Patrick Brown a no-show as other Brampton mayoral candidates gather to sign accountability pledge
“I will truly, faithfully and impartially exercise this office to the best of my knowledge and ability.”
That’s one of the promises an Ontario mayor makes when elected to office—a pledge Patrick Brown seems to have abandoned entirely as he seeks a third term.
On October 15, five Brampton mayoral candidates gathered at the Peel Art Gallery (PAMA) to sign a collective accountability pledge. The document, called the Brampton Accountability & Transparency Commitment, calls on any signatory who is a candidate for Mayor, City Councillor or School Trustee for the City of Brampton to “take all reasonable and lawful steps” to implement several commitments if elected.
The commitments include establishing a “permanent, independent Auditor General for the City of Brampton,” supporting the implementation of the recommendations by the Ontario Ombudsman in the “2017 Brampton procurement investigation,” and supporting the “reconsideration and, where legally and factually appropriate, the reopening or continuation of the third-party investigations and audits referenced by the Ontario Ombudsman in 2023”.
The document also states any signatory, should they be elected, will take “the necessary steps within [their] lawful authority, including bringing the foregoing matters before Council for consideration and action at the earliest permissible opportunity”.
The signatories included Prabh Gill, Wesley Jackson, Nathaniel Peart, Paul Tariwal and Najma Khurram, all of whom are candidates running for mayor. A legal representative was also present as a witness and to explain the nature of the meeting and the document.
Needless to say, Brown did not attend.
Tariwal said they were signing the document as residents, not politicians, demanding transparency.
“We’re all basically standing arm-in-arm saying that this is our city,” he said.
“How can we allow anybody to go ahead and use the city’s accounts like their own personal bank accounts when there’s no accountability, and when there’s no transparency?
“This is our money, our city, our future, our children. Not his.”
Gill called the pledge an oath he would turn into a municipal bylaw and push provincially, and promised forensic audits, whistleblower protection and quarterly publication of spending. “This is leadership,” he said.
Brampton mayoral candidate Prabh Gill signed an accountability pledge with other candidates and will turn it into a bylaw if elected. (Alexis Wright/The Pointer)
On Mayor Brown’s absence, Jackson said that “the ungovernable refuse to be governed.”
Although the document does not reference Mayor Brown, the Ombudsman’s recommendations refer to the six investigations that were cancelled by Brown.
The Pointer has reported on controversies involving Brown since 2019 following his election as Brampton mayor.
In October 2019, Mayor Brown found himself in hot water when he hired David Barrick as Brampton Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Jason Tamming as the Director of Communications. This is because Barrick and Tamming had previously been fired from the Niagara region for being involved in a hiring scandal that was revealed by the Ontario Ombudsman as an “inside job”.
Brown chaired the committees that were in charge of hiring these two men, and denied helping them land these jobs, despite having personal connections with them.
In 2022, David Barrick was fired from his job when a former staff member, Nikki Kaur, brought allegations against him. Six councillors voted to remove Barrick after only a year and a half at his job.
During 2020, when all Canadians were following mask mandates, Brown was filmed going into a City-owned hockey arena on August 11 when the facility was supposed to be shut down. He claimed he was visiting to check the facility, but his friends already skating inside for their regular pandemic game, thanks to Brown secretly opening up the rink, confirmed he joined them to play every Wednesday (watch the video here).
Confronted by a camera, Brown and his driver Nick Gahunia, a taxpayer-funded City Hall employee, rushed out of the arena. A subsequent integrity commissioner report by the woman he hired for the role exonerated the mayor and was panned for its complete failure to properly investigate the matter.
Patrick Brown was caught getting ready to play shinny with friends at a City-owned hockey arena that was supposed to be locked down during the pandemic. (YouTube/Rebel News)
In August 2022, Mayor Brown used seven City staff to support his federal Conservative Party leadership campaign without approval or proper record-keeping. The integrity commissioner could not substantiate the allegations against Mayor Brown because he had failed to keep any evidence, thus violating the City rules that prevent the use of City property for political campaign activities. Brown claimed the report did the opposite, stating that it vindicated him. However, some Brampton residents did not believe this to be the case.
On February 10, 2023, The Pointer reported that Integrity Commissioner Muneeza Sheikh billed taxpayers at least seven times more than other integrity commissioners, despite reportedly having no prior experience in the role. Sheikh’s appointment raised red flags about her personal connections to Mayor Brown while newly appointed Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Marlon Kalideen, who was also appointed by Brown without the usual process of a council-directed hiring process, had directed to rehire Sheikh after she was fired in 2022.
