Nuttall, the city’s incumbent mayor, made the announcement at Madelaine Park in Barrie’s southeast end, saying the work would begin in 2027.

“If re-elected, I will invest $3 million over the next council term to put more traffic-calming measures in place across Barrie,” he said.

“We’re seeing more families move into our city and more people using our neighbourhoods, our parks, our streets, each and every day. Growth is an important opportunity, but it also means we have to keep investing in this infrastructure and services that residents rely on.”

Nuttall said the commitment would build on work already underway to improve neighbourhood safety as Barrie continues to rapidly grow.

“Residents have told me that speeding is a concern in their neighbourhoods,” he said.

“We’ve been taking action and this commitment means we can continue that work with a further $3 million investment over the next four years.”

Nuttall pointed to traffic-calming measures on Madelaine Drive as an example of what he would like to see implemented on other city streets, including Livingstone Street, Hurst Drive and Mapleton Avenue.

“We’ve seen strong results here on Madelaine Drive, and we want to take the same strategy that’s being employed here,” he said.

Nuttall said traffic-calming measures would need to be tailored to individual neighbourhoods.

“The challenges on one street may not be the same as a challenge on another street,” he said.

“We will listen to residents, look at concerns being raised, and direct this investment to the places where traffic calming can have the greatest impact.”

Nuttall is being challenged in the mayoral race by Tanya Saari, Kay Sayer and Russell Tighe.

Voters will elect Barrie’s next council members and school trustees on Oct. 16.

The post Nuttall makes $3M traffic-calming promise ahead of election appeared first on CompassNews.

Sutcliffe, who’s seeking a second term as mayor, is promising to find another $250 million in savings and efficiencies while limiting property tax increases to between two and 2.5 per cent for the first two years of his next term. 

He is also pledging to cut the cost of a monthly transit pass to $95 and freeze several municipal fees. 

“I think the most important thing to remember is just what our residents are going through right now,” Sutcliffe said in an interview with iPolitics. “They’re struggling to pay for the rising cost of gas and food and housing – we need to respect that.” 

Sutcliffe said the savings would not come from cuts to the core programs residents rely on, instead he will be looking at freezing hires in non-essential services. 

“We’re going to freeze discretionary spending,” Sutcliffe said.

During his first term, Sutcliffe also targeted municipal costs. In his 2023 budget, his council carved out $47 million in immediate efficiencies across city services. 

Some of the big-ticket things that the incumbent said he will not be cutting is public transit, which saw an increased spending by 30 per cent during his term, infrastructure by 40 per cent, and supportive housing spending by 250 per cent. 

He also pointed to increased police funding and hiring additional officers, pointing that those investments can continue alongside further savings and efficiencies. 

On lowering monthly transit passes to $95–one that Sutcliffe described to be the lowest in Canada–the incumbent said the proposed provincial upload of Ottawa’s LRT would help fund the lower transit fare, but maintained the city could move ahead with the monthly pass before the deal is finalized. 

He said the upload would free up roughly $85 million annually that could be reinvested into transit and lower fares. 

Sutcliffe’s approach to keeping taxes low stands in contrast to mayoral rival Jeff Leiper, who has resisted setting a predetermined tax target and instead says the city should first assess its spending needs. 

Leiper unveiled his own affordability plan this week, promising to keep property tax increases “predictable and affordable” while introducing a dedicated one per cent infrastructure levy. 

His campaign estimates the levy would cost the average homeowner about $28 a year and generate $25.5 million annually to help address the city’s infrastructure funding gap. 

Asked whether the two plans reflect a fundamental disagreement over whether Ottawa has a spending or revenue problem, Sutcliffe said raising taxes should be a “last resort.” 

“I think our first option is to do the hard work to find savings and efficiencies at City hall and to get the investment from other levels of government,” he said. 

He argued his administration has been able to keep taxes relatively low while securing more than $5 billion in funding commitments from the provincial and federal governments over the past four years, an approach he said he would continue in a second term. 

“Other cities get big checks from other levels of government,” Sutcliffe said. “We have to keep getting our share of that infrastructure money, that money for transit, that money for transportation, that money for housing.” 

“I’m not going to just let the other cities get that kind of money and just add to the burden of local taxpayers,” he said. 

The post Sutcliffe would squeeze another $250 million in savings as part of affordability measures appeared first on CompassNews.

