Midhurst/June 13, 2024 – Today, the City of Barrie, the Township of Oro-Medonte, the Township of Springwater, and the County of Simcoe released the following statement:
The City of Barrie, the Township of Oro-Medonte, the Township of Springwater, and the County of Simcoe are engaged in facilitated discussions, with the intent of developing mutually acceptable approaches to enable growth in the broader region. The parties intend to fulfill local objectives by implementing provincial priorities, such as the creation of housing and employment in the vicinity of Barrie/Springwater and Barrie/Oro-Medonte.
In response to the City of Barrie’s requested boundary expansion, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing assigned the Deputy Provincial Land and Development Facilitator.
Each municipality enters these discussions with a mandate to represent and protect the interests of their residents and stakeholders. However, our shared overall goal is to achieve outcomes that promote regional prosperity. All avenues will be considered to ensure that any agreement is equitable, balanced, and reflective of the diverse needs across our municipalities. A needs assessment will be undertaken as a foundation to these discussions.
While the facilitation sessions are confidential, providing regular updates to keep our respective communities informed will be paramount. Any potential resolutions that may result from the facilitation process will be considered in an open, transparent forum.
More details will be shared as they become available. The City of Barrie, the Township of Oro-Medonte, the Township of Springwater, and the County of Simcoe remain committed to finding solutions that strengthen our respective communities and improve the lives of those we serve.