Subject: City of Brampton…

Subject: City of Brampton Response to ERO 025-1097: Proposed Changes to the Planning Act

To Whom It May Concern,
The City of Brampton appreciates the opportunity to provide comments in response to the proposed changes to the Planning Act as introduced through Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025.
The City of Brampton appreciates the Province’s continued efforts to increase housing supply, enhance predictability, and modernize Ontario’s land-use planning framework. The City supports measures that streamline approvals and improve clarity, provided they maintain fairness, transparency, and the ability of municipalities to respond to local context and community needs.
Bill 60 introduces several amendments to the Planning Act, including enabling as-of-right zoning variations, expanding Ministerial authority in Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs), permitting Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs) to be issued directly, and authorizing standardized Official Plan content through regulation. While positioned as efficiency improvements, these changes reflect a broader realignment of provincial and municipal roles in planning.
Most of the proposed amendments are enabling only and will come into force upon the development of supporting regulations. To inform this work, the Province has launched three parallel consultations on enhanced lot-level development standards, minimum lot sizes for urban residential areas, and Official Plan simplification and standardization. Together, these consultations will shape how the amendments operate once regulations are proclaimed.
Brampton staff note that early implementation of new as-of-right zoning permissions could interfere with the City’s Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review (CZBR), scheduled for completion in early 2026. Introducing new provincial standards mid-process risks rework, delays, and additional costs, and could undermine significant progress made on right-sizing zoning standards, incorporating community feedback, and responding to Council direction.
Staff further emphasize that all Ministerial planning decisions should remain consistent with the Provincial Planning Statement (PPS). The PPS establishes the minimum requirements for responsible, evidence-based land-use planning across Ontario. Exempting Ministerial decisions from PPS consistency could introduce inconsistency, affect growth sequencing in key areas such as Queen Street, Downtown, and Brampton’s MTSAs, and diminish transparency and fairness.
Other proposed changes—including direct issuance of MZOs and streamlined PMTSA amendments—compress municipal input timelines and may result in greater rework or private inclusion requests that delay area-planning efforts. By contrast, expanded authority for Community Improvement Plans (CIPs) is supported, as it provides important flexibility following the dissolution of the Region of Peel.
Taken together, the proposed changes consolidate greater planning authority at the provincial level and may limit Brampton’s ability to ensure coordinated infrastructure planning, sequencing, and community design. Maintaining strong municipal tools remains essential to achieving complete communities, supporting transit investment, and delivering a “made-in-Brampton” approach to growth.
Recommendations to the Province
To support effective and balanced implementation of Bill 60, the City of Brampton recommends that the Province:
1. Protect the integrity of Brampton’s Comprehensive Zoning By-law Review
Delay implementation of new as-of-right zoning variations until Brampton’s CZBR is finalized in early 2026. Work collaboratively with municipalities to avoid rework, delays, and unnecessary financial impacts.
2. Require all Ministerial planning decisions to remain consistent with the PPS
The PPS provides a foundational minimum standard for planning across Ontario. Consistency should apply equally to provincial and municipal decisions to uphold fairness, transparency, and responsible planning outcomes.
3. Maintain transparent consultation for Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs)
Even if issued directly, MZOs should include predictable and meaningful municipal engagement windows to ensure alignment with local planning and infrastructure conditions.
4. Safeguard MTSA planning timelines when streamlining amendments
Ensure that streamlined PMTSA updates do not enable inappropriate private inclusion requests that delay MTSA delineation, density planning, or infrastructure coordination.
5. Proceed with expanded Community Improvement Plan (CIP) authority
Staff support this amendment as it enables continued post–Peel dissolution investment, including the Regional Office CIP and local economic development initiatives.
6. Collaborate with municipalities on supporting regulations
Work closely with municipalities to develop detailed regulations that reflect local growth realities, ensure smooth transitions, and maintain the tools needed to plan responsibly and sustainably.
Conclusion
The City of Brampton remains committed to working collaboratively with the Province to advance responsible, well-planned growth and support the delivery of complete, resilient communities. We appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed Planning Act amendments under Bill 60 and look forward to continued dialogue as regulations are developed. Should further technical input or coordination be required, City staff would be pleased to support the Province in ensuring successful implementation.

Yours truly,

Steve Ganesh, MCIP, RPP
Commissioner, Planning, Building and Growth Management
Corporation of the City of Brampton
steve.ganesh@brampton.ca