Debate organizers from Carleton University and the University of Ottawa left out a name placard for the mayor, who had been invited to participate in the event. 

Mayoral candidate Jeff Leiper drew attention to the mayor’s absence. “Where is Mark Sutcliffe?” Leiper said during his opening remarks as the event kicked off. 

“This is the third or fourth debate that he has skipped out on, we are keen to discuss the policy issues, and he has simply not shown up,” Leiper, councillor for the Kitchissippi Ward, said. 

A Liaison Strategies and Ottawa Compass poll conducted in July showed Sutcliffe as the leader in the race with 24 per cent expressing support for the incumbent mayor, with candidates Leiper and Alex Lawson tied for second with 17 per cent. 

However, the poll found that 34 per cent of voters are undecided about who they will cast their ballots for in the mayoral election, which will see polls open on Oct. 26. 

(Photo: Daniel Arnold/Ottawa CompassNews)

Student leaders also relayed frustration over Sutcliffe’s absence. “I think it is a disappointment, to see that the current mayor isn’t plugged in for students, and doesn’t want to show up,” said Norah Bello, the advocacy commissioner for the University of Ottawa’s student union. 

“Tonight shows students which candidates care about the issues that surround students,” Bello told Ottawa CompassNews, “it also shows the candidates that students are interested, are watching them, and are engaged in municipal politics.”

The debate was moderated by members of Carleton University’s CKCU radio station and uOUrbanism, a student group at the University of Ottawa focused on city based issues. 

Issues such as public transit, housing affordability, and the city’s nightlife took centre stage at the event. One thing that all three candidates could agree on was that Ottawa’s transit system is experiencing some serious financial and performance aches. 

Carleton University student Jozef Vijayaratnam said transit is the single defining issue in his day to day life as a student. “We pay the highest amount of fares, and get the lowest service,” among Canada’s major cities, Vijayaratnam said. 

“We are focused on our future, and we can’t keep on worrying about if the bus is gonna come,” Vijayaratnam told Ottawa CompassNews. 

Waiting in the cold, frequent cancellations, and missing classes, have all become regular experiences for students across the city, he said. 

“We have to accept that we have a transit system that is in crisis, and it’s going to require really bold and ambitious measures to get it right,” candidate Neil Saravanamuttoo said. 

(Photo: Daniel Arnold/Ottawa CompassNews)

Affordability is the greatest hamper on OC Transpo’s performance, Saravanamuttoo said. A key promise in his campaign is the introduction of a transit fare cap at one dollar. 

The proposal, which he calls “Buck-a-Ride,” would introduce a “price which reflects more the quality of the service” that transit riders are receiving. 

Reliability was central to the concerns that Lawson raised about the city’s struggling transit system during the debate. 

“It doesn’t matter what the price of that trip was if it didn’t show up,” Lawson said. OC Transpo does not have issues with revenue, but rather its management, he said. 

Lawson criticized efforts to reduce fares as incapable of solving the logistical issues the city’s transit system faces. “I don’t think providing less funding is going to be the solution,” he said. 

“I don’t think just saying it’s a terrible service and we should charge less for it is a solution,” Lawson said, adding that he doesn’t believe fare decreases would increase either reliability or ridership levels.

Increasing transit priority measures, which include steps such as dedicated bus lanes, is an affordable step to increase reliability and timeliness, Leiper said. 

“These are really inexpensive interventions to help us get through congestion so that prediction time you’re seeing on the app is going to be a more accurate one,” he said. 

Ottawa’s nightlife and the arts scene were also central themes in the debate, with candidates drawing attention to music and entertainment as a source of economic development for the city. 

Bylaw enforcement needs to be adjusted to accommodate the needs of businesses in areas such as the ByWard Market, Saravanamuttoo said. 

“If you go down to a place like ByWard Market, and talk to the shopkeepers there, they will say the enforcement of bylaw around parking is like their number one hit,” he said. 

Saravanamuttoo said that parking tickets, alongside business permitting, were among the many bureaucratic issues facing businesses in the city’s downtown areas. 

Noise bylaws were other issues that candidates raised during the debate, with both Leiper and Lawson arguing that, as long as nearby residents are informed, businesses like music venues and nightclubs should be granted greater freedom to play loud music. 

