Boundary Adjustment - City of Barrie

In this post, I will attempt to unpack and clarify the current ongoings with respect to the City of Barrie's proposed boundary adjustment, as presented to Council on November 8th.

First off, how can a boundary adjustment come to fruition?

There are typically 3 standardized ways for a boundary adjustment to take place:

1. Two municipalities come together and work toward a shared need or common goal, and both petition the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing requesting the boundary adjustment.

2. One municipality (historically, usually a larger one) will attempt to petition the Minister of Municipal Affairs and demonstrate how this boundary adjustment will advance the goals of the municipality and the province. This was partially the case when Barrie Annexed Lands in Innisfil in 2010, but ultimately the Province stepped in and completed the annexation under option 3) Barrie-Innisfil Boundary Adjustment Act, 2009, S.O. 2009, c. 29 (ontario.ca). There is more nuance to this particular annexation as the groundwork was partially laid in 1981 "c 63 Barrie-Innisfil Annexation Act, 1981" by Ontario (yorku.ca).

3. Acting under their own accord, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing can unilaterally redraw, or commission/decommission an upper-tier municipality. The main goal would be to advance provincial goals and agendas. This was seen most recently when the Region of Peel was disbanded Bill 112 – Update September 2023 (peelregion.ca)

I believe that Mr. Nuttall (Mayor of the City of Barrie) was initially attempting to negotiate with Oro-Medonte to attempt to go to the Province under Option 1). However, my opinion on the questions asked and how the council responded to his assertions made it clear that Oro-Medonte does not have any interest in a border adjustment that provides no real tangible benefits to the Township or its residents.

Here's the challenging part, as Mr. Nuttall, by virtue of his previous elected positions (MP for Barrie Springwater Oro-Medonte from 2015-2019), will have political connections at the province, and I'm sure to keep his campaign promises of bringing industrial lands and jobs to Barrie, he will attempt to use those connections to achieve those outcomes that he deems appropriate.

Here's the opportunity, we as a community have a voice, not just when it comes to casting our votes during election time but to voice our concerns. The provincial government has been seen making some very head-scratching decisions, specifically with regard to land use planning over the past 12 months (loosed greenbelt protections, Ministerial Zoning Orders). I am not so sure they would be willing to make land use planning decisions that are in contradiction with both the Municipalities' Official Plans, as well as something that would affect Prime Agricultural land.

As noted, Oro-Medonte's Official plan (which was recently approved by the County of Simcoe) calls for industrial and employment lands to be located along Highway 11, with specific consideration of the land that is close to the airport. This will allow those potential businesses to have access to Hwy 11, an airport that is slated for increased activity and development for cargo, and maintains and protects our Agricultural land.

Big cities should not have the ability to solve their own planning issues by sprawling into neighboring municipalities against their will.

IF, the province does insist that these lands are needed for industrial uses, I believe that Oro-Medonte can do this on our own. We can work with our municipal partners to keep our borders intact and ensure that the Township and its residents are well taken care of.

Overall, I find the process in which the City of Barrie has taken to be a deviation of the standard norms and practices when it comes to a boundary adjustment (Look north to see how Orillia is going about the process), that has led me to a conclusion, at this point, that this application as it currently stands doesn't work for Oro-Medonte, its residents, or the environment. Much more information is needed.

Our Farmland is precious, and once paved over, you cannot get it back. Oro-Medonte has a strong Official plan and has made good planning decisions to ensure our farmland is protected and that Residential growth and employment lands are placed within the township where they make the most sense.

Yours in Service,

David Clark

Continued Reading:

Townships question value of 'partnership' with Barrie on land request - Barrie News (barrietoday.com)

Oro-Medonte 'not comfortable' with Barrie's boundary request - Barrie News (barrietoday.com)

Barrie mayor prepares pitch to Oro-Medonte for industrial land - Barrie News (barrietoday.com)