Why Caledon's mayor says it feels like the child of divorce amid Peel's breakup

Peel Region is splitting up by 2025, but for the town of Caledon, the separation isn't something it wanted to see.

On Thursday, Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark tabled legislation to begin the dissolution of the region, making Mississauga, Brampton and Caledonstandalone citiesby the beginning of 2025.

Caledon, by far the smallest member of the Peel family with a population of under 77,000 as of the 2021 census, has always maintained the Peel Region system was serving it well.

Caledon Mayor Annette Groves likened the situation to a divorce at a news conference Thursday.

"We know that now there is a divorce happening, and now we just have to figure out how we ensure that the children are not impacted," saidGroves.

"It isn't something that we wanted, but at the end of the day, we're here with this decision today and I think we just have to work with it and do the best we can."

Clark says he will ensure all municipalities, which currently share considerable infrastructure and several services, are "made whole" amid the dissolution. But for Caledon leadership and residents, questions remain what the process and result will look like.

Hopes for some resources to remain shared

The province's next step is to appoint a transition board to monitor any financial or contractual moves made by local governments in the years leading up to dissolution and make recommendations on things like labour relations and property tax changes.

Clark has said it's possible the three municipalities might still share some services following dissolution.

Groves saysmany questions remain including what becomes of water, wastewater and road maintenancein Caledon, but that working through those questionsis the transition board's purpose.

WATCH | Groves on Peel Region's impending divorce:

Caledon mayor says she's confident Peel Region 'divorce' can work for all residents

1 year ago

Duration 1:46

Caledon Mayor Annette Groves says her community is the 'child' in the Peel Region split, but has 'every confidence' that all of the region's residents will be looked after in the end. 'I had a great divorce, I didn't even use a lawyer,' she told reporters.

The mayor says she's hopeful some services, such as water, will continue to be shared.

"I think the opportunities are there to share utilities," Groves said.

Longtime Caledon resident and community advocate Cheryl Connors says she's worried how her small community will pay for anything it will needgoing forward.

While the split has been advocated for by successive Mississauga mayors for years, Connors says it doesn't make sense to leave Caledon on its own because it doesn't have as many resources as the two larger municipalities.

"To announce legislation that leaves us as a standalone community as if we're the same as Mississauga and Brampton That's just absurd," she said.

She says she isworried the people of Caledon will now need to shoulder more costs.

"I haven't heard any business or financial reasons, or anything that's good for the taxpayers," she said.

Questions about level of consultation

Connors says she's concerned about what she perceives as alack of consultation with residents before the decision was reached.

"We're the forgotten child that nobody cares about. We're the afterthought," she said.

Asked whether residents were given a say in the decision, Clark told reporters the province conducted polling and consultations in Peel Region. The minister did not specify who was consulted or how many residents were polled.

"There's been consultations, there's been election campaigns, there's been polling, there's been there has been studies. You know, this is not something that we just decided without some significant thought," Clark said.

Caledon resident ShahidKhan says he's worried about what the move means for his family's use of recreational facilities.

"We go to Brampton to a soccerstadium and then we go theirrecreation centres," said Khan. "We need to build more of these services here in Caledon now."

But with less economic development in Caledonthan in neighbouring Mississauga or Brampton,he's not sure how his town will pay for new facilities and services or if residents will have to do without.

In spite of anxieties from residents, Groves said, "I have every confidence that we will all be looked after in the end."

She says she will keep fighting for Caledon residents in the transition.

"I will make sure that they are protected, that they are we have our fair share, and that we are all treated equally here."