As Brampton grows, so must our infrastructure, housing supply, and economic potential. That’s why the Brampton Board of Trade welcomes the proposed Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025 — a bold legislative initiative from the Government of Ontario that aligns closely with our ongoing advocacy for streamlined development and housing solutions.
This legislation addresses long-standing challenges in development approvals, permitting, and infrastructure delivery. It proposes reforms across four major areas: accelerating provincial transit and infrastructure development, streamlining transportation permitting and road standards, modernizing municipal planning processes, and updating the development charges (DC) framework. In particular, it is the transit, planning, and DC elements of this legislation that align with our advocacy work.
What It Means for Brampton
At the Brampton Board of Trade, we have consistently advocated for practical solutions to the housing crisis and the urgent need for infrastructure modernization. At our Moving the Needle forum and our Brampton in Motion Symposium, BBOT has urged government leaders to reduce red tape, improve cost predictability, and encourage investment through smarter planning.
The new Bill addresses a number of these priorities:
Accelerating Transit and Infrastructure
Faster delivery of provincial transit projects, such as GO rail and light rail transit (LRT) expansions, is essential for Brampton’s urban planning and for future housing development. Extending the Building Transit Faster Act to all provincial projects and broadening the Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) framework will help speed up housing and commercial development around Brampton’s key transit nodes. Last year, the Province already indicated that the LRT would be a priority transit project. We are hoping this extends to two way all day GO and the Queen Street BRT project.
Streamlining Municipal Development Processes and Smarter Development Charges Framework
The Brampton Board of Trade has long called for planning consistency and reduced municipal red tape. The proposed Act would clarify that municipalities must adhere to the provincial Building Code, limit duplicative study requirements, and introduce “as-of-right” minor zoning variances. These changes are intended to remove bottlenecks and support faster housing delivery in Brampton.
That being said, we acknowledge that municipalities will be significantly curtailed in their ability to enforce sustainable building practices, as is the case with the Toronto Green Standard. Municipalities not being able to show leadership in green builds is problematic and will require the Ontario Building Code to incorporate best practices. Though some red tape is important, we are pleased to see an exemption of new construction products from provincial approval if they’ve been cleared federally, reducing needless duplication.
Additionally, our members frequently cite unpredictable DCs as a barrier to progress. The Act proposes meaningful reforms such as deferring payments until occupancy, merging DC credit categories, and improving transparency. It also introduces DC exemptions for long-term care homes, which could be particularly impactful in a city like Brampton with its growing and diverse population. We would still encourage Brampton move to discount and even waive DCs for certain residential projects in the vein of Mississauga, Vaughan, and Burlington.
Building on BBOT’s Housing Advocacy
These proposed changes build on the very issues BBOT has raised in recent years. At our “Moving the Needle” housing event, we underscored the need for better collaboration across governments, clearer standards, and more efficient approvals. Similarly, our Brampton in Motion symposium highlighted the importance of linking transit investment with strategic residential growth. We are very encouraged by the Province’s movement in the right direction, but we must also continue to be more aggressive with DC discounts and, in some cases, outright exemptions.
What’s Next for Brampton?
The Brampton Board of Trade will continue to engage with the provincial government to ensure that Brampton’s voice is heard during implementation. Effective rollout and meaningful consultation with fast-growing municipalities like ours will be critical to making strides in affordable housing.
As always, BBOT remains committed to advancing policies that help build more homes, deliver infrastructure faster, and attract investment to our community. This legislation marks progress — but our work continues to ensure that Brampton businesses and residents benefit from smarter, faster, and more coordinated development. We hope to see meaningful leadership from Brampton and encourage the City to follow the lead of Mississauga, Vaughan, and Burlington to discount DCs to encourage development.