Lawson said that staff at The Lafayette, Ottawa’s oldest bar, had told him they had been ticketed by ByLaw officers for noise, during a live music venue, in the city’s bustling ByWard Market. 

“There are things we can do as a city, to protect our cultural venues,” Leiper said, pointing to an example in his own ward where he has asked residents near businesses playing loud music to refrain from complaining. 

“When you put a condo building next to a venue,that condo building loses some rights to complain about the noise,” he said. 

The candidates will next face off on Sept. 17, in Centretown to discuss climate change issues facing the city.

The post Transit and affordability take centre stage as mayoral candidates engage in debate on student issues appeared first on CompassNews.

Get election ready: Verify or update your voter information

Eligible electors can now use the City of Barrie’s new Voter Lookup and Registration Portal to confirm they are on the municipal voters list, add themselves to the list, or update their voter information for the 2026 Municipal Election. The secure online portal allows residents to complete the process from the comfort of home and submit acceptable identification when required. Electors who are added to the voters list will receive a Voter Information Letter in late September, which will include their unique voting PIN and instructions on how to vote.

Residents can also check their voter status by calling 705-728-VOTE (8683) or emailing be.counted@barrie.ca. To access the portal and learn more about the 2026 Municipal Election, visit barrie.ca/election.

Check your ward. It may change for the 2026 Municipal Election 

The City of Barrie has finalized new ward boundaries following a comprehensive review completed in 2025. The updated boundaries will be used for the 2026 Municipal Election and the next term of Council. Residents whose ward boundaries have changed will vote in their new ward during this fall’s election, while current ward representation will remain in place until the newly elected Council is sworn in.

Learn more and access interactive and printable ward maps at barrie.ca/election. Who’s running? The certified list of candidates for Barrie’s 2026 Municipal Election is available at barrie.ca/electioncandidates

Culture Days & Doors Open Barrie

Celebrate arts, culture, and heritage in Barrie this fall! Culture Days 2026 runs September 18 to October 4, offering a free, interactive lineup of behind-the-scenes experiences and hands-on activities across the city. As part of the festivities, Doors Open Barrie returns on Saturday, September 26, with unique sites open for public tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  This event gives residents the opportunity to discover new and interesting places in their own backyard and get a glimpse of what makes Barrie such a special place to live, work, and play.

Discover all events and participating sites at barrie.ca/CultureDays. 

Curbside Giveaway Day is Saturday! 

Have items you no longer need or household items that need a little repair? Take simple steps to reduce waste and extend the life of everyday items. On  Curbside Giveaway Day  (Saturday, September 19), place gently used items at the curb for others to take and enjoy. If you have a broken household item, register for the  Barrie Public Library’s Repair Café  (Saturday, September 26), where skilled volunteers can help repair it and keep it in use longer. These community events offer practical ways to share, reuse, and repair, helping reduce waste and keep valuable items out of the landfill. Share what you don’t need. Repair what you can. Rethink your waste.

Learn more about these events and other waste reduction initiatives at barrie.ca/RethinkWaste.

City invites submissions for Mayor’s Innovation Awards trophy design

The City of Barrie is seeking creative submissions for the trophy design of the 8th annual Mayor’s Innovation Awards. The selected artist will receive $1,000, and their design will be fabricated by the Georgian College Makerspace. Interested applicants must submit up to three concept images, a one-page artist statement or video, and examples of previous work by October 20, 2026.

Learn more and access the submission form at investbarrie.ca/InnovationAwards.

City of Barrie Theatres presents How We Got To Jersey: A Tale of Two Frankies

Reserve your seats now for a magical musical experience! City of Barrie Theatres presents How We Got To Jersey: A Tale of Two Frankies on Saturday, October 3 at the Five Points Theatre (1 Dunlop Street West). Hear not one, but two Frankie Vallis in a showstopping concert revue that goes behind the scenes of the Broadway smash hit Jersey Boys. Discover how two small-town Canadian kids grew up to play the legendary Frankie Valli. Enjoy hits like Sherry, Walk Like a Man, and Big Girls Don’t Cry.

For show times and tickets, visit barrie.ca/TheatreTickets.

Reminder: Take part in the City’s 2025 Business & Employer Data Survey

The City of Barrie is conducting the annual Business & Employer Data Survey. The survey helps update the City’s online business directory and informs economic development and planning efforts. Businesses can complete the survey online at buildingbarrie.ca/BusinessDataSurvey by September 30.

