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The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne
Minister of Finance and National Revenue
Department of Finance
Government of Canada
Re: Pre-Budget Consultation
Dear Minister Champagne,
On behalf of the Brampton Board of Trade, I am pleased to submit our recommendations for the upcoming federal budget.
The Brampton Board of Trade is a non-partisan business organization dedicated to economic development and to building a prosperous Brampton for all. Our mission is clear: We strengthen Brampton’s business community every day by connecting people, delivering results-focused advocacy, and providing trusted support that helps every member grow, thrive, and give back.
The priorities outlined in this submission; from strengthening municipalities and investing in transit, to expanding affordable housing and addressing critical labour market gaps, were identified through direct input from our diverse membership and reflect the issues on which they are looking for leadership. These are the challenges and opportunities that Brampton’s employers, entrepreneurs, and innovators tell us are most urgent for their growth and our collective long-term prosperity.
Importantly, the specific recommendations that follow have been developed in close consultation with our business leaders, subject matter experts, and key community stakeholders. They reflect practical, evidence-based solutions that we believe will strengthen not only Brampton, but also Canada’s national economy.
We look forward to working collaboratively with your government to advance these priorities and ensure that Brampton’s growth continues to contribute to the success of our country.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jaipaul Massey-Singh
CEO
Brampton Board of Trade
Recommendation 1: Assist Canadian Municipalities with Growth Related Challenges with Reallocated Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Issue: Canadian municipalities are facing growing infrastructure needs as their populations continue to swell. This has led to a strain on municipal services and insufficient revenue sources. The Government of Canada collects a Goods and Services Tax (GST) that would provide a predictable funding source tied to growth without burdening residents or homebuyers with new taxes.
Background:
Municipalities across Canada are experiencing significant growth, with 18 of the 25 largest municipalities reporting an average population growth rate of 5.2% from 2016 to 2021. Some municipalities, namely Brampton, reached rates up to 10.6%. Attached to population growth is a need for municipalities to increasingly add significant amounts of new housing stock, requiring additional investments in municipal infrastructure and services.
The Federal Government collected $60.74B in GST in the 2024 financial year, with $58.76B collected in 2023, and $54.19B in 2022. Further, with interest rates decreasing and predicted consumer spending, GST revenue is expected to increase. A redistribution of a portion of the existing GST collected would allow municipalities to better plan and invest in long-term infrastructure initiatives, supporting local economic growth and improving the quality of life for residents.
How will this Support the Canadian People and Economy?
As outlined by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, municipalities across Canada are experiencing rapid population growth but face considerable financial strain to expand and maintain infrastructure that Canadians rely on daily. Redirecting a portion of GST revenue to municipalities will ensure that local governments are able to build the housing, hospitals, roads, and transit systems needed to accommodate growing communities. Over 130 municipalities have joined this call, signing in support of a motion for the Federal Government to consider redistributing a portion of GST collected on property transactions to municipalities.
Through a predictable and sustainable stream of funding like a portion of GST revenue, Canada can build its long-term economic prosperity by supporting municipalities develop infrastructure suitable for growth, attract and retain its workforce, and increase business competition within local communities.
The Brampton Board of Trade Recommends that the Government of Canada:
- Explore a plan to redistribute a portion of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue to municipalities. While ensuring that the fiscal capacity of the Federal Government to meet costs is not adversely impacted, this will provide sustainable funding to municipalities that face growth-related challenges.
- Ensure that Provinces and Municipalities are at the table during this study period.
Recommendation 2: Secure Federal Funding Commitment and Conditionality for the Downtown Brampton Tunneled LRT Extension.
Issue: In March 2025, the Federal Government announced its intention to support the Hazel McCallion Downtown Brampton LRT tunneled extension through the Metro-Region Agreement (MRA) stream of the Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF). However, no clear funding amount has been disclosed, and the conditions attached to the commitment remain vague. For this critical infrastructure project to move forward with certainty, the Federal government must commit to a defined and measurable funding framework.
