Residents, politicians and businesses from Brampton discussed collaborative solutions in boosting employment and improving transportation infrastructure.
The Thursday gathering centered on proposals for an LRT extension in Brampton, a new medical school, and building of a headquarters and a plant that would house Magna International Inc. and aerospace company MDA.
But the meeting involving six of the city’s MPs and MPPs, along with local business representatives also looked at lowered credit card transaction fees and approved development proposals to signal support for small businesses at Brampton’s joint federal and provincial issues forum.
The meeting was organized by the Brampton Board of Trade and held at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives. The group participated in the session to enhance the business activity and economic growth of the city.
With a focus on taxes, regulations, trade, innovation, and infrastructure, the session emphasized the commitment to fostering a prosperous business climate in Brampton.
Todd Letts, the CEO of the Brampton Board of Trade, said infrastructural development and transportation plan was part of the discussion.
Todd Letts, CEO of the Brampton Board of Trade, spoke to Humber News and discussed the economic plans for Brampton. Photo credit: Muhammad Hamza
“Yes, today we will be talking about infrastructure development, both in transportation, like Highway 413 in the transit way along the top of Brampton, and the LRT extension, from Steeles Avenue to the Hazel line to the GO train in Brampton, enhancing the number of trains and the speed of trains along the go line,” he said.
The Kitchener line was also on the agenda, docket,” Letts said.
Letts said that the province is emphasizing facilitating efficient transportation options for the workforce, ensuring timely commutes, and providing diverse transit choices.
“And then specifically to Brampton, ensuring that our workers, our staff, can get to work on time, have choice in transit options, and have highways that are well maintained that can not only get them to work on time but also get them home for dinner with their family and for cricket practice or soccer practice, or hockey practice,” he said.
For the enhancement of job opportunities in Brampton, Magna International Inc. and MacDonald, Dettwiler, and Associates (MDA) are developing their plants in Brampton, Letts said.
“We’ve seen a number of amazing announcements. Magna is developing a battery plant here, which will create jobs. MDA has decided to expand their headquarters here in Brampton and will increase their staffing from 700 to 1000,” he said.
Liberal MP for Brampton North, Ruby Sahota, said every development proposal Brampton sent to the federal government was approved.
Ruby Sahota, a Member of Parliament, spoke to Humber News and shared her views on the current developmental plans for Brampton. Photo credit: Muhammad Hamza
“So, there’s not a single project that Brampton has put forward to the federal government that we haven’t approved and funded till date,” she said. “So, since 2015, all submissions that the city has made to the federal government have been signed off by the federal government.”
Sahota said Brampton is seeking a unified approach between the province and federal government as they explore the LRT proposal, aiming to transform the city’s transportation infrastructure.
“So, the city has to have a plan in place, and hopefully we’re looking forward to the LRT eventually coming up with a proposal,” she said. “They’re still deciding which route they want to take or which route is the best.
“And so that was discussed here today,” Sahota said. “We’re looking forward to making sure that through the province and through the federal government, we can work together, because I think that’s a very important step that’s missing in Brampton right now.”
Sahota also boasted about the recent plan by the federal government to lower credit card transaction costs for small businesses. The move solves a significant concern and ensures that they can keep a larger share of their profits for each item sold, she said.
“Well, we just made an announcement last week about credit card transaction fees that are being reduced for small businesses, and that is a support because we’ve been hearing for years that that is something that takes a cut out of their profits of what they should be getting after each item. So we’ve announced that in our budget,” she said.