Brampton city councillors on Wednesday unanimously backed a plan that would dedicate more of the city’s undeveloped lands to employment.

“A majority of residents in the last election gave council a strong mandate to focus on increasing job opportunities in Brampton,” said Coun. Gurpreet Dhillon, who tabled a motion today (June 22) calling for the city’s forecasted 2041 activity rate be hiked to 40 per cent, up from 37 per cent, which would add up to 25,000 new net jobs locally.

Earlier this month, Dhillon openly criticized his council colleagues for approving the conversion of 70 acres of commercial land (mostly in the east end, near Highway 50 and Gore Road) into housing.

Dhillon chastised councillors who supported the planning proposal and for rejecting his call for a temporary freeze on land conversions until an economic development master plan for Brampton is completed by 2018.

The rookie councillor succeeded Wednesday in garnering support for a plan to correct an activity rate considered out of balance by critics of the current growth regime.

Brampton is one of the hottest construction markets in the country and most of that is new housing.

But at 33 per cent, Brampton’s activity rate for employment lands is much smaller compared to neighbouring communities, namely Mississauga. There is one job for every three people in Brampton, which, Dhillon argued, has decreased the city’s competitive standing.

Wednesday’s motion, seconded by regional Coun. John Sprovieri, escalates planning discussions at the regional level and will attempt to rejig regional forecasts so more of the city’s remaining greenfield lands, most of it in the north end, goes to employment. In addition, the motion also calls for greater intensification of developed lands and increasing the proportion of office use over time.

Dhillon’s motion won support from his colleagues. Sprovieri called it “ the right way to secure Brampton’s future.”

However, the motion did come under heavy fire from planners and landowners.