Background:
Brampton is one of the nation’s fastest growing cities and requires transit infrastructure that adapts with the increasing needs of its city’s residents and economic potential. The Downtown Brampton tunneled LRT extension is one of the key infrastructure projects that will complement Brampton’s growth.
The Brampton Board of Trade is grateful for the Federal Government’s support of the Downtown Brampton tunnel LRT extension. However, municipal, regional, and provincial governments are unable to advance intergovernmental planning and ensure the project’s progress without greater clarity on the Federal Government’s specific funding contribution and its conditionality. Current Federal funding conditions outline the signing of a Metro Region Agreement (MRA), development of an integrated regional plan, fulfillment of housing conditionality requirements, a completed Province of Ontario business case, and final federal approval. While these requirements are essential, they lack specific, quantifiable benchmarks that provide intergovernmental partners with clear guidance and accountability on how to effectively plan to meet them.
How will this Support the Canadian People and Economy?
Accelerating progress on this project will sooner realize the estimated 47,000 new housing units and 17,000 jobs attached to the Downtown Brampton LRT extension. It will unlock significant development potential, reduce congestion, and promote sustainable transit, leading to measurable improvements in the daily lives of residents and businesses in the region. Commitment to a specific monetary amount and greater clarity on funding conditionality will allow local and regional governments to plan effectively and connect more people to Downtown Brampton as soon as possible.
The Brampton Board of Trade Recommends that the Government of Canada:
- Publicly disclose a specific funding amount for the Downtown Brampton Hazel McCallion LRT tunnel extension.
- Establish measurable benchmarks for all funding conditions to ensure accountability and progress. For example:
- Housing Conditionality: A target of [X number] of new housing units to be approved or under construction within [Y timeframe] along the Downtown Brampton LRT extension corridor.
- Province of Ontario Business Case: A “completed” provincial business case must include specific, key components, such as a signed agreement on cost-sharing and a finalized risk assessment.
- Metro Region Agreement: The MRA must include a defined governance structure for project oversight and a phased timeline for implementation.
Recommendation 3: Expand Canada’s Co-Operative Housing and Community-Owned Real-Estate Programs.
Issue: Between 1960 and 1995, Canada built approximately 60,000-70,000 co-operative homes, representing the vast majority of the co-op housing stock that exists today. With significant Federal funding cuts to social housing programs in 1995, new developments have come at slowed rates, leaving Canadians today with far fewer alternatives to affordable housing solutions.
The Brampton Board of Trade is grateful for the Federal Government’s $1.5B commitment to the Co-operative Housing Development Program (CHDP) over the next four years. Though, to restore the momentum of earlier decades, it is imperative to both expand the supply and funding for below-market rentals and create stronger incentives for Canadians to invest into their communities at large. While there is significant demand and a pipeline of shovel-ready co-op housing projects, current CHDP funding is insufficient to build the full range of projects needed across the nation.
Background:
The benefits of expanding funding for the CHDP are wide in scope. A 2023 Deloitte report commissioned by the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association found that if Canada were to align its community housing stock with the OECD average by 2030, economic productivity rates could jump from 5.7% to 9.3%, representing an estimated $67B increase in Canada’s GDP. In addition, more co-op homes means more long-term affordability for residents, greater housing security, and diverse, sustainable communities.
However, expanding direct Federal investment into co-operative housing programs is
not the only piece of the puzzle. Financial tools and tax incentives also play a significant role in encouraging everyday Canadians to invest into their communities. The Brampton Board of Trade echoes the call made by the Canadian Coalition for Community Capital to modernize the Income Tax Act to streamline the use of RRSPs and TFSAs for community investments, alongside introducing partially refundable tax credits to encourage broader participation.
RRSPs and TFSAs are among the most popular savings tools used by Canadians today. However, using these tools to invest in community bonds, co-op shares, or crowdfunding remains costly and complex. This limits everyday Canadians from supporting housing and local businesses, shrinking the investor pool and raising project costs. Simplifying participation would broaden investor participation and allow more Canadians to directly contribute to supporting their communities and building resilient, local wealth.
