Last week, our Policy & Government Relations (PGR) Committee brought months of preparation to life with a full-day gathering focused on Brampton’s housing and transportation priorities. On Tuesday, September 23rd, more than 130 advocates, business leaders, and community builders joined us for a day of ideas, solutions, and vision for the future.
The day also marked the launch of our new transportation whitepaper, Building a Transportation Network for a City on the Rise, written by Jonathan English. It lays out a bold roadmap for how Brampton can strengthen its role as one of Canada’s fastest-growing urban centres.
We kicked things off with two provincial leaders: Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack, and Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria. Both spoke openly about the Province’s plans for housing and transit in Brampton. Minister Sarkaria then sat down with our CEO, Jaipaul Massey-Singh, for a lively Q&A based on questions gathered by our PGR Committee. Dr. Tara Vinodrai punctuated the ministerial addresses with a thought-provoking keynote, From Edge City to Edgy City, which challenged us to think differently about Brampton’s urban identity and future.
The afternoon was packed with insight. Our panels and breakout sessions dug deep into issues like multimodal transportation, workforce housing, protecting mainstreets, downtown investment, and balancing employment with residential growth. I had the pleasure of moderating a discussion after presentations from Steve Ganesh and Richa Dave, who showcased the City of Brampton’s leadership in housing and transportation. The day wrapped up with an inspiring keynote by Michael Vickers, Executive Director of the Brampton Arts Organization, reminding us that city-building is as much about culture and creativity as it is about infrastructure.
This summit wasn’t just a one-off—it was the culmination of a year where BBOT has been leaning in hard on housing and transit advocacy. Over the past 12 months, our committee has consistently elevated Brampton’s voice in conversations that matter:
- Advocating for discounts and waivers of development charges (DCs) for strategic housing initiatives—and just last week, we were grateful to see the City of Brampton announce DC discounts for purpose-built rental.
- Pushing for clarity and certainty on key transit projects like the LRT and GO expansion.
- Calling for more fiscal autonomy for municipalities so cities like Brampton can invest with flexibility in their own priorities.
- Advocating for Alto to be recognized as a national interest project—something Prime Minister Mark Carney recently confirmed is under consideration.
- Highlighting the delicate balance between protecting employment lands while accommodating rapid residential growth.
Each step has been about ensuring Brampton isn’t left on the sidelines of national and provincial policy discussions. This event was proof that those efforts are gaining traction—our city is being noticed, and our perspectives are shaping decisions at higher levels of government.This event was made possible by the energy and dedication of many people. A special thank you goes to Sonia D’Alimonte and our partners at the Downtown Brampton BIA for their invaluable support.
But this is only the beginning. Brampton’s role on the national stage is growing. Federal and provincial governments see our city’s importance, and there’s an incredible opportunity to shape a movement that reflects Brampton’s young, diverse, and talented population.
If you’d like to join us in shaping that movement, connect with me at vsingh@bramptonbot.com.
What’s next for our PGR Committee?
- Driving forward our CUSMA submissions
- Amplifying our transportation whitepaper
- Rolling out our Business Confidence Index
- Strategizing for the upcoming municipal election
