Ontario minister of finance Charles Sousa was met by roughly 60 residents, community group representatives and municipal officials during a public prebudget consultation at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives Feb. 6.

The last in a series of 13 such town-hall-style events across the province in recent weeks, the Brampton consultation saw 36 speakers submit suggestions or requests for funding to the provincial government as it prepares its 2018 budget.

“I’ve been doing a number of these consultations across the province, our finance committee is doing the same,” said Sousa. “I’ve been all over the province and I’m very inspired by the discussions. A lot of people are talking about concerns and their priorities.”

An eclectic mix of speakers representing a wide range of organizations and community groups registered to address the minister. Both Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey and Peel police Chief Jennifer Evans were among those who spoke.

Each speaker was given a few minutes to present at the microphone while Sousa and Mississauga-Brampton South MPP Amrit Mangat listened.

While numerous issues were covered, affordable housing, mental health funding and Bill 148 — otherwise known as the Ontario Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act — were the most common themes brought forward by delegates.

Region of Peel chair, Frank Dale, was among several delegates who identified affordable and subsidized housing as a major challenge facing the region.

“Many in Peel continue to struggle to find housing they can afford, and the need is growing,” he said. “From 2014 to 2016, the number of households on the wait-list went up from 11,800 to (almost) 13,000. That’s more than 10 per cent.

“It would take an additional $109 million per year to subsidize the almost 13,000 households on the centralized wait-list. It is also estimated that funding gap for the state of good repair in Peel subsidized housing is $350 million within the next 10 years.”

“The reality is the cost of addressing needs within Peel’s housing system has grown far beyond our budget,” added Dale.