The Brampton Board of Trade Recommends that the Government of Canada:
- Restore momentum of earlier decades of co-operative housing development by accelerating construction of ready-to-go co-op homes. Recapitalizing the Co-operative Housing Development Program (CHDP) and Affordable Housing Fund will provide additional, sustained funding that will deliver affordable housing to more Canadians in perpetuity.
- Join the call made by the Canadian Coalition for Community Capital by streamlining the process for including community investments in RRSPs and TFSAs via the Income Tax Act.
- Explore a partially refundable federal tax credit to encourage Canadians to invest in community projects.
Recommendation 4: Designate Alto a National Interest Project and Expand it to Include the Windsor-Québec City Corridor with a Brampton Stop.
Issue: In February 2025, the Federal Government announced a $3.9B investment over six years for the planning and design of Canada’s first high-speed rail network, Alto. Currently, Alto is planned to connect seven cities between Toronto and Québec City, serving as a historic and transformational infrastructure project for the nation. However, the current project proposal does not include any stations west of Toronto, leaving out the economically vital Toronto-Windsor corridor. To fully realize the economic and social benefit of Canadian high-speed rail and ensure its timely delivery, the Government should expand the Alto corridor westward to Windsor and designate it as a National Interest Project under Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act.
Background:
As outlined in 2022 at the annual CCPPP conference by Vincent Robitaille, Assistant Deputy Minister at Alto, the Windsor-Québec City corridor is the most densely populated and heavily industrialized region in Canada. 62% of Canada’s total labour market and 59% of Canada’s GDP are generated within this stretch, anchoring the nation’s manufacturing and technology sectors. In addition, this corridor includes the Windsor-Detroit border crossing, where commuters, tourists, and trucks move an estimated $323M worth of goods through the gateway daily.
Given the scale and economic significance of this corridor, terminating the Alto line in Toronto would represent a missed opportunity. Southwestern Ontario’s population alone is projected to grow 36% between 2023 and 2046. With Alto still in its planning and design phase, it is crucial to anticipate the corridor’s growth and design the network to serve the millions of Canadians who will depend on the line by the time it comes into operation.
How will this Support the Canadian People and Economy?
Alto is a generational nation-building project. The project is expected to create 51,000 jobs during construction and thousands more during operation, up to $7.2B in environmental benefits, and a 1.1% contribution ($24.4B) to Canada’s annual GDP. As Alto will strengthen Canada’s autonomy, provide significant social and economic benefits, and advance sustainable infrastructure growth, the project is a clear candidate for National Interest Project designation under Bill C-5. Such designation by the Government is critical to accelerate development timelines, reduce regulatory barriers, and ensure Canadian people and businesses are supported by high-speed rail infrastructure as soon as possible.
A Brampton stop is also essential to maximize Alto’s efficacy. Brampton already hosts VIA Rail service and is one of Canada’s fastest growing cities, experiencing 10.6% in population growth between 2016 and 2021. Moreover, its position within Peel Region (home to 1.6M residents in 2024) and proximity to Toronto and Toronto Pearson International Airport strategically link Alto to greater international and domestic networks.
The Brampton Board of Trade Recommends that the Government of Canada:
- Expand the ALTO project to include the Windsor-Québec City corridor in its next iteration. As we are in the planning phases, there is an opportunity to explore what this expansion might look like.
- Include a Brampton stop in the Windsor-Québec City corridor, leveraging its existing VIA Rail service, GO connections, and proximity to Pearson International Airport.
- Designate Alto as a National Interest Project under Bill C-5 to ensure expedited project delivery. Such designation will accelerate the significant economic and social benefits associated with this project.
Recommendation 5: Strengthen Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Programs and Improve Foreign Worker Protections.
