Brampton considers MZO requests and Highway 413; Region ponders vacant home tax

Each week, The Pointer will check the agendas of public institutions involved in decision making that impacts the citizens of Peel. We will summarize particularly important reports or motions under various headings. This feature is designed to act as a guide for local residents, unlocking the often stodgy and byzantine process of local government.

For meetings where more than one item may be of interest, sub headings have been used. Each item includes a link to the full agenda, how to watch meetings live and information to speak at the meeting.

Democracy Watch will include a link to the most notable agendas each week. If there are no notable items, information regarding timing and how to get involved will still be featured. 

Committee of Council

Date: January 26. | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

Rogers requests Minister’s Zoning Order: 

Rogers wants Brampton to endorse two separate requests to bypass the local planning process through a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO). The first request is to build a transit-oriented office at Brampton’s downtown GO station on a Metrolinx-owned parking lot. The second is to turn the old Rogers office location on Dixie Road into a residential and industrial development. 

Previous reporting: 

• Brampton council rubber-stamped developer's request to circumvent local planning for massive project without even telling the landowners | The Pointer 

• Developer invokes new Peel Police division to bypass local planning for large Brampton subdivision | The Pointer 

• Patrick Brown misled council, claimed move to cut public out of key planning decisions was due to provincial deadline | The Pointer 

You can read the request here.

Brampton hands out extra $126,250 to employees: 

In the first half of 2021, the City of Brampton handed out $79,050 more to staff than its salary policies instruct it to. Of this figure, $41,300 was given to seven new employees to attract “high potential” talent and $31,150 to retain nine employees who might move elsewhere. The total annualized cost of all salary exceptions is $126,250. 

Previous reporting: 

• Brampton councillor to demand staff explain out-of-control salaries for managers & directors | The Pointer

• City staff hide information on out-of-control salary increases during pandemic | The Pointer 

You can read the full report here and see Brampton’s salary policy here.

Integrity commissioner clears Patrick Brown and Michael Palleschi:

Muneeza Sheikh, Brampton’s integrity commissioner, has cleared Mayor Patrick Brown and Councillor Michael Palleschi of two separate complaints. One complaint alleged that Mayor Brown “acted falsely and discriminatorily and exceeded his jurisdiction by stating that there was a genocide of the Tamil people”. Palleschi was accused by three City of Brampton bylaw officers of harassment and discreditable conduct, among other complaints. 

Previous reporting: 

• Integrity commissioner's exoneration of Patrick Brown's hockey excursions riddled with inconsistencies | The Pointer

• Integrity commissioner recommends maximum penalty for Councillor Gurpreet Dhillon who denies alleged sexual assault | The Pointer  

You can read the full report on Brown here. And the full report on Palleschi is here. 

Brampton may oppose GTA West Corridor: 

A motion proposed by Councillor Doug Whillans could see Brampton oppose the construction of Highway 413. The motion will require a two-thirds majority of council to reopen a previous decision in which Brampton had chosen not to oppose the highway. Whillans’ motion, if successful,  would see Brampton realign to stand with Mississauga and the Region of Peel in opposing the 400-series highway. The City would continue to advocate for an urban boulevard through the lands, something the Province has repeatedly rejected.

Previous reporting: 

• Brown misleads public on Province's 413 Highway planned for Brampton's west side | The Pointer

• Halton leaders are fighting against Ford's GTA West Highway; Brampton's refuse to condemn it | The Pointer  

Closed Session: 

Under the Municipal Act, council is allowed to close the meeting to the public for a few specific reasons. The City Clerk must explain why council is entering closed session and summarize any decisions made behind closed doors. 

Brampton has 11 items that will be discussed in private this week. They include items relating to ongoing negotiations and identifiable City staff. The list also includes minutes from the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame Committee, an unusual item to discuss in private. 

The number of items to be considered behind closed doors is unusually high, raising concerns around transparency.

Brampton Planning and Development Committee

Date: January 31 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

Four public meetings will be held at the next planning and development committee. Public meetings are an opportunity for residents to raise concerns and discuss projects, no final decision on these projects will be made at the meeting. 

Public meetings will consider: 

• A 42 and 34-storey development in Ward 1 that will include a hotel

• An industrial project in Ward 3

• Four commercial buildings in Ward 10

• A 10-storey building in Ward 10. 

