THE RRL PROGRAM
The Truth about RRL​
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The RRL program was introduced after the current council amended Bylaw 165-2022, which removed regulations that previously limited how many people could legally reside in a dwelling as outlined in the Building Code. This change allowed homeowners to house as many people as they want. With the council actively promoting international and university programs, it's hard to see what they thought would happen. One major consequence of this is the lack of accurate census data—the city has no idea how many people live in Brampton. This data gap creates serious challenges for planning schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.
Many homes in Brampton have legal basement apartments, which can be used for family purposes without registering under the RRL program. However, issues arise when homeowners deceive the building department and rent out these units for profit without proper registration.
Solution to the RRL Issues
The key solution is to revert Bylaw 165-2022 and re-establish clear guidelines on how many people can legally live in a “unit.” Another issue is the registration fee, which discourages voluntary compliance. According to my source, most registrations only occur after multiple complaints are made through 311, prompting an RRL officer or the Basement Task Force to investigate. At that point, fines are issued for unregistered units.
Two of the biggest complaints about rental properties are garbage disposal and parking. The council has failed Brampton’s citizens, and the RRL program is just a smokescreen. Enforcement resources are inadequate: only four officers are assigned to the Basement Task Force and just two officers handle the entire RRL program—nowhere near enough for a city of Brampton’s size. Furthermore, the pilot project already faces a $950,000 shortfall. Although the city promised to hire more staff, it has primarily hired managers and supervisors, none of whom issue fines or handle complaints directly. Shockingly, Brampton employs one director, 15 supervisors, 3 managers, and 90 bylaw officers, with 21% of bylaw staff in management—many of whom are on the Sunshine List. This is not an effective use of taxpayers' money.
Another Flaw in the RRL Program
The city designed the RRL program without adequately consulting the bylaw department. One crucial point that needs clarification: bylaw officers do not enter homes unless the tenant provides consent. If consent is denied, a search warrant is required. In cases of criminal activity such as exploitation or sexual acts, it is the city's duty to engage the police, as these matters fall under criminal jurisdiction. Council has failed residents by ignoring these issues and not setting up a task force with Peel Police to charge the criminals and protect women.
Harmonizing Brampton's Housing Crisis
Brampton residents all want the same thing: community harmony. Many homeowners with secondary properties are struggling due to rising living costs and a volatile real estate market. Legal basement apartment owners have followed proper procedures, but the larger issue is a lack of student housing for international students. Mismanagement by both the federal government, with its poorly executed immigration policies, and the provincial government, which has failed to address student housing, has worsened the situation. To make matters worse, the real slumlord is on Patrick Brown's council—Torr, who alone has 33 fines yet still manages to maintain a rundown building. Council has turned a blind eye to this issue.
The RRL program needs more than just minor adjustments. The city must revisit Bylaw 165-2022, invest in resources and enforcement staff, and be transparent about how the situation got to this point.​
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LATEST CBC ARTICLE on another property and another fine -
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The real slumlords live in City Hall!
On Tuesday, September 16th, CTV posted yet another story about Gurpartap Singh Toor. Back in the spring, he faced 29 fines totaling over $12,500 for a property he owns. Despite the public embarrassment following the CTV report, the behavior continues. Now, the property has received four more fines, but this time, the City refuses to disclose the amounts. Toor has yet to address public concerns, take interviews, or explain his actions. CTV even approached him directly at council, but he was a no-show.
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video/c2994815-brampton-to-demolish-politician-s-derelict-house
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So, why is this tolerated? It seems this is how council treats City of Brampton employees. This has become the status quo. In this case, a bylaw officer was actually removed from the file by the council, allowing Toor to use his privilege to avoid consequences. The additional bylaw officers the City promised to hire? They have not yet materialized.
Speaking with an employee from the Rose Theatre setup team, I heard overwhelming support for the strike vote. “Our teams are so frustrated with the treatment from management and the City,” she shared.
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I’ve reported before on how the City fails to obtain permits for projects or consult with the Toronto Conservation Authority when necessary. When questioned, I was told “municipalities have domain over such matters,” which, according to the Ontario Building Code, is incorrect. Every entity must have a permit when building under the Act in Ontario.
The City of Brampton’s internal auditors have flagged the situation as "Immediate Action Required" due to improper policies and procedures for managing millions of dollars in tools and equipment staff rely on. Additionally, there is inconsistent financial reporting, leading to a continuous waste of taxpayer money.
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The problem with this council is its blatant disregard for Brampton taxpayers. The money they’re spending isn’t theirs, and this unchecked government spending is eroding the quality of life for Brampton residents.
Sept 18th update
Attached is the link for the meeting recording. I highly recommend viewing the section at 1:43. Additionally, the summary report on the progress has been attached for your reference. https://pub-brampton.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=b6b4bc29-27e7-492b-b971-908ef3f0a76a&Agenda=Merged&lang=English&Item=67&Tab=attachments
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I’ve been vocal in my disagreements with many aspects of the RRL program. However, after much discussion with both sides, I want to clarify my position. I am 100% committed to ensuring the safety of our communities while maintaining the quality of life for our neighbors. I understand the need for action and commend the city for its efforts, but I will continue to apply pressure from an opposing standpoint. My goal is to ensure that this policy complies with the legal precedent set in Windsor in February and that landlords are also protected in this process.
For the record, I was present in council in January when protestors acted out, and their behavior was unacceptable. Landlords and tenants who break the law must be held accountable. I do not support unruly protests but believe in civil discussions and healthy debate.