Issue: With Canada’s aging population and challenges recruiting and retaining workers in medium to low-skilled sectors, immigration and temporary workers are crucial to maintaining the nation’s sustained economic growth. For instance, in 2024, temporary and permanent immigration contributed to nearly 100% of Canada’s labour force growth. However, existing programs that bring in and support foreign workers are underfunded, lack sufficient worker safeguards, and do not adequately address sector-specific labour demand.
Background:
Despite their necessity, Canada’s immigration programs face persistent structural shortcomings that limit their efficacy. Refusal conditions for Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) are a central example. Today, LMIA refusals are largely determined by unemployment rates in Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs). However, basing LMIAs on CMA unemployment data alone fails to address the unique labour dynamics of the multiple communities contained within a CMA designation. For instance, the Toronto CMA contains 24 subdivisions, including Brampton, whose workforce faces distinct sectoral needs from neighboring cities in the same CMA. Thus, to ensure the LMIA process accurately reflects local labour market realities, it must consider sector-specific workforce needs. Ongoing consultation with local industry and industry associations, such as chambers of commerce, would strengthen this process by ensuring LMIAs effectively match labour supply with demand.
Greater settlement programs are also needed to ensure that foreign workers are adequately supported before and after arrival in Canada. As outlined by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission’s Reimagining Immigration report, a pre-departure package that helps workers understand their rights and roles, provides subsidized language and cultural competency training, and expands access to employee protections could reduce vulnerability and help workers integrate better into their workplaces and communities. Further, a federally managed compensation fund and access to legal support would also provide crucial resources for workers who have faced abuse or exploitation by unlicensed consultants or employers.
Despite the need to strengthen Canada’s temporary and foreign worker programs and supports, the immigration, refugees, and citizenship sector (IRCC) is being increasingly destabilized by Federal funding cuts. As outlined by a United Way report, the Federal government reduced the IRCC’s budget by $317.3 million in 2023, which has already resulted in significant layoffs and loss of critical programs and services.
As further cuts to the IRCC’s budget are anticipated, specialized programs such as language training and credential recognition are at high risk, client wait times are expected to rise, and access to services will be reduced, with rural areas feeling the greatest impact.
The Brampton Board of Trade Recommends that the Government of Canada:
- Develop a pre-departure information package for foreign workers before they arrive in Canada. This package will help workers understand their roles and rights, provide guidance on adapting to a new environment, and offer access to subsidized language and cultural competency training.
- Revise the LMIA process so that approvals and refusals are not solely based on Census Metropolitan Area unemployment rates, which often overlook the unique labour dynamics of surrounding communities like Brampton. Instead, consider administering LMIAs based on sector-specific workforce needs to better match labour supply with demand.
- Support the Canada Employment Insurance Commission’s proposal to extend the maximum work duration under the LMIA to five years. Increasing the duration would provide greater workforce predictability for employers while reducing processing delays with LMIA applications and renewals.
- Join the call made by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission to expand beyond agriculture: Develop bilateral labour agreements with partner countries in addition to our agreement with Mexico to address shortages in healthcare, construction, technology, and manufacturing.
- Mirror Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) model: Partner governments handle recruitment, vetting, documentation, and worker support, maintaining pools of qualified candidates.
- Include permanent pathways: Build in options for high-demand workers to transition from temporary to permanent status.
- Learn from global examples: Adapt elements from European and Australian agreements (e.g., credential recognition, training partnerships).
- Prioritize protections: Embed strong worker rights, employer accountability, and joint oversight to prevent exploitation.
- Ensure that industry and industry associations like the Brampton Board of Trade are frequently engaged to ensure industry alignment.
- Establish a specialized CBSA unit that is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting unregistered immigrations consultants and recruiters, as well as clear messaging on how to report these individuals to law enforcement is needed.
- Establish a federally managed compensation fund for victims of unethical immigration consultants. This fund would provide financial redress and ensure access to legal support, including the automatic assignment of qualified lawyers, so foreign workers are not left to navigate the system alone.