The Ward 1 proposal has already generated 12 letters from local residents. 

Special Town Council Meeting

Date: January 25 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

Councillors in Caledon will meet to discuss the Town’s official plan. In previous meetings, councillors have been out-of-line with the Region of Peel’s plans for future growth, most notably around the GTA West Highway. 

Previous coverage: 

• Caledon Council quietly commits to unpopular GTA West Highway; resident reports members to Ombudsman after public locked out of meeting | The Pointer 

You can read the staff report here.

General Committee

Date: January 26 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

Mississauga councillors will consider two items in closed session this week. The first relates to negotiations in Wards 3, 4 and 9 to work on a noise barrier. The second is a proposal by Metrolinx to expropriate land around Citation Place in Ward 5.

Council

Date: January 27 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

GTA West Highway update:

Representatives from the Ministry of Transport will present an update on Highway 413 to regional councillors. The presentation relates to a decision last year by the federal government to consider taking control of the controversial project from Queen’s Park. Last time the Ministry of Transport attempted to present to council, Mississauga Councillor Carolyn Parrish successfully blocked the presentation.

Previous coverage: 

• Region of Peel votes to oppose GTA West Highway despite efforts of Brampton & Caledon mayors | The Pointer 

• 'Waste of our valuable time': Peel council shuts down Highway 413 lobby effort | The Pointer 

You can view the presentation slides here. You can read the staff report on the issue here.

Vacant Home Tax:

The Region of Peel and its council is considering a vacant home tax which could increase the housing supply by levying fees on people who own homes that are not lived in. Regional staff are proposing a $300,000 contract for external consultants Ernst & Young to help design the policy and organize public engagement.

Previous coverage:

• Mississauga's one-sided relationship with Pearson Airport forces City to seek new taxation powers | The Pointer 

You can read the staff report here.

Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board

Date: January 25 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

Peel District School Board

Date: January 26 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

African, Black, African Caribbean Committee

The Peel District School Board has formed a new community committee to help confront the “crisis” of anti-Black racism at the board. It includes members of Advocacy Peel, the We Rise Together Community Advisory Committee and the Student Advisory Committee. Its next step will be to review and finalize the terms of reference that guide it. 

Previous coverage: 

• PDSB trustee demonstrates ignorance about systemic racism as disgraced colleagues try to quietly reclaim power | The Pointer

• Province rejects request by PDSB trustees; supervisor will govern until anti-racism directives are implemented | The Pointer

• Advocates rally, regroup after progress to eliminate anti-Black racism within PDSB stalls | The Pointer 

You can read the full staff report here.

Anti-Islamophobia Strategy Development

A motion to tackle Islamophobia at the Peel District School Board was passed in September 2021. The board is currently seeking a project coordinator that can lead the work, including widespread consultation. 

Previous coverage: 

• PDSB will launch groundbreaking strategy to fight Islamophobia | The Pointer

• Action needed as Islamophobia in Peel becomes increasingly common | The Pointer  

You can read the full staff report here.

Peel Police Services Board

Date: January 28 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

A short update on the Peel Police Services Board’s agenda says that 72 percent of the force’s non-frontline officers have completed training with body-worn cameras. The project has spent $2.5 million of its $10.5 million budget and aims to be completed by July 2022. 

Previous coverage:

• Police board green lights body cameras; members quiet on other reforms | The Pointer 

• With forces across the country proceeding carefully, Peel Police rushes ahead with accelerated plan for body-worn cameras | The Pointer 

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Date: January 28 | Delegate | Full agenda | Watch live

Conservation authority weighs budget increases:

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) will consider a staff report outlining its plans for buildings and public facilities over the next 10 years. The majority of TRCA buildings are “long-lived”, according to the report, and will require investment. “The content may be used to facilitate discussions that rationalize increasing capital asset funding through levies in each jurisdiction,” the report says.

Part of the TRCA’s budget is funded by taxpayers through the Region of Peel.

Previous coverage: 

• 'People should be worried': Province moves to hobble conservation agencies, hand power to developers | The Pointer 

• The value of nature has never been more evident, but keeping cities green has been a challenge | The Pointer 

You can read the full report here.

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