On May 18, 2023, the Ontario government introduced the Hazel McCallion Act, which would, if passed, begin the process to dissolve the Regional Municipality of Peel and make the municipalities of Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon independent by January 1, 2025.

These municipalities currently have approximately 1.5 million residents and are expected to grow to over 2 million by 2041.

This proposed legislation honours the legacy of Peel Region’s longest-serving mayor, the late Hazel McCallion, who was central to the region’s remarkable growth during her 36 years as Mayor of Mississauga and a long-time advocate for greater autonomy for her city.

It’s believed that this plan would help ensure the continuation of high-quality services for taxpayers while improving the efficiency of local governments as they prepare for future growth, including by making good on their municipal housing pledges.

If passed, the province would establish a transition board of up to five people to facilitate this change in local government and, if needed, oversee the financial affairs of Peel and its lower-tier municipalities to help ensure prudent financial stewardship until dissolution.

The dissolution process would provide these fast-growing municipalities with the tools needed to plan for population growth and to meet their housing pledges which collectively total 246,000 new homes by 2031 – 120,000 in Mississauga, 113,000 in Brampton, and 13,000 in Caledon.

It is anticipated that this legislation will pass in the coming weeks at which time the names of transition board members will be released and the process will begin.