Madam Speaker, Brampton is now Canada's 10th largest city with the second busiest construction market in the nation. Construction is booming. In fact, the city hit an all time high of $2.7 billion in new construction last year. Much of it was residential construction, which enjoyed a 50% increase over 2003. That made Brampton number one in Canada for residential construction value.
Brampton's average house price hit $260,000 last year compared to $242,000 in 2003. City officials are managing this growth with a growth management plan.
I would like to congratulate the city councillors in Brampton for putting together a plan that balances new construction with the need for sustainable development. It will provide a number of new economic opportunities for everyone who works, lives and plays in the city.
The growth Brampton saw in 2004 reaffirms its place as a major urban region. In fact, with stable growth Brampton should remain among Canada's growth leaders for a long time to come.