Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race

Then there were two.

Managing director of Redwood Communities and local realtor Tanya Saari has launched her campaign for mayor of Barrie, becoming the second candidate to enter the race for the city’s top political office.

Saari is seeking to unseat incumbent Mayor Alex Nuttall, who announced in May that he will seek a second term in the 2026 municipal election.

Saari has previous political experience, having twice run for Barrie city council in Ward 3. She was a candidate in the 2018 municipal election and again in the 2020 byelection following the resignation of former Coun. Doug Shipley. Shipley was elected as the Conservative MP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte in 2019.

She later ran against Shipley in the 2021 federal election as the Liberal candidate for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte.

Saari said she entered the mayoral race because she believes residents need options as Barrie continues to grow and faces major decisions in how to run the city.

“The simple answer is that I believe Barrie deserves a choice,” she said.

“Barrie is growing quickly, we’re making significant financial decisions, and we’re facing complex challenges around housing, infrastructure, affordability and community safety.”

Saari said she has seen positive changes in the city, including new investment and development, but also hears residents raising concerns about affordability, traffic, infrastructure and how decisions are made at city hall.

“I believe residents deserve the opportunity to hear different ideas, compare different approaches and decide what kind of leadership they want for the future of Barrie,” she said.

Saari said her background in housing, community development, business, finance, real estate and the non-profit sector has shaped her approach to leadership.

“I don’t believe leadership is about being the best. I believe it’s about bringing the right people together,” she said.

Her campaign priorities include what she calls “honest affordability,” which would provide residents with a focus on taxes, fees, debt, reserves, user rates and future costs.

Saari is also campaigning on improving transparency at city hall, increasing public engagement, addressing community safety concerns, supporting responsible growth and ensuring that core services such as road maintenance, snow clearing, sidewalks and parks remain a priority.

She said one of Barrie’s biggest challenges is making sure the city’s rapid growth is matched with the infrastructure and services needed to support residents.

“We’re growing. We need more housing; we want new investment, new jobs,” she said.

“But we also need the roads, infrastructure, parks and services to keep up.”

On homelessness, mental health and addictions, Saari said solutions must focus on partnerships and proven approaches, including supportive housing.

“My experience in housing has shown me that people are experiencing homelessness for many different reasons,” she said.

“That’s why there isn’t one solution that works for everyone.”

Saari said a future administration under her leadership would focus on bringing the right partners together and supporting solutions that have been shown to work.

Barrie voters will choose their next mayor, councillors and school board trustees on Oct. 26, 2026.