Oct 10, 2025
The Toronto Star’s story on Brampton’s purchase of 175 Sandalwood Parkway West paints a sensational picture — but newly released City documents and Council records show something different: a staff-led, unanimously approved acquisition aligned with market value and long-term operational planning.
Documents: News-Release
“Let’s be clear — this was not some backroom deal. It was a staff-driven recommendation, debated in camera under the Municipal Act, and approved 11-0 by Council,” said one City Hall source familiar with the deliberations. Sources at City Hall confirmed to The Bramptonist that the proposal was pushed hardest by then-CAO Paul Morrison and Councillor Pat Fortini, not the Mayor.
A Transparent, Staff-Led Acquisition
According to the September 13 and September 29, 2023, closed-session staff reports — both now publicly released — the property was identified through the City’s mandated broker as an off-market opportunity to consolidate operations and create new park and recreation capacity.
Reports indicate that staff presented Council with several options — ranging from rejecting the offer outright to authorizing the purchase at a capped amount. Following two independent appraisals and a third-party peer review confirming that the price aligned with 2023 market conditions, the Council voted unanimously to proceed with the $77.9 million acquisition. Contrary to the Toronto Star’s reporting, sources shared that the Mayor was initially opposed to the proposal but, after hearing staff recommendations and learning about the ASE capacity challenges related to Toronto processing Brampton’s tickets, reversed his position and supported the staff recommendation.
Not an Empty Building
The City’s official correction notice — published October 9, 2025 (link: https://www.brampton.ca/EN/City-Hall) — directly contradicts the Star’s claims that the Sandalwood facility is sitting idle.
In its statement, the City noted that 13 corrections were formally requested to address “material inaccuracies and misleading statements” in the article. Among the errors flagged:
• Incorrectly stating that the building is “virtually empty,” despite multiple departments already operating onsite.
• Falsely suggesting the Mayor “pushed through” the deal, when Council voted 11-0 based on staff recommendations.
• Omitting that the purchase was advanced by the former Chief Administrative Officer following two independent appraisals and a peer review.
• Misrepresenting the facility’s intended use and occupancy timeline.
The City clarified that the property currently supports multiple divisions — including Legislative Services, Information Technology, Recreation, Parks Maintenance and Forestry, and Fleet Operations — with additional staff scheduled to transition in early 2026 as part of the full corporate return-to-office plan.
The site’s 16-acre footprint includes warehouse and industrial space for vehicles and storage, as well as planned outdoor uses for recreation and park development. The City also noted that the main parking lot sits behind a secured gate not visible in the Star’s published photo, and released footage showing active occupancy at the time of the reporter’s visit.
Questionable Sources
The Star’s coverage leans heavily on unnamed “insiders” and anonymous “sources familiar with the deal,” while omitting the actual Council records and staff reports now publicly available. The reliance on unnamed voices — without documentation — creates a misleading narrative that conflicts directly with the City’s own evidence and official record.
It’s also worth noting that among the few on-record commentators is former councillor Elaine Moore — a long-time critic of Mayor Brown and the current administration. Moore has repeatedly opposed major City initiatives and played a key role in supporting unsuccessful 2022 election campaigns for Nikki Kaur (for Mayor) and John Sanderson (for Council), both of whom were decisively defeated. Her ongoing political commentary should be viewed through the lens of partisanship and personal grievance.
When anonymous “insiders” and politically aligned critics are used to frame a narrative — rather than the verifiable public record — the result is less journalism and more conjecture.
What the Reports Reveal
The newly public September 13 report outlines the property’s suitability for multiple uses — including an Automated Speed Enforcement Processing Centre, additional parkland, and winterized recreation facilities. It also details the peer-review appraiser’s finding that the seller’s valuation was “inadequate, inappropriate and unreasonable,” concluding that the City’s negotiated amount was more realistic.
The follow-up September 29 report documents Council’s budget amendment and final approval of the $77.9 million purchase, ratified in open session and signed by the Chief Administrative Officer and the Commissioner of Community Services.
Together, the reports directly counter the notion that the deal was made without oversight. They confirm that the facility will serve as Brampton’s in-house processing hub for speed enforcement — a move expected to improve service efficiency and support local job creation.
City’s Official Response
In its correction notice, the City stated that it “respectfully requested corrections in the online and print versions” of the article and reiterated that the transaction followed standard municipal procedure, including appraisal reviews and the Council’s unanimous approval.
The City emphasized that both appraisals — and the independent third-party review — confirmed the purchase price was consistent with market value at the time of acquisition. The statement reaffirmed that the project aligns with the Council’s priorities for transparency, accountability, and responsible asset management.
The record now shows a clear paper trail: a staff-initiated opportunity, rigorous appraisals, and Council’s unanimous 11-0 approval — all advanced by the former Chief Administrative Officer, who strongly advocated for the project and recommended the acquisition to Council.
Far from a secretive windfall, Sandalwood stands as a strategic, well-documented investment in Brampton’s future civic capacity — one that was identified, justified, and championed by senior management to meet the City’s long-term operational needs.