At the Brampton Board of Trade, we hear that access to skilled labour is the most critical need for businesses not just in Brampton but across the province, so you can imagine my confusion when I heard that thousands of skilled, job-ready newcomers were effectively rendered unable to work. Ontario made a sudden and...
Read MoreThe federal government’s 2025 budget, the first under Prime Minister Mark Carney, is being billed as a generational investment in Canada’s future. It’s a budget framed around growth, resilience, and fiscal balance, all at once; a challenging mix to get right. From a Brampton perspective, there’s much to be encouraged by: long-term commitments to infrastructure,...
Read MoreThe Bank of Canada (BoC) has lowered its policy rate to 2.25% on October 29th, marking its second consecutive cut in 2025. This decision comes amid a challenging economic backdrop filled with trade uncertainty, a soft labour market, and weakening business investment. While rate cuts are traditionally aimed at stimulating growth, their effectiveness in the...
Read MoreLast 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...
Read MoreFor any questions, reach out to vsingh@bramptonbot.com The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne Minister of Finance and National RevenueDepartment of FinanceGovernment 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...
Read MoreCanada and the U.S. are once again locked in high-stakes negotiations as the August 1st deadline looms. Without a deal, 35 percent tariffs from the U.S. are on the table, and President Trump seems pessimistic about whether a deal can be reached. It’s a sharp contrast to Prime Minister Carney’s hopeful campaign line: “We can...
Read MoreOn June 20th, over 320 business, political, and community leaders gathered for the Brampton Board of Trade’s Vision for Prosperity brunch featuring Premier Doug Ford as well as a fireside chat with Cabinet Ministers. The event reflected the growing importance of Brampton in the provincial conversation and served as a platform for deep, direct dialogue on...
Read MoreOne of the Brampton Board of Trade’s concerns with the previous federal government was its lack of meaningful engagement with industry and communities on immigration policy. This isn’t to say that nothing should have changed with immigration but when entire sectors of our economy depend on immigrant labour, and postsecondary institutions rely heavily on international...
Read More