As part of Ontario’s 2026 pre-budget consultations, we had the opportunity to advocate on behalf of Brampton’s business community—focusing on the investments needed to support our city’s rapid growth and long-term competitiveness.
We want to share a snapshot of what we put forward.
A Turning Point for Brampton
Brampton is no longer an emerging city—it is a major urban centre. Now the second-largest municipality in the GTHA, and on track to soon surpass Ottawa, our growth is reshaping the regional economy.
But with that growth comes a fundamental challenge: our infrastructure planning has not kept pace.
For too long, Brampton has been treated like a mid-sized city when it now functions as a large one. If the Province expects Brampton to absorb population growth, deliver housing, and anchor economic expansion, then infrastructure investments—particularly in transit—must reflect that reality.
Future-Proofing the Kitchener Line
A central focus of our submission was the future of GO Transit service along the Kitchener Line.
While we recognize the progress toward two-way, all-day service, we raised concerns about the current state of the Line. The planned three-track configuration through the CN Halton Subdivision between Bramalea and Georgetown is needed, but they are not enough.
This approach would continue to force freight and passenger rail to share infrastructure, limiting service frequency and reliability over the long term. Current projections suggest Brampton would see 30-minute service—significantly less frequent than what is already available in communities like Oakville and Mississauga.
We believe there is a better path.
Planning for a four-track corridor—while not requiring immediate construction—would allow for full separation between freight and passenger service, enabling the kind of high-frequency, “turn-up-and-go” transit that a city of Brampton’s scale requires.
Just as importantly, planning for this now ensures that decisions made today—on station design, corridor use, and the future downtown transit hub—do not close the door on this option.
This is about getting ahead of growth, not reacting to it.
Unlocking Economic Potential Through Transit
Transit is not just about mobility—it is directly tied to economic development.
We consistently hear from developers who are interested in building in Brampton but face challenges making projects viable. Higher-order, high-frequency transit changes that equation.
Communities with stronger transit certainty are attracting investment that could just as easily come to Brampton. Ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place is critical to unlocking that opportunity.
Advancing the Queen Street / Highway 7 BRT
We also called for renewed momentum behind the Queen Street / Highway 7 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.
While BRT projects may not receive the same attention as LRTs, this corridor is essential. It connects residents, students, and workers across Brampton and into the broader region—including direct access to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.
The recent decision to scale the project back to a 10% design level risks unnecessary delay.
Our recommendation is straightforward: advance the project to at least 30% design and bring it as close to shovel-ready as possible. This corridor is critical to workforce mobility, post-secondary access, and economic growth—and it must move forward with urgency.
Addressing Workforce Challenges
Beyond transit, we also highlighted growing workforce challenges impacting our members.
Recent federal immigration changes have introduced uncertainty for employers, and the cancellation of the Skilled Trades Stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program has left many workers in limbo—affecting both businesses and families here in Brampton.
We recommended a coordinated response, including:
- Easier work permit extensions based on verified employment
- Grandfathering applicants already in the OINP pipeline
- Stronger enforcement against wage theft and bad-faith employers
- Greater stability for postsecondary institutions and local training pipelines
Ensuring a stable, reliable workforce is essential to sustaining economic growth—particularly in fast-growing communities like ours.
Looking Ahead
Ontario’s growth strategy depends on cities like Brampton succeeding.
That success will require infrastructure that matches our scale, supports our workforce, and positions us for long-term competitiveness.
Planning for a four-track Kitchener Line and advancing the Queen Street / Highway 7 BRT are practical, forward-looking investments that will deliver value not just for Brampton, but for the entire region.
We will continue to advocate for these priorities after the 2026 provincial budget is tabled and look forward to updating our members along the way.