The Facts
Much of downtown Brampton sits under a provincial Special Policy Area designation because of flood risk. Lifting it depends on completing the Riverwalk flood protection project on Etobicoke Creek.
Source: Source: thepointer.com ↗In November 2020 the federal government committed up to $38.85 million toward downtown flood protection through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, with the City committing $58.2 million against a $107 million project estimate.
Source: Source: canada.ca ↗By December 2025 the project was reported at more than half a billion dollars, and per The Pointer's reporting the federal contribution had still not been unlocked. The 2022 plan scheduled completion for 2027; the target is now 2028.
Source: Source: thepointer.com ↗In December 2025, Council approved rezoning downtown to let development proceed before the flood protection it depends on was delivered.
Source: Source: thepointer.com ↗The Advocacy Lane
The floodplain designation is provincial and the pledged money is federal. The Mayor's job is to get the City, TRCA, Ontario and Ottawa at one table with one public schedule. Paul Tarriwal isn't campaigning on a BRT. He's campaigning on what it connects: the downtown, the hospital corridor and the Queen Street spine the Riverwalk unlocks.