Just as the scrutiny of Brown’s appointments and the City’s approach to independent oversight was building, later that month, The Pointer caught Brown red-handed, making false claims about City Hall funds. The 2023 City budget — a “lesson in chaos” — eliminated important infrastructure and economic development projects in favour of budget freezes. Even good news like service improvements for Brampton Transit was followed by the news of a fare hike for commuters. It also showed that several projects meant to help the economy following inflation due to the COVID-19 pandemic had been postponed.
The 2023 City of Brampton budget included a breakdown to allow taxpayers to see exactly how their dollars were being used — the 2024 budget did not have such a chart. (Photo: Alexis Wright/The Pointer; Chart: City of Brampton)
Brown’s 2024 budget was no different: a slap in the face for Brampton citizens, the fiscal plan failed to address the municipality’s pressing needs while curbing major campaign promises including a cricket stadium, an LRT extension and a standalone university. It was revealed that the City was dipping into reserve funds with vague accounting provided to the public to justify low tax rates under Brown’s leadership to fulfill one of his key campaign promises; years of budget freezes have since been taking a toll on Brampton’s infrastructure, leaving critical projects unfunded.
In April 2023, Brown made it easier for nepotism after promising to end it following his re-election. Prior to his re-election in 2022, Brown promised to end nepotistic hiring practices in the City of Brampton. However, Brown reneged on his promise.
A census taken in 2021 showed that 81 percent of Brampton’s population comprised visible minorities, whereas only 15 percent of the City’s leadership were visible minorities. When some of his officials like councillor Michael Palleschi raised concerns about hiring family members, Brown called for a review of hiring practices. Effective January 2020, the hiring practices were reformed with certain guidelines that included employees asking for written approval to avoid creating conflicts of interest.
The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) mandated that the government must respond to requests for information within 30 days. The Pointer reported this target was only being met 64 percent of the time. The City attributed delays to staff changes and processing backlogs but critics pointed it as another example of Brown’s erosion of systems of accountability, amidst his many other ongoing scandals.
Following the failure of Brampton University, the provincial Ombudsman called for an investigation into the project to see what went wrong. However, Brown convened City Hall meetings and rushed to have these investigations struck down. Some of these investigations were also going to look at his close relationship to construction firms, led by people like Rob Godfrey, son of former Postmedia chairman Paul Godfrey and one of Brown’s closest friends. This also came after several City Hall staffers claimed disturbing behaviour from Brown.
Patrick Brown lied about the cancelled investigations into himself, and the Ontario Ombudsman ignored the investigations into Brown’s disturbing conduct. (Alexis Wright/The Pointer)
In September 2023, the Ontario Ombudsman ignored investigations into Brown’s disturbing conduct, which he cancelled himself while Brampton taxpayers were left carrying a $630,000 bill for the failed university project.
Although Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dube called for investigations into Brown’s conduct, there were no updates about action being taken by the officer. The Pointer reached out to Dube, but Linda Williamson, Director of Communications, stated that the Ombudsman’s position was “made public”. No further comments were provided.
No one on council has taken action on behalf of taxpayers demanding accountability to this day.
A page of the 2023 letter from the Ontario Ombudsman urging Brampton council to reopen investigations cancelled by Patrick Brown. (Ontario Ombudsman)
Former Wards 3 and 4 councillor Jeff Bowman joined a chorus of council members demanding accountability and pushing for forensic investigations into Mayor Brown and Rowena Santos over the failed BramptonU project for the taxpayer money handed out to close consultants.
On November 15, 2023, Brown and Santos made unsubstantiated claims against Councillor Jeff Bowman on Bovaird House, a city-owned historic attraction that shows the public what early farming used to look like.
“An egregious, flagrant conflict of interest for a councillor,” Mayor Brown said.
A week later, a formal investigation by accounting firm KPMG was presented to council, finding no evidence of irregularities.
In February 2024, after years of budget freezes and project delays, Brown turned to the federal government for billions of dollars in funding to address Brampton’s longstanding gaps in infrastructure investment, healthcare funding, transit and post-secondary education. The Pointer reported how Brampton’s low tax rates, along with Brown’s budget freezes, weakened City services.
In May, widespread concerns over Brampton’s shortage of parks and recreation spaces resurfaced as Brown continued to freeze funding for such projects — redirecting funds instead for travel and staffing. As a result, Brown has failed to deliver on his promises - especially the cricket stadium. If this is to continue, the city will face challenges in accessing outdoor spaces and recreation.
In November, The Pointer reported Brown calls Indian PM Narendra Modi his big “brother” while turning a blind eye to alleged plots to assassinate Sikh Canadians.
Brown has had a warm relationship with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi is the leader of the BJP party in India, and the party has been accused of being behind the assassination of Sikh Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. However, Brown did not address these concerns. He has visited India nearly two dozen times, and once in 2019, when it was alleged that he met with senior BJP officials.
Brown has remained silent even in the face of mounting allegations and evidence against Modi and his party by the US State Department over human rights issues. The Pointer spoke with many Sikh Canadians regarding this issue, and they expressed their concerns about foreign interference in Canadian politics.