Regarding my neighbors who are organizing a social awareness campaign on the 22nd, I fully support free speech and understand your efforts to gather support for the RRL program. However, I remain unconvinced. It’s crucial to respect differing points of view.
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In speaking with individuals who oppose the RRL program, I’ve listened to those with legitimate concerns, excluding those who break the law. I support the bylaw process, but I believe this program lacks sufficient funding to accurately measure its successes, failures, and areas needing improvement. I also have serious concerns about Councillor Torr’s involvement, given his property on Queen Street.
I listened to Councillor Santos and agree that the city needs to include the work International Student Charter, discussions about visa caps, licensing, and unlicensed contractors must be included in the amendment to the attached document, it is critical to educate. I also agree with Mayor Brown’s decision to hold a press conference. Housing is a critical issue and among the top three concerns nationwide. However, the theatrics of labeling "slumlords" were distasteful, especially given that his own councillor falls under this label.
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I found it interesting that council did not include a task force from the Toronto Peel police to address sexual exploitation, which was specifically mentioned during the press conference. Furthermore, no representatives from the police department were present at the council meeting. The city needs to do more on this issue.
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Lastly, one resident commented that my personal political ambitions should not interfere with my interest in the RRL program. This is very much about politics. Your councillors are politicians responsible for creating bylaws and governing our city. The democratic process allows for discussion and opposition. I will not apologize for stepping up to address the community and opposing the current direction. When election time comes, I don’t see people rushing to put their names on the ballot. It goes both ways—you can’t expect the city to govern solely based on your preferences. While I appreciate the passion surrounding these issues, I remind my neighbors that respectful conversation can lead to better ideas.
Let's Talk About Safety:
Why the RRL Program Fails to Address the Real Issues
This past Sunday (Sept 23) , my neighbors organized a rally in support of the RRL (Residential Rental Licensing) program at Ken Williams Square. It was a well-coordinated event, attended by homeowners frustrated with how council continues to mishandle critical issues. No one denies that the increased densification of Brampton-transforming single-family homes into multi-unit dwellings like garden suites, legal apartments, and high-rise buildings-is a serious concern. There are some illegal homes and some serious safety issues that I propose a different approach.
However, the problem is exacerbated by upzoning that council has pushed through without resident approval. Upzoning permits more intensive land use, allowing multi-family housing or taller buildings in areas previously zoned for single-family homes. This is happening, whether Brampton residents agree or not, and it stems from a housing crisis that was poorly planned for by the Liberal government.
The provincial government needs to meet housing targets to maintain federal transfers, and our council's decisions are a byproduct of this pressure. But to truly address safety-and enforce bylaws-the city would need to invest more than 50% of its bylaw budget just to double the department's capacity each year. Given council's spending priorities on projects like tennis courts and concerts, that isn't going to happen. The Real Question: Why is Council Spending on Projects the Community Clearly Does Not Support?
More importantly, let's talk about safety-the buzzword council throws around for media attention. Here are some real solutions to the issues that the RRL program does not address:
Fire Code Violations: This issue doesn't require a license; the fire department already has jurisdiction. We should involve the fire department more directly in this conversation, educating landlords, tenants, and students about fire safety. Resources should be provided in multiple languages, and the city could offer free fire inspections, fire alarms, and CO2 detectors without penalties. This would require council funding, but fire prevention efforts are already effective-they just need to be applied to this problem. Brampton's Fire Department is competent, and the RRL program does nothing to address this issue.
Sexual Exploitation: Council could approach the Region to propose a sexual exploitation task force, funded by the mayors of Brampton, Mississauga, and Caledon. This would give Peel Police the resources to address criminal activity more effectively. Our law enforcement officers are well-trained to combat sexual exploitation if given proper support. The province could allocate funding to this issue, something the RRL program won't resolve. Solving crime happens when you support the police.
Community Safety and Waste Management: Garbage is a serious health concern, with increased rats and vermin due to improper waste disposal. Why not tackle this at the regional level? The Region could introduce a reward system for landlords who improve recycling efforts and educate tenants on proper waste management. Simple steps like labeling bins with stickers in multiple languages and increasing garbage pickup for large items like mattresses could make a significant difference. Again, this is something the RRL program won't address, but with proper regional funding, it can be tackled.
Real Solutions for a Changing City
I’m working on more ideas to address these challenges, but the key is getting more people involved in the conversation. Most landlords in Brampton are not slumlords, despite the racially charged rhetoric from our mayor and council. It’s time to focus on real solutions and acknowledge that Brampton is changing—it’s not going back to the way it was. This is the path forward.
Stop believing that an underfunded, ineffective RRL program will be the "white savior" of the community. It’s a distraction, allowing council to avoid addressing the real issues. Brampton Council will continue to act in its own interest, wasting money and implementing knee-jerk solutions, unless we, the residents, demand meaningful and impactful change.
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If you're interested in joining a Zoom call with individuals committed to real change—and who DO NOT support the RRL program—reach out at support@teamtracy.ca or visit my website for updates on the RRL. Yes, this is politics, and council is creating a license that will affect all of Brampton. This is a municipal issue, and no one is stepping up to reveal the other side of the story.
Even though I am running for the Brampton Centre nomination with the Conservative Party of Canada, I am transparent about my opposition to this ill-conceived program. Change happens with you!
Let’s Work Together
I need your support at Council to advocate your concerns and ensure they are given due consideration. While I am currently running as a candidate for the Federal Conservatives in Brampton Centre, I remain deeply committed to our community. Whether or not I win the nomination, I will continue serving as the President of CARP and managing my firm. As your neighbor, let us collaborate and work together for the betterment of our downtown area and our community at large.
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