Oro-Medonte council has voted in favour of Barrie’s proposed boundary-adjustment plan, clearing a major hurdle in the municipal restructuring talks.
However, the greenlight from Oro-Medonte is not without attaching conditions intended to protect the township’s interests.
At a special meeting, council backed the proposal with amendments and recommendations that must be agreed to by Barrie and forwarded to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The lands in Oro-Medonte slated for transfer to Barrie total 457 hectares, of which 274 hectares are identified as developable.
Key conditions include deferring decisions on employment lands pending servicing studies, and ensuring the annexed lands are used strictly for community purposes — such as housing and institutional uses — rather than employment and industrial development.
Under the proposed agreement, Barrie would pay Oro-Medonte $15,000 per developable acre. On Jan. 1, 2026, a lump-sum payment of $10.15 million would be due to be delivered to the township.
Mayor Randy Greenlaw said supporting the boundary adjustment plan — with protections — is the most responsible path forward.
“I don’t think saying no is the best way to move forward,” he said.
“We’re not giving up, we’re not backing down but we will be, as we have been since day 1, we are a fact-based council looking for solutions.”
Ward 3 Coun. David Clark acknowledged the decision was difficult but said staff and council worked to get to the best terms possible.
“Do I like the final outcome? No,” he said.
“Do I think this is the best thing we could possibly have hoped for given where we were three years ago? Yes, I do.”
The lone vote against the motion came from Ward 5 Coun. Richard Snell, who argued the push for more housing has driven the process too quickly.
“What brought us here was to build more homes faster — I said a long time ago if we need to build more houses, don’t change the boundary lines,” he said.
Simcoe County council has also given a lukewarm endorsement of the annexation plans. They set conditions to protect local taxpayers, including precautions over employment lands, compensation agreements and provincial approvals linked to economic impacts and infrastructure.
In the Township of Springwater, approximately 1,126 hectares are proposed for annexation to support mixed-use residential and industrial growth.
Barrie is aiming to have the municipal restructuring take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
