As federal and provincial governments prepare new rounds of infrastructure funding, Barrie is putting forward a list of priorities focused on unlocking housing supply, attracting jobs, and enriching community life — starting with critical upgrades to the city’s wastewater systems.
Mayor Alex Nuttall said the city’s top funding request is for the expansion of its wastewater treatment plant and related water infrastructure, describing it as a “no-brainer” investment that would directly accelerate housing development and economic growth.
“There are projects around the city where, if we can just get 500 meters of pipe in the ground, we could unlock thousands of new units,” said Nuttall. “These are developments that are already approved. All we’re waiting on is servicing.”
The request, brought forward as part of a motion passed by the Ontario Big City Mayors (OBCM) caucus, aligns with the broader push from municipalities to secure targeted investments in infrastructure that enable housing construction — a key goal of both the federal and provincial governments.
While Nuttall didn’t specify a dollar figure for the city’s ask, he noted Barrie has a long-term infrastructure plan valued at $5 billion over the next couple of decades. Funding support could help the city accelerate specific projects with the greatest impact on market readiness.
“It’s about speeding up the ability to bring housing online and creating good-paying jobs,” he said. “Affordability isn’t just about the price of homes — we need economic opportunities to go with it.”
In addition to wastewater expansion, the city is also seeking support for neighbourhood reconstruction projects, particularly in areas undergoing gentrification or transformation from older industrial uses. Nuttall said those efforts can help revitalize underused land and support intensification plans already approved by council.
On the community-building side, Barrie is asking for funding to construct a long-awaited performing arts centre — a project that has been discussed in the city for more than two decades. The facility would complement the McLaren Art Centre, which focuses on visual art, and fill a gap in cultural infrastructure.
“We don’t really have a performing arts centre,” said Nuttall. “This would give us a top-of-the-line facility with the acoustics and amenities needed to attract not only arts and culture events, but also conferences and conventions to our downtown.”
The city’s list of priorities, Nuttall said, was developed to strike a balance: hard infrastructure to drive growth, strategic projects to build capacity, and community amenities that enhance quality of life.
“We’ll see what the province and the feds come up with in terms of funding approvals,” he said. “But we’re going to work really hard to get these done.”