To learn more about this initiative, visit investbarrie.ca/BEDS.

Trade Accelerator Program for local businesses

Invest Barrie is launching a Trade Accelerator Program this fall, delivered in collaboration with the Toronto Region Board of Trade, the Province of Ontario, the City of Orillia, and the County of Simcoe. Registration is now open. Participating businesses from Barrie, Orillia and Simcoe County will receive structured training and mentorship focused on export readiness, market expansion, and international business development.

Learn more and get details on how to apply at investbarrie.ca/TariffResources.

Have fun and stay active with fall recreation programs

The City of Barrie offers hundreds of programs for all ages and abilities, including fitness classes, swimming lessons, skating programs, arts activities, and family-friendly recreation opportunities.

Registration is open at play.barrie.ca. Eligible Barrie residents can also apply for fee assistance through the RecACCESS program, which helps make recreation programs more affordable.

Celebrate International Day of Older Persons

Mark your calendar! Join us for the International Day of Older Persons open house on Thursday, October 1, 2026, from 12 to 3:30 p.m. at Parkview Community Centre (189 Blake Street).   

The event will feature:  

• Free activities (dance, art exhibit, table tennis) for 55+ 

• Tours of the Parkview 55+ Centre 

• Free refreshments 

• Vendor fair featuring local agencies and government services  

• Prizes and giveaways 

 For more information and to register visit barrie.ca/seniors or call 705-737-0755.

Reminder: Final tax due date coming up

The final 2026 tax bill instalment due date is September 29, 2026. Final tax bills are issued each May. All payments must be received by the City on or before the due date to avoid late payment fees of 1.25% per month. Simplify your payments—join the Pre-Authorized Payment Plan and never worry about missing a due date!

Visit barrie.ca/PropertyTaxes for more information.

Presented by The City of Barrie

The post This Week in Barrie: Week of September 14 appeared first on CompassNews.

Practical representation

Khan, a former city councillor who served from 2012 to 2018, is campaigning on his previous municipal experience and what he describes as practical representation.

“I decided to run because I believe Ward 4 needs experienced, practical representation at a time when Barrie is facing significant challenges related to community safety, transportation, growth and affordability,” he said.

His top concern is community safety, including concerns about open drug use, theft, property crime and disorderly behaviour.

“My first priority would be improving community safety. Residents are concerned about open drug use, theft, property crime, disorderly behaviour and the growing perception that some public spaces no longer feel safe or welcoming,” he said.

“My second priority would be road safety and transportation planning. This includes addressing speeding, improving traffic calming where appropriate, reviewing road and intersection design, responding to changing traffic patterns and ensuring long-term transportation planning reflects realistic future demand.”

READ MORE: Mayoral candidates’ visions for homelessness & affordability

He also pointed to previous work on the Harvie Road overpass, which he says was advanced 20 years ahead of schedule, as evidence of his ability to deliver infrastructure projects.

Speeding and community safety

Harriott-Stewart, who has lived in Barrie for nearly 30 years and has strong ties to the Ward 4 community, said he wants to contribute to the city’s development and address issues he believes need improvement.

“I want to be part of the growth and be part of the solution that’s going to be taking place within not just Ward 4 but Barrie in general,” he said.

“It’s always been a long-time goal of mine to run for council.”

Speeding and community safety are among his primary concerns.

“Speeding and community safety are two things that are paramount in the ward. We have more crime coming into the city – a lot of it comes from the downtown right into other communities,” he said.

“I want to work on safety within our communities. I’m a big community person. I want to be the community person who really understands the issues and sees everything I can do to help everyone.”

Speaking up about problems

Galeazza, a Ward 4 resident, said her campaign is focused on speaking up about problems while supporting initiatives that are working.

“I want to keep the good and help build a better future for all of the people who live not just in Ward 4, but our beautiful city as a whole,” she said.

She wants the city to focus more on attracting good-paying jobs and large employers, saying more businesses are closing while not enough major employers are entering the city.

“Decent-paying jobs for local residents,” she said.

“More and more businesses are closing, and not too many big employers are hiring – that deserves a lot more attention.”

Galeazza also wants greater communication between planners, developers and residents as new projects are proposed. She said questions around issues such as fire safety, stormwater management, snow storage and parking need to be addressed before developments are completed.

