simple: treat Mississauga like other independent, single-tier cities in Ontario like Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Thunder Bay, Guelph, London, Windsor, and even Dryden. Yes, Dryden, Ont., with a population of 7,750 people, has more powers than the City of Mississauga.

It’s frustrating that Mississauga has to ask Brampton and Caledon for permission at the region to act on our priorities – things like planning, development, and building affordable housing. Imagine if Toronto had to ask another city for permission to build housing or to proceed with developing land. It would be absurd, yet this is the daily reality for Mississauga.

As mayor, it’s my job to do what’s in the best interests of my city and the taxpayers of Mississauga. We have done our homework, developed a strong business case and engaged our residents, the majority of whom are in support.

Ultimately, the final decision rests with the province. I know Premier Ford is listening and that he’s open to the idea of Mississauga becoming an independent city.

Premier Ford, we’re here, we’re ready, and we’re waiting.

Bonnie Crombie is the mayor of Mississagua.

Last fall when I ran to be mayor of Brampton, I campaigned on a platform of a municipal tax freeze. We needed to become more tax competitive with our neighbours. Brampton is the only large municipality across Canada to deliver a property tax freeze this year for its residents.

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Mississauga is now threatening our residents by implementing skyrocketing tax hikes by advocating a divorce from the Region of Peel. I will not stand for this. My residents have had enough of property tax hikes.

Since 1974, when the Region of Peel was created, council members have worked in co-operation to provide regional services (police, paramedics, public health, waste management, water, Transhelp, social housing, roads, social services, and long-term care).

The region was created by Bill Davis, arguably the most successful premier in our province’s history. This former Progressive Conservative premier had wisdom in this creation as it put taxpayers first. The region was recognized in January with the Excellence Canada Platinum Award for outstanding achievements in system management and public service delivery.

In January, the Government of Ontario announced a review of the eight regional municipalities in the province. The purpose of the review is “to help ensure that these municipalities are working effectively and efficiently and can continue to provide the vital services that communities depend on.”

I believe there are more pressing issues at Queen’s Park than regional governance review for our provincial politicians to spend their time on. For starters, I am more concerned about the lack of hospital beds in our city, the cuts to education, the lack of resources for children with autism, the need for funding to combat guns and gangs and the need for infrastructure funding to move people, goods and services. These are important priorities for Brampton.

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Although this is a process initiated by the province, we needed to engage residents on their views on whether we split, merge or stay with the Region of Peel. We have hosted a telephone town hall with over 5,000 residents participating, we are soliciting feedback on our website and we hosted a town-hall meeting at city hall, which was streamed on Facebook. During our telephone town hall, 66 per cent of residents supported the status quo.

I want to assure taxpayers I am committed to improving the quality and reducing the cost and overlap of municipal services. I am open to any efficiencies that will eliminate duplication. There is only one taxpayer. Our city’s recommendation to Premier Doug Ford will be based on evidence and factual data.

To justify its position to separate, the City of Mississauga was using outdated data from a report completed in 2003. A lot has changed in the past 16 years. Brampton’s population has nearly doubled while Mississauga’s growth has slowed dramatically. We cost-shared the costs of its previous development; it would not be equitable if Mississauga did not do the same for Brampton.

I need to be convinced that separation will not lead to massive tax hikes for our residents. Earlier this year, Deloitte, the Region of Peel’s auditor, was asked to undertake a financial analysis of service delivery models to identify the impacts associated with:

Amalgamation of the local municipalities with the region.

Dissolution of the region (establishing three independent municipalities in Peel).

Deloitte’s findings will cause sticker shock for all taxpayers in Peel Region.

Amalgamation will require additional tax levies of $676 million that will need to be raised when compared to the status quo over the next 10 years. Dissolution will ultimately require additional tax levies of $1.081 billion that will need to be raised when compared to the status quo over the next 10 years.

The Ford government says it wants to reduce the tax burden for Ontario families. The Deloitte report clearly shows that pooling resources for policing, water treatment and other regional services saves residents tax dollars.

The report says in a crystal clear manner that taxes will skyrocket in Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon if we don’t share the costs of these services. As it stands, the dissolution of Peel Region will be costly for taxpayers.

I hope the Ford government looks out for the “little guy” and does not give us an unnecessary tax increase.

Patrick Brown is the mayor of Brampton.

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