Building Greener – Federal Budget 2022

A key City initiative is contributing to the redevelopment and beautification of the downtown. Its goal is to provide long-term flood risk solutions while at the same time establishing incredible public spaces for people to enjoy, allowing more residential development, creating more jobs, and strengthening the character and identity of the downtown.

More than $45M has been invested by all partners, including the federal and provincial governments, and $38.8M in federal funding through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.

• An Environmental Assessment (EA) to look at alternatives for providing flood mitigation in Brampton commenced in 2018 and was approved in September 2020. The EA identified a flood mitigation solution consisting of widening and deepening the Etobicoke Creek, replacing existing bridges with larger spans, and making local modifications to adjacent roadways.

The City of Brampton, in partnership with Sheridan College, developed a Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP). This plan calls for an integrated effort by the municipality, local utilities and community to improve energy efficiency, reduce GHG emissions, ensure energy security, create economic advantages and increase resilience to climate change. Addressing the climate change emergency will require an urban and energy transition.

The CEERP includes strategic directions focused on green communities, efficiencies in home and building, transportation, manufacturing, and green infrastructure, contributing to a more sustainable Brampton – environmentally, economically and equitably.

The CCET is a not-for-profit, community-based organization to accelerate Brampton’s transition to a low-carbon future. CCET will focus on implementing four climate change priorities, including:

• Advancing deep home energy retrofits.
• Encouraging district energy nodes.
• Spurring industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) energy efficiency.
• Promoting outreach and engagement.

The Climate Change Adaptation Plan is intended to evaluate, guide, and integrate the diverse policies, programs, and activities of the City, conservation authority partners, and other stakeholders to ensure our collective efforts are directed towards the long-term health and climate resilience of Brampton. The CCAP will deliver a detailed five-year Climate Change Adaptation Plan that directs updates to Brampton’s  policies, plans, programs, practices, and procedures and aligns with national and international climate change goals and objectives.

Residential homes represent 26% of energy use and 21% of GHG emissions in Brampton. To achieve our energy conservation and GHG emission reduction targets, over 100,000 older homes in Brampton need to be retrofitted for energy efficiency. This requires a consistent set of modifications to existing buildings to improve energy efficiency and decrease energy demand. The City of Brampton has already developed a Feasibility Study for a retrofit program. To achieve success, a funding partnership strategy must be established with the provincial and federal  governments to facilitate the implementation of home energy retrofits.

Brampton Eco Park comprises a network of sustainable urban/green spaces reflecting Brampton’s character and unique social opportunities, while supporting City infrastructure. This is achieved by conserving and enhancing the City’s natural systems, features and landscapes and expanding and evolving into parks, streetscapes, and other spaces to form a comprehensive network of green places and nature reserves throughout the city.

Several larger Eco Park projects are currently being implemented. These include:

• Fallingdale, Earnscliffe and Eastbourne Eco Park Revitalization: An Eco Park revitalization, in conjunction with the scheduled TRCA channel remediation on-site.
• Eco Park Education Centre: The development of a flagship trailhead Eco Space to the Credit River Valley will be a prominent, publicly accessible centre for environmental learning and outdoor recreation.
• Riverwalk: A large and innovative long-term flood mitigation project in the heart of Brampton integrating the Eco Park Principles.
• Lake Enhancement Strategy: A strategy to enhance the city’s lakes and transform them into signature features of Brampton’s Eco Park.

The establishment of Eco Parks across Brampton will help leverage the city’s natural heritage and recreation goals. The City is seeking funding for these important Eco Park initiatives.

The City invests in maintaining and upgrading stormwater infrastructure across Brampton on an ongoing basis. In addition to regular operations and cleanout of Brampton’s stormwater infrastructure, the City is also investing in retrofits and  upgrades to existing infrastructure. For example, the City has identified gaps in water quality treatment provided by existing infrastructure in neighbourhoods built before current stormwater management practices. The City has reviewed these areas and identified opportunities for new stormwater management infrastructure to be installed to capture pollutants from urban runoff before entering the natural  environment. Overall, these retrofits will provide additional stormwater control and treatment in underserved neighbourhoods to be more prepared for climate change. Funding and support can help the City accelerate and increase the scope of the  Stormwater Retrofit Program to include additional opportunities.