Traffic calming and road safety

Ahmad, a Ward 4 resident and businessman, said he decided to give back to the community.

“As I was closing my business last September, I decided that I wanted to give back to the community I have lived and worked in for several years,” he said.

He said he has knocked on more than 4,700 doors and spoken with more than 1,450 residents. The most common concerns he hears are traffic calming and road safety, snow removal, development keeping pace with infrastructure, property taxes, crime and disorder.

“Sometimes we tend to overlook residents and quality of life in our plans for growth,” Ahmad said.

“Their perspectives are very important, which is why I have built my campaign around bringing the voice of the people forward.”

Ahmad said those issues would form the basis of his work at city hall if elected.

Candidate Matthew Corbett did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.

Voters will elect Barrie’s new Ward 4 councillor on Oct. 26.

The post Ward 4 candidates focus on safety, roads, growth and affordability appeared first on CompassNews.

READ MORE: Simcoe takes over downtown Busby Centre properties

“I want Barrie to go to the provincial government with one voice and ask for consistent, legal standards for severe illegal public intoxication – full stop,” he said.

“This intervention shouldn’t mean abandoning someone – it should mean getting that person out of danger and connecting them to treatment.”

Nuttall said police need the tools to intervene when someone is impaired in public and poses a risk to themselves or others, regardless of the substance involved.

He has also proposed a dedicated police, fire and paramedic compassionate intervention team that would connect people experiencing a crisis directly with treatment and support.

Nuttall said intervention can sometimes be necessary when someone is experiencing serious addiction.

“If someone is suffering from severe addiction and deteriorating on a sidewalk or in an encampment, that’s not compassion. Sometimes the compassionate thing to do is intervene,” he said.

Barrie voters will elect the next mayor, councillors and school board trustees on Oct. 26.

The post Nuttall marks homelessness emergency anniversary with campaign promise appeared first on CompassNews.

OPS seeks witnesses to Rochester St. stabbing

The OPS is asking for witnesses to a stabbing that occurred in the 100 block of Rochester Street. On Sept. 2, at 12:22 a.m. ET, a victim reported that they had been stabbed near a park on Rochester Street. Authorities took the victim to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident can call the Central Criminal Investigations Section.

Assistance needed to ID Wellington Street W. suspects

On the afternoon of July 17, two subjects entered a business in the 1300 block of Wellington Street West and stole a person’s purse. The subjects subsequently made several fraudulent transactions with stolen credit cards throughout the City of Ottawa. The OPS is asking for the public’s assistance to identify two suspects involved in a theft and fraud investigation. Images of the suspects are available on the OPS website. Anyone with information regarding the identity of these individuals can call the Central Criminal Investigations Section.

READ MORE: Ottawa Police Blotter – September 2

Police investigate 3rd Shooting at Preston Street Business

On Aug. 29, evidence of gunfire was discovered outside Preston Hardware near the intersection of Preston Street and Gladstone Avenue. Investigators believe shots were fired at the business during the overnight hours of Aug. 28 into Aug. 29. There were no reported injuries. 

This is the third shooting incident involving this business this year. Previous incidents occurred on March 16 and on July 9. Investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area, or who may have relevant video surveillance or dash camera footage, to contact police.

The post Ottawa Police Blotter – September 9 appeared first on CompassNews.

New City portal makes it easier to check and update voter information

Eligible electors can now use the City of Barrie’s new Voter Lookup and Registration Portal to confirm they are on the municipal voters list, add their name, or update their voter information for the 2026 Municipal Election. The secure online portal allows residents to complete the process conveniently from home and submit acceptable identification when required. Eligible electors who are added to the voters list will receive a Voter Information Letter in late September, including their unique voting PIN and instructions for voting.

Residents can also check their voter status by calling 705-728-VOTE (8683) or emailing be.counted@barrie.ca. To access the portal and learn more about the 2026 Municipal Election, visit barrie.ca/election.

Did you know? Your ward may change for the 2026 Municipal Election 

The City of Barrie has finalized new ward boundaries following a comprehensive review completed in 2025. The updated boundaries will be used for the 2026 Municipal Election and the next term of Council. Residents whose ward boundaries have changed will vote in their new ward during this fall’s election, while current ward representation will remain in place until the newly elected Council is sworn in.

