Town to use $200,000 to hire outside help to manage impacts of Peel split

Caledon's CAO says significant data collection and analysis work needs to be completed

By Zachary Roman

Caledon is going to hire outside help as it prepares to become an independent municipality. 

At Caledon Council's July 11 General Committee meeting, a report was submitted to Council by Caledon's Chief Administrative Officer Carey Herd.

It asked that Caledon's Chief Financial Officer be given the authority to “secure and retain additional resources” to support work being done by the Town to address the financial impacts of Bill 112. 

Herd said for 2023, staff are asking Council for permission to use $200,000 from the Town's tax-funded operating contingency reserve. 

Bill 112 is the Hazel McCallion Act and is the legislation put into effect to dissolve the Region of Peel — making Caledon, Brampton and Mississauga independent municipalities as of January 1, 2025. 

In her report, Herd said Bill 112 is the most significant piece of legislation to affect Caledon since its inception in 1974. She said the creation of a single-tier Caledon will have significant impacts and over the next year and a half, Town staff have much to do to prepare for the change.

Herd said in order to provide the best advice to Council and the transition board appointed to oversee Peel's dissolution, outside help is required. That's why she submitted the report asking to use $200,000. 

“Significant data collection and careful analysis will be necessary to protect the interests of Caledon,” wrote Herd. “For example, professional outside legal, financial, public works asset management, communication and governance resources will be necessary.”

Herd said the City of Mississauga has been planning for Peel's dissolution for decades and are “no doubt properly resourced given the size of their bureaucracy.”

She said it's important for Caledon to be properly resourced for Peel's dissolution as well. 

“This is a significant and complicated task and there is an immediate need to access specialized expertise for this once in a generation change to how the community is governed and services delivered,” wrote Herd. 

Town staff are preparing to develop a work plan for when more details about the transition board are revealed. Herd said in the interim, staff will study what assets and liabilities might logically be assigned to Caledon in Peel's dissolution.

“For example, a thorough condition assessment of regional roads and bridges, together with an estimate of the repair and replacement costs must be undertaken as an input into the final financial arrangement,” wrote Herd. 

Council approved Herd's request on consent.