When Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his team flew to London, England last fall, they weren’t just carrying diplomatic briefcases. They brought along a spending controversy that has only now come to light.
Documents obtained through Freedom of Information requests reveal the city spent nearly £36,000 (approximately $61,000 CAD) on chauffeur services during the four-day economic mission. The figures have sparked heated debate at Brampton City Council and raised questions about municipal spending priorities.
“We’re talking about a chauffeur bill that exceeds what many Brampton families earn in a year,” said Councillor Gurpreet Dhillon during Wednesday’s council meeting. “How do we justify this to taxpayers who are struggling with the cost of living?”
The September 2023 trip, billed as an opportunity to attract investment and strengthen Brampton’s international profile, included Mayor Brown, two councillors, and seven staff members. While the delegation reported meeting with potential investors and UK government officials, the transportation costs have overshadowed discussions about the trip’s outcomes.
Brown defended the expenses, noting the delegation was shuttling between multiple locations across Greater London. “This wasn’t luxury—it was logistics,” he said. “We were maximizing our time to promote Brampton as a destination for British investment.”
City documents show the transportation service provided three vehicles and drivers during the delegation’s stay, with daily rates exceeding £8,000. The invoices include wait times, after-hours surcharges, and what one councillor described as “premium-level service packages.”
This isn’t the first time municipal travel expenses have generated controversy in the Greater Toronto Area. Last year, Toronto City Council implemented stricter oversight on international missions after similar concerns about cost transparency. Brampton currently lacks specific guidelines for transportation expenses during overseas trips.
Budget watchdogs have questioned whether the delegation explored more economical options. “London has one of the world’s best public transit systems,” noted Emily Watson, director of the Taxpayers Alliance of Peel. “For the cost of those chauffeur services, the city could have funded several community programs that residents have been requesting for years.”
Records from the city treasurer show Brampton spent approximately $197,000 on the entire London mission. The transportation costs represent nearly a third of the total budget—a proportion that financial policy experts call unusually high.
“The standard benchmark for transportation in municipal delegations typically ranges from 10-15% of the total budget,” explained Dr. Sanjay Sharma, who teaches municipal finance at York University. “When you’re approaching a third of your expenses just getting around town, that calls for some serious reflection.”
The controversy has prompted Councillor Navjit Kaur to propose new guidelines for international travel. Her motion, scheduled for next month’s council meeting, would cap transportation expenses at 15% of an overseas delegation’s budget and require comparative quotes from at least three service providers.
“This isn’t about pointing fingers,” Kaur told reporters after Wednesday’s heated council session. “It’s about establishing clear standards that protect taxpayer dollars and ensure we’re making responsible choices when representing our city abroad.”
The London trip did yield some positive outcomes, according to the economic development office. Two British technology firms have since opened exploratory talks about establishing North American operations in Brampton, though no formal agreements have been signed.
For residents like Mohammed Ismail, a small business owner in Brampton’s downtown core, the spending priorities seem disconnected from local needs. “I pay rising property taxes while dealing with potholes on my street,” he said. “Then I read about £36,000 for fancy cars in London. Something doesn’t add up.”
Mayor Brown has committed to a full review of the expenses but maintains the mission’s value shouldn’t be measured by line-item costs alone. “International relationships take time to cultivate,” he said. “The connections we made in London will benefit Brampton’s economy for years to come.”
