If it were up to Oro-Medonte residents to decide whether Barrie’s annexation proposal should move forward, the answer would be no.
During a public meeting at the Township of Oro-Medonte Administration Centre on Oct. 15, nearly 70 people attended to share their views on the annexation proposal, with township council members in attendance.
On Sept. 25, Barrie, along with the townships of Springwater and Oro-Medonte, released a draft framework proposing adjustments to Barrie’s city boundaries. The plan calls for transferring about 457 hectares of Oro-Medonte land to Barrie for future residential and mixed-use commercial development.
Barrie first proposed a boundary adjustment in fall 2023 to accommodate the city’s projected growth over the next 25 years. In 2024, the province appointed a facilitator to assist in discussions between the three municipalities.
Alex Lusty, a lawyer representing the Midhurst Landowners Group, said there is no reason for Barrie to rush to annex more land. He pointed to the December 2024 Hemson report, which stated the city already has enough industrial land to meet its needs for years to come.
“We should all be able to see that there’s no urgency to the annexation when it’s got a 35-year timeline,” he said.
Jane Voorhees, a vocal opponent of the proposal, thanked residents who have shown their support in opposing Barrie’s plans.
“You’ve gone door to door in every kind of weather, collecting signatures on a petition to stop annexation,” she said.
“You’ve stood in a snowstorm, bundled up and determined, setting up booths so every neighbour could have a voice.”
Greg Harris said he believes Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall may eventually add industrial land to the proposed area, despite comments suggesting otherwise during a Sept. 29 public meeting in Barrie.
“He said it’s not going to be used for industrial reasons — and then he added, ‘at this point,’” Harris said.
“That means he can change that to industrial whenever he wants, because ‘at this point’ became history as soon as he said it.”
Resident Helen MacRae said she not only opposes the annexation proposal, but also believes Barrie should no longer operate as a separated city within Simcoe County given its push for boundary expansion.
“The negative impact of this proposed outcome underscores why, in my opinion, Barrie should no longer be a separated city,” she said.
“This process is a zero-sum game, and it seems to me that Oro-Medonte is likely to be the loser. I encourage you to do all you can to push back against this.”
Barrie businessman, developer and Oro-Medonte resident Steve Sperling expressed support for the boundary adjustment, saying that while he believes Barrie has sufficient industrial land, the need for new housing is critical.
“I can tell you that there is a tremendous need for housing today,” he said.
Oro-Medonte Mayor Randy Greenlaw told attendees the township is following the provincial facilitation process and that council’s focus remains on doing what is best for residents.
“At the end of the day, this council wants to do its best for the entire area, with Oro-Medonte being the primary focus,” he said.
In addition, Barrie is asking to annex 1,216 hectares from Springwater to develop new industrial and residential lands.
Township council is expected to vote later this month on whether to support or reject the annexation proposal.
The city’s goal is to have the boundary adjustment plan in place for Jan. 1, 2026.
