23 Nov: Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish has announced her resignation from the Peel Police Services Board, citing concerns over a significant proposed budget increase for Peel Regional Police.
In a statement released on Friday, Parrish expressed her opposition to the board’s requirement to support a 21.3% budget hike during a time of economic challenges for residents. The proposed budget includes a $136 million increase to fund 300 new officers and 65 civilian positions, which accounts for over half of Peel Region’s planned property tax hike for 2025.
“As mayor, my responsibility lies with all citizens of Mississauga,” Parrish stated. She emphasized the difficulty of balancing the dual responsibilities of being a board member, which requires advocating for effective policing, and being a mayor focused on preparing budgets that minimize the financial burden on taxpayers. “I cannot wear two hats,” she added.
The Peel Police Services Board, which oversees Peel Regional Police, includes seven members—three regional council representatives (traditionally the regional chair and mayors of Brampton and Mississauga), three provincial appointees, and one citizen appointed by the region. Parrish joined the board earlier this year after being elected as Mississauga’s mayor.
At a Peel Region budget meeting, Parrish acknowledged the importance of adequately funding police services but expressed disappointment over the scale of the proposed increase. She described the request as “way too much, way too fast” and confirmed she did not support the proposal during board discussions.
The Peel Police budget proposal would increase the service’s net operating budget to nearly $750 million. The Mississauga News sought comments from Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and Peel Police Services Board Chair Nando Iannicca. While Brown redirected questions to Parrish, Iannicca did not provide a response at the time of publication.
