The Ford government is delegating certain key responsibilities from the Region of Peel to Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon, separately.
Based on recommendations previously reported by The Trillium, the Peel Transition Implementation Act, tabled on Thursday, would download the maintenance of regional roads and associated stormwater infrastructure, starting July 1, 2026 (or another date at Municipal Affairs Minister Paul Calandra's discretion).
If the bill is passed, Mississauga would also be responsible for waste collection services (but not waste processing) in its area, as well as two community recycling centres in the city.
The Ford government will continue to look at whether Brampton and Caledon can also handle waste collection. The Peel Region Transition Board's recommendations called for the downloading to be staggered, with Mississauga going first.
Ontario’s Provincial Land and Development Facilitator would help facilitate the service transfers, with the cost covered by the province.
The changes "would provide more independence to lower-tier municipalities in Peel Region so that they can address their growing needs," Calandra said.
Caledon Mayor Annette Groves said in a statement that the bill will "empower Caledon to increase local service delivery and remove barriers and red tape that slow down road infrastructure decisions that are needed as we grow from a town into a city."
"We are confident that by continuing to work with the province, Caledon will have the protections needed to safeguard our residents’ pocketbooks and the beautiful place they live in," Groves said.
The mayors of Brampton and Mississauga did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Wastewater changes could also come later, the government said in a news release. The transition board had recommended a transfer of responsibility from the region to a provincially regulated utility. Any changes would maintain public ownership, the government said.
The Ford government's legislation would also indemnify itself, Peel, Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon against lawsuits over the changes to roads and waste.
If all the changes are implemented, Peel Region would be left to handle public health and some social services — a far reduced scope compared to now.
The Ford government downloaded land-use planning responsibilities from Peel, Halton and York regions to their respective municipalities earlier this year. It plans to do the same for Durham and Waterloo regions on Jan. 1, and for Niagara Region on March 31, 2025.
Aurora's mayor applauded the changes and said he hopes for similar ones in York Region.
"This model of giving municipalities greater autonomy and responsibility is a welcome step in enhancing efficiency and responsiveness to local needs," Tom Mrakas said in a statement. "Strengthening governance frameworks and enabling municipalities to manage services independently are critical to addressing the challenges of growth, housing, and service delivery."
The Peel Region Transition Board will dissolve on Dec. 31.
