Dixie Road is currently managed by Peel Region. It’s one of several major routes that Mississauga will take over either this year or in 2027.
Mississauga is urging the provincial government to stick with its original plan to hand over control of regional roads from Peel Region to the lower-tier municipalities this year instead of pushing it back by a full year.
A delay would cost Mississauga $30 million, according to city officials.
In another letter to Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack, dated Jan. 28 and sent to city MPPs, Mayor Carolyn Parrish requested that the province “maintain the 2026 transfer date” and “once and for all, remove the 50-year financial burden” on Mississauga taxpayers.
Parrish had been hopeful in early January that the province might change its mind about a decision made quietly in mid-December regarding Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon taking responsibility for regional roads along with stormwater infrastructure on July 1, 2027 instead of this coming July.
She hoped for some positive news after a brief chat with Flack where he seemed open to reverting back to the 2026 transfer date since Brampton agreed with Mississauga on this issue.
However, in a letter addressed to Peel Region Chair Nando Iannicca on Jan. 13, Flack confirmed that the province is sticking with its plan for a one-year delay.
Mayor Carolyn Parrish says it’s well past time that Mississauga taxpayers get some relief.
The reasoning behind delaying the transfer by an entire year seems to be giving Caledon more time to manage the financial responsibilities involved.
Currently, “Caledon does not have the financial capacity to assume these roads and maintain them,” Parrish mentioned in her latest letter to the minister sent on behalf of Mississauga city council.
The mayor proposed a possible solution in her late-January letter suggesting that the province offer funding “to offset Caledon’s costs” so that road transfers could still happen this coming July.
Parrish noted her understanding that Caledon Mayor Annette Groves supports waiting an extra year due to her municipality’s financial situation.
“In (Groves’) estimate, it will cost Caledon between $35-$40 million annually to (assume responsibility for regional roads),” said Mississauga’s mayor in her letter. “I do not dispute her math and agree with her that this is a significant financial burden, but for 50 years it has been a significant burden borne mostly by Mississauga property taxpayers. The current arrangement is patently unfair.”
Parrish calculated that Mississauga pays around $25-$30 million each year “to subsidize Caledon’s regional roads. The shift in financial burden from the region to lower-tier municipalities like Caledon has always been expected; that’s why I’m surprised Mayor Groves is only raising concerns now.”
Mississauga caught by surprise with province’s December decision
The Ontario government’s Peel Transition Implementation Act (Bill 45, 2025) states that Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon will each take over key services-regional roads included-that were previously provided by Peel Region.
The initial transfer date for these regional roads was set for July 1, 2026. However, officials from the City of Mississauga say they were taken aback when on Dec. 19 last year; it was announced that implementation would be pushed back until July 2027.
Eagerly anticipating tens of millions in annual savings starting this year based on earlier plans, Mississauga quickly responded strongly opposing this delay through formal communication with provincial officials.
In her first letter dated Dec. 22 addressed to Flack, Parrish expressed disappointment regarding the government’s choice. She asserted confidence that they could provide “more efficient operations and maintenance – key considerations in this legislation.”
Kept in the dark
The mayor also pointed out how city leaders were left unaware about changes being considered at a provincial level concerning deadlines.
“Neither our council nor staff were consulted on this proposed and significant change,” she stated while requesting reconsideration of their recent decision.
Regional roads transitioning from Peel into municipal hands include Airport Road, Derry Road,
Britannia Road, Dixie Road, Cawthra Road,
Finch Avenue, Mavis Road, Winston Churchill Boulevard,
The Queensway, and Erin Mills Parkway. The transition means maintaining all local streets within boundaries will fall under direct management from city authorities making upkeep clearer while saving taxpayer money overall!
Mayor Carolyn Parrish says it’s well past time that Mississauga taxpayers get some relief.
The reasoning behind delaying the transfer by an entire year seems to be giving Caledon more time to manage the financial responsibilities involved.
Currently, “Caledon does not have the financial capacity to assume these roads and maintain them,” Parrish mentioned in her latest letter to the minister sent on behalf of Mississauga city council.
The mayor proposed a possible solution in her late-January letter suggesting that the province offer funding “to offset Caledon’s costs” so that road transfers could still happen this coming July.
Parrish noted her understanding that Caledon Mayor Annette Groves supports waiting an extra year due to her municipality’s financial situation.
“In (Groves’) estimate, it will cost Caledon between $35-$40 million annually to (assume responsibility for regional roads),” said Mississauga’s mayor in her letter. “I do not dispute her math and agree with her that this is a significant financial burden, but for 50 years it has been a significant burden borne mostly by Mississauga property taxpayers. The current arrangement is patently unfair.”
Parrish calculated that Mississauga pays around $25-$30 million each year “to subsidize Caledon’s regional roads. The shift in financial burden from the region to lower-tier municipalities like Caledon has always been expected; that’s why I’m surprised Mayor Groves is only raising concerns now.”
Mississauga caught by surprise with province’s December decision
The Ontario government’s Peel Transition Implementation Act (Bill 45, 2025) states that Mississauga, Brampton, and Caledon will each take over key services-regional roads included-that were previously provided by Peel Region.
The initial transfer date for these regional roads was set for July 1, 2026. However, officials from the City of Mississauga say they were taken aback when on Dec. 19 last year; it was announced that implementation would be pushed back until July 2027.
Eagerly anticipating tens of millions in annual savings starting this year based on earlier plans, Mississauga quickly responded strongly opposing this delay through formal communication with provincial officials.
In her first letter dated Dec. 22 addressed to Flack, Parrish expressed disappointment regarding the government’s choice. She asserted confidence that they could provide “more efficient operations and maintenance – key considerations in this legislation.”
Kept in the dark
The mayor also pointed out how city leaders were left unaware about changes being considered at a provincial level concerning deadlines.“Neither our council nor staff were consulted on this proposed and significant change,” she stated while requesting reconsideration of their recent decision.
Regional roads transitioning from Peel into municipal hands include Airport Road, Derry Road,
Britannia Road, Dixie Road, Cawthra Road,
Finch Avenue, Mavis Road, Winston Churchill Boulevard,
The Queensway, and Erin Mills Parkway. The transition means maintaining all local streets within boundaries will fall under direct management from city authorities making upkeep clearer while saving taxpayer money overall!
