Quite simply, it was taking far too long.

Already two years behind schedule, the City of Brampton announced March 6 that, effective immediately, it has decided to terminate the existing contractor’s right to work on the property at Gore Meadows Community Centre and Library.

The much-anticipated expansion was supposed to be finished in 2016.

“Throughout this project, the city has taken every step possible within the construction contract to push for timely completion of the facility,” the city said in a release. “While some delays can be expected on any construction project of this size, scope and complexity, the extent of the delays at Gore Meadows has been unreasonable.”

Phase 1 of the new community centre and library at the corner of The Gore and Castlemore roads is finished. But the second phase on the 240-acre parcel of land, which will include a lap pool, leisure pool, spray pad and outdoor ice facility, has been repeatedly delayed.

“When you’re two years behind schedule, that’s a long, long time,” said Brampton Regional Coun. John Sprovieri of the $37-million project. “I know there are some deficiencies in the building that had to be rectified. That could have been part of the problem. But these were just unreasonable delays that went on too long. The people have been complaining. The people have been waiting.”

Sprovieri said he understands some of the delays in construction, including several months in 2015 when a worker died on the site.

“But when you’re this far behind, how long can you go on this way?” he asked.

The contractor, Bondfield Construction, has yet to reply to a request for comment.

The city is taking steps to complete the project as quickly and efficiently as possible “to get this facility open to the public at the earliest opportunity,” the municipality announced in a press release.