FAQs

The Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, is a document that outlines the proposed terms agreed to in principle between the City of Brantford and the County of Brant regarding a potential municipal boundary adjustment. The MOU does not, by itself, complete the boundary adjustment. It establishes the proposed framework for moving forward, including the lands proposed for transfer, compensation, transition matters, and next steps. A formal restructuring agreement and required approvals would still be needed before any boundary adjustment takes effect. It is noted that final approval to make a boundary adjustment, rests with the Province’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The proposed land transfer area is comprised of 1,317 acres and includes the Brantford Municipal Airport and a portion of the nearby lands identified through the boundary adjustment review process. The proposal is intended to bring the airport and a reasonable surrounding land area into the City of Brantford to accommodate the future expansion of the Airport and aviation related businesses. while leaving most of the Oak Hill Settlement Area in the County of Brant. A map showing the proposed transfer area is attached and will also be available on the Let’s Talk Brantford project page.

The City of Brantford owns and operates the Brantford Municipal Airport, but the airport is currently located within the County of Brant. This creates challenges for long-term airport planning, governance, servicing, financing, and investment. The City is responsible for the long-term planning, maintenance, servicing, business activities, and operation of the airport. However, because the airport is outside the City’s municipal jurisdiction, the City’s ability to generate capital and implement long-term improvements is more challenging. The boundary adjustment is being considered to better align municipal jurisdiction with ownership and operational responsibility for the airport.

The Brantford Municipal Airport is a regional asset that supports private and corporate aviation, aircraft storage, parts and maintenance, flight training through the Brantford Flight Centre, charter service for the W. Ross McDonald School, Hope Air medical transport, logistics, filming, recreation, and aviation-related businesses. The City’s Economic Development Strategy identifies the airport as an important economic engine with significant development potential. The airport’s approved vision is to be recognized as a premier destination in Ontario for small private, corporate, and commercial aircraft services.

An aviation business park is a planned employment area focused on aviation-related and aviation-supporting businesses. The City’s Economic Development Strategy identifies the potential for an aviation business park at the Brantford Municipal Airport. It could include businesses such as aircraft maintenance, parts suppliers, paint shops, propeller and engine services, interiors, flight training, and other aviation-related services. The concept is intended to support local jobs, skilled labour attraction, regional supply chains, and long-term financial sustainability for the airport. It could also create related economic development opportunities in the County of Brant on adjacent employment lands.

No. The signing of the MOU does not mean the airport is expanding immediately. The MOU sets out proposed terms for a boundary adjustment and provides a path for further discussion, public engagement, and formal Council consideration. Any future airport development, aviation business park development, servicing work, road changes, or land-use changes would be subject to the applicable planning, engineering, financial, environmental, and approval processes. Residents will be provided with more information as future plans are developed.

If the boundary adjustment is ultimately approved, properties within the transfer area would become part of the City of Brantford on the effective date established through the restructuring process. More detailed transition information would be provided to any impacted residents before any change takes effect. This would include information about municipal services, property taxes, by-laws, emergency services, waste collection, roads, water and wastewater, and customer service contacts. The City’s 2017 boundary-transition process used this same type of staggered service-by-service approach for affected residents, including transitional details on taxes, water billing, garbage and recycling, road maintenance, snow clearing, by-laws, licensing, and emergency services.

Roads, water, wastewater, and related servicing matters would be addressed through the restructuring agreement and related agreements between the City and County. The MOU notes that boundary roads will be incorporated into the existing boundary road agreement between the City and County for routine maintenance and repairs. It also identifies additional matters related to planning, water and wastewater connections, and servicing arrangements.

As with previous boundary transitions, residents should not see any change in the level of service they receive from their municipality.  The City will be communicating extensively with residents in the transfer area around City services, programs, and initiatives.

The MOU is not the final approval. Additional steps are still required before any boundary adjustment can take effect. Next steps include:

1. Public information and engagement to inform the final agreement and both Councils’ consideration.
2. Continued City and County discussions on a draft restructuring agreement.
3. Consideration of the restructuring agreement by City Council and County Council.
4. Statutory public hearings.
5. Required by-laws and formal approvals.
6. Any required provincial approval or restructuring order.

Residents can ask questions and provide comments through the dedicated Let’s Talk Brantford project page and through in person Open House opportunities. The project page will include:

• Background information
• A map of the proposed transfer area
• A project FAQ
• Key documents
• Open houses (details tbd)
• A question submission tool
• A comment submission tool

Questions and comments received through Let’s Talk Brantford and at the open houses will help identify key themes, concerns, and information needs before the next stage of Council consideration.

Two public open houses will be held on: (tbd)

• Date: Thursday, June 11 from 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. 
• Location: Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course, 320 Balmoral Drive, Brantford

The open houses will be drop-in format. Residents may attend either session to view project information, speak with staff, ask questions, and provide comments.

After the open houses, City and County staff will review questions, comments, and feedback received through both the in-person sessions and Let’s Talk Brantford.

Feedback will be used to:

• Update the FAQ where additional clarification is needed.
• Identify common questions and concerns.
• Inform continued discussions on the restructuring agreement.
• Support future Council reporting and public meeting materials.

The City and County are expected to continue discussions on the restructuring agreement following the engagement period. Special open Council meetings and statutory public hearings will be held before the restructuring agreement and related agreements are considered for approval.