Learn more and access interactive and printable ward maps at barrie.ca/election. Who’s running? The certified list of candidates for Barrie’s 2026 Municipal Election is available at barrie.ca/electioncandidates

Welcome students! First classes start September 8 at new Lakehead University Barrie STEM Hub

The City of Barrie and Lakehead University recently celebrated the completion of the new Lakehead University Barrie STEM Hub in downtown Barrie. This exciting milestone brings a university presence to the city and represents a significant investment in education, talent development, and economic growth.The STEM Hub will provide students with the opportunity to pursue in-demand careers close to home while helping local industries access a skilled workforce.

The inaugural class begins on September 8, 2026. For more information, visit barrie.ca/STEMHub or lakeheadu.ca/barrie. 

Culture Days & Doors Open Barrie

Celebrate arts, culture, and heritage in Barrie this fall! Culture Days 2026  runs September 18 until October 4, offering a free, interactive lineup of behind-the-scenes experiences and hands-on activities across the city. As part of the festivities, Doors Open Barrie returns on Saturday, September 26, with unique sites open for public tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event gives residents the opportunity to discover new and interesting places in their own backyard and get a glimpse of what makes Barrie such a special place to live, work, and play.

Discover all events and participating sites at barrie.ca/CultureDays. 

Looking to get rid of unwanted or broken items? Try sharing or repairing them!

If you have unwanted items in good condition, consider sharing them with others! On Curbside Giveaway Day (Saturday, September 19), place gently used items at the curb for others to take. If you have a broken household item, register to bring it to the Barrie Public Library’s Repair Café on Saturday, September 26, where volunteers will help you fix it (registration is required). These opportunities offer residents easy, practical ways to share their unwanted items with others, or repair broken items, ultimately keeping them out of the landfill.  Share what you don’t need. Repair what you can. Rethink your waste. 

For more information on these events and more ways to rethink your waste, visit barrie.ca/RethinkWaste.

Trade Accelerator Program for local businesses

Invest Barrie is launching a Trade Accelerator Program this fall, delivered in collaboration with the Toronto Region Board of Trade, the Province of Ontario, the City of Orillia, and the County of Simcoe. Registration is now open. Participating businesses from Barrie, Orillia and Simcoe County will receive structured training and mentorship focused on export readiness, market expansion, and international business development.

Learn more and get details on how to apply at investbarrie.ca/TariffResources.

Have fun and stay active with fall recreation programs

The City of Barrie offers hundreds of programs for all ages and abilities, including fitness classes, swimming lessons, skating programs, arts activities, and family-friendly recreation opportunities.

Registration is open at play.barrie.ca. Eligible Barrie residents can also apply for fee assistance through the RecACCESS program, which helps make recreation programs more affordable.

Sports field use reminders

To help keep Barrie’s sports fields safe and in good condition, users must follow the City’s field use regulations:

• All groups and schools must follow the City’s Inclement Weather Policy. Fields should not be used when conditions could cause damage or increase the risk of injury.
• Fields that are closed are clearly signed. Anyone using a closed field may be responsible for repair costs if damage occurs. The City may close fields at any time due to safety concerns, overuse, or wet conditions.
• Sports fields may only be used for their intended purpose. Vehicles are not permitted in city parks. 
• Baseball players are asked to respect neighbouring homes and private property. Repeatedly hitting balls into nearby yards intentionally may result in loss of access to the facility.
• Parks staff and By-law Enforcement officers monitor fields to ensure regulations are followed.

Help us ensure community sports fields are safe and available for everyone to enjoy! 

Visit barrie.ca/sportsfields for field status updates and more information. 

Reminder: Final tax due date coming up

The final 2026 tax bill instalment due date is September 29, 2026. Final tax bills are issued each May. All payments must be received by the City on or before the due date to avoid late payment fees of 1.25% per month. Simplify your payments—join the Pre-Authorized Payment Plan and never worry about missing a due date!

Visit barrie.ca/PropertyTaxes for more information.

Presented by The City of Barrie

The post This Week in Barrie: Week of September 7 appeared first on CompassNews.

A survey conducted earlier this year by Queen’s Park Briefing ranked Brown as the Ontario mayor seen as having the greatest impact on public safety in his community.

READ MORE: Queen’s Park Survey 2026: Most influential and safety-minded mayors

One of the most visible changes has been within Peel Regional Police, which is in the midst of what Brown has described as the largest expansion of frontline policing in the country, with plans