'It's time': Mississauga residents weigh in on planned divorce from Peel Region at town hall meeting

Mississauga residents have an opportunity at a town hall meeting Monday night to weigh in on the council's plan to separate from Peel Region.

"Missi-Exit, Peel Off, M-Exit, or Prexit, whatever you choose to call it, it's time for Mississauga to leave the Region of Peel and become an independent city," Mayor Bonnie Crombie said in anewsrelease Monday.

"Together, we will become one unified city, with one unified, powerful voice. The world will know Mississauga."

Mississauga,a city of nearly 800,000,is currently a part of the Region of Peel along with Brampton and Caledon. In late March, Crombie'sbid for the city to separate from Peel Region won the support of council.The provincial government is currently reviewing motion by council in favour of the moveand would have to approve the request.

At Monday night's meeting, the only public town hall on the subject expected so far, a clearer picture began to emerge about what an exit from Peel might look like.

If the motion were passed, Mississaugawould be considered a "single-tier" municipality, governed municipally and not be subject to a second layer of regional governance.

The city would still intend to share the Peel Regional Police service with Brampton, though the exact terms of that relationship would need to be renegotiated.

"From growth and planning, to transit planning and building affordable housing, the region, Brampton and Caledon get to tell us how and what to do," she said.

"This prevents Mississauga from achieving our goals and building a world-class city. It's time for Mississauga to be one city, with one voice."