Brampton Secures $29.8M for Housing and Downtown Revitalization : Riverwalk

The City of Brampton is proud to announce a $29.8 million investment from the Ontario government aimed at supporting the development of 12,900 housing units and enhancing infrastructure in the city. Following an announcement in Brampton today, which included Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, Hon. Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria Minister of Transportation, Hon. Graham McGregor, Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform, Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton and other members of Brampton City Council welcomed the investment.

Since her election in 2018, Councillor Rowena Santos has been a strong advocate for the Riverwalk project, consistently representing Brampton’s interests at several authorities like the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Her efforts have been pivotal in advancing the project, which aims to eliminate flood risks in downtown Brampton, unlock new housing supply, and attract significant investment.

The City of Brampton, in collaboration with TRCA and supported by provincial policy priorities, has made substantial progress on this initiative. Councillor Santos, a TRCA board member for the past five years, has been a strong advocate for the Riverwalk project and has contributed to securing crucial funding, including $29.8 million from the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund. The focus is now on removing the Special Policy Area (SPA) designation, which has long restricted development due to flood risks. This step is essential for facilitating new development and addressing the region’s housing pressures.

Comprehensive environmental assessments and public consultations, conducted by the City and TRCA, have ensured thorough planning and community engagement. FCM and AMO has also played a vital role in advocating for necessary infrastructure upgrades, such as enhanced transit and water systems, to support Brampton’s growing housing demands.

In late 2020, the federal government committed up to $38.8M towards the Riverwalk flood mitigation project. This funding allowed Brampton to unlock its full potential and support the much-needed housing development in downtown Brampton. To know more about timeline of project click here.

The City is now seeking continued provincial support, emphasizing the need for funding programs like the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling Program to further enhance community connectivity and active transportation. Councillor Santos’ leadership and advocacy have been instrumental in pushing these initiatives forward, demonstrating the City’s commitment to transforming downtown Brampton into a vibrant, resilient, and connected urban center.

In addition to new housing, new green spaces and community amenities, it creates opportunities to expand commercial and institutional partnerships, contributes to the long-term vitality of downtown Brampton and helps address the challenges of a rapidly growing population.

Today’s $29.8 million investment from the province brings Brampton one step closer to realizing Riverwalk, making way for future housing and economic development.
The City of Brampton remains committed to working with all levels of government to continue to develop a vibrant city supportive of housing and community well-being.

The Ontario government’s media release on the announcement can be found here: Ontario Helping Build More Homes in Brampton
For more information on the Province of Ontario’s investments to build more homes, visit: Ontario Investing Over $1.8 Billion to Build More Homes

About the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund
The Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, a $970 million provincial initiative, provides municipalities with the resources necessary to develop, repair, rehabilitate and expand critical water infrastructure. In Brampton, the funding will be dedicated to essential drainage improvements downtown, enabling the construction of 12,900 new housing units.

About Brampton’s Riverwalk Project

Downtown Brampton lies within the Etobicoke Creek floodplain. Provincial policies around hazard management have so far restricted the type and amount of development that can occur there today. With the removal of restrictions on planning and development in downtown Brampton, the Riverwalk project envisions a remade Etobicoke Creek through the area, surrounded by public spaces and parks connected by the Etobicoke Creek valley corridor and a trail system. It is expected to unlock 3.6 million square feet of residential, commercial, and retail space in the downtown, creating more than 23,000 jobs and a $1.4 billion impact on the GDP.

For more information on Riverwalk, visit Brampton.ca/riverwalk.