City Council Meeting Abstract

Summary

Council took decisive action to protect 3,000 auto manufacturing jobs by freezing the Stellantis plant property zoning to prevent non-automotive development, while also implementing a moratorium on all contract extensions until staff explains the renewal process. The meeting also addressed domestic violence statistics showing officers respond to intimate partner violence calls every 30 minutes in the region.

Topics Discussed

1. STELLANTIS PLANT PROTECTION: Council unanimously passed a motion to restrict the Stellantis/Brampton Assembly Plant property to auto manufacturing use only, preventing the company from selling the land for alternative development like condominiums. This protects 3,000 direct jobs and thousands more in the parts supplier base. The motion follows concerns that Stellantis is reneging on obligations despite receiving multi-billion dollar public subsidies from federal and provincial governments over decades.

2. CONTRACT EXTENSION OVERSIGHT: Council voted to pause all current contract extensions until staff provides a comprehensive report on the renewal process. The decision came after concerns that multi-year contracts with extension options were being renewed automatically at the staff level without competitive bidding or council approval. This could affect various city services timing but aims to increase competition and potentially improve pricing for residents.

3. INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE CRISIS: Peel Police reported 14,117 family and intimate partner violence calls from January to October 2025, averaging 46 calls per day or one incident every 30 minutes. Detective Pamela Parkin revealed that 78% of victims are women, 553 strangulation charges were issued in 2024, and victims of strangulation are 7 times more likely to be killed by their partner. Over 70 women from the area have been victims of femicide since 2008.

4. CENOTAPH RELOCATION CONSULTATION: Council requested staff consult with Veterans Affairs before proceeding with plans to relocate a veterans' cenotaph as part of the Kenillan Square redevelopment. The Heritage Board raised concerns about the monument's proposed northeast-facing orientation where "it would never see the light of the sun." The Legion has written a letter supporting the relocation plan.

5. TRANSIT WORKER SAFETY AND EXPANSION: Union representatives highlighted that transit operators face assault "almost every day, whether it's verbal, physical, mental" and called for more action to prevent assaults. The city is opening a third transit garage to meet growing demands as the workforce has expanded to 1,600 members. Federal parliament has amended the criminal code to make assault on transit workers an aggravating offense.

Motions

• Passed: Motion to restrict Stellantis plant property zoning to auto manufacturing use only (Item 15.1) - unanimous
• Passed: Motion to pause all contract extensions until staff report is provided (Item 10.61) - moved by Councillor Plushy, seconded by Councillor Tor
• Passed: Motion to reschedule council meeting from March 25th to March 11th - unanimous
• Passed: Authorization for purchasing agent to begin procurement for new bus and shelter advertising contract (Item 19.4)
• Passed: Bylaws 2026-412026 (inclusive)
• Held: Request to begin procurement for public works repairs westside WS 1-6

Attendees

Present: - Mayor Patrick Brown - Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh - Councillor Medeiros - Councillor Fortini - Councillor Bowman - Councillor Dhillon - Councillor Keenan - Councillor Santos - Councillor Berryman - Councillor Vicente - Councillor Charmaine Williams (online) - Councillor Plushy - Councillor Tor - Councillor Power