Patrick Brown with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and controversial BJP politician Yogi Adityanath. In August 2026, Justice For All Canada and the Canadian Forum for Human Rights and Democracy in India (CFHRDI) filed a joint civil society submission with Global Affairs Canada's Sanctions Bureau to impose targeted sanctions and travel restrictions on Adityanath for his derogatory comments against the Muslim community. (X/Supplied)
On December 5, 2024, under questioning by a Liberal MP during a Parliamentary committee investigating Indian foreign interference, Brown admitted to succumbing to foreign influence, years after being groomed by Indian officials when he was running for the 2022 Conservative leadership campaign.
Brown had visited India at least two dozen times and even goes so far as to call India’s PM Narendra Modi his “big brother.” Brown’s campaign messaging changed because of foreign actors and this has rightfully brought up questions about accountability and transparency.
In January 2025, as Brown marked six years as the mayor of Brampton, The Pointer reported how his budgets often froze much-needed assets for infrastructure and transit improvements. Brown’s continued freezing has continued to weaken City services and public accountability; the many scandals and irregularities that Brown has been involved in have not helped either.
Some councillors have stated that Brown can be “authoritarian” because Brown often makes decisions behind closed doors and away from public spotlight.
When elected in 2018, Brown promised to “bring back Brampton” and restart the “economic engine,” so that it will become the “envy of Canada”.
By May 2025, major projects remained stalled; Brampton’s downtown revitalization was still struggling to gain momentum. Small business owner Tracy Pepe, who is now running for Wards 1 and 5, warned the city was “on the path of becoming Detroit,” referring to the motor city’s gradual economic decline and stagnation.
At the May 21 council meeting, other long-delayed municipal priorities were left in limbo — including a proposed implementation strategy for a Brampton Youth Council, which had been pushed back 11 times, and a review of parking in bike lanes, with a reporting deadline revised 19 times. The meeting also brought to light Brown and Santos’ contracting practices, making changes to benefit friends and family.
Currently running for Wards 9 and 10, Goyat had been a vocal critic of Brown, speaking out against the purchase of a property on Sandalwood Parkway. He also provided documents to The Pointer that showed unusual property transactions. Goyat’s protest was blocked by police and five bikes, and he was subsequently arrested, which he claimed was sanctioned by Brown himself. Brown’s office denied this allegation.
“There is no accountability at City Hall,” Goyat told The Pointer in April.
Azad Goyat (top) was arrested following a demonstration at Garden Square protesting Patrick Brown's leadership. (Azad Goyat/Facebook)
In January this year, when Brown unveiled the City of Brampton’s 2026 budget, it was still lacking key investments as previous spending freezes caught up with taxpayers, causing debt to balloon: the promised “world-class” cricket stadium unbuilt, BramptonU failed to materialize and the proposed LRT tunnel remained outstanding.
The 2026 fiscal plan also notably delayed projects such as the sidewalk program till 2029, cut funding for scheduled bridge repairs and reduced planned improvement to cricket fields from $8.1 million to $4.5 million while trimming $1 million from the urban forest canopy program.
The City is projected to end the year owing nearly $400 million.
Patrick Brown’s own expenses, on the other hand, paid for by the city’s taxpayers, have been on a rollercoaster: $407,357 in 2023, $461,923 in 2025 and $336,068 in 2025.
Brampton mayoral candidate Wesley Jackson signed an accountability pledge and said, regarding Patrick Brown’s refusal to sign the pledge, “the ungovernable refuse to be governed.” (Alexis Wright/The Pointer)
In April 2025, The Pointer obtained Mayor Brown’s expense records for the current term of office and identified he had spent $430,000 on social media monitoring over three years, nearly $9,000 on flowers and more than $4,000 on framing hockey jerseys and memorabilia, alongside a $212.68 car wash.
When inquired about the exorbitant expenses, Brown’s expense records were changed suddenly without any explanation.
After The Pointer sent questions about Patrick Brown’s expenses, and particularly the more than $430,000 of Brampton taxpayer money he spent on social media over a three-year period, he altered his expense reports, changing some of the original invoice descriptions from “Social Media Monitoring” to “Digital Community Engagements”. Brown never answered questions about either the expense report or the alterations. (City of Brampton)
In the latest uncovering of Brown and the City of Brampton’s reluctance to share information, a Star investigation found the City refused to release 455 pages of building and permit records (including city inspection reports) regarding extensive renovations at the mayor’s personal home—claiming the disclosure would endanger the “life and physical safety” of an unnamed individual without providing any proof.
In October, The Pointer entered into the adjudication stage in its efforts to retrieve the $11 million contract signed behind closed doors with private transit operator Argo after filing for an FOI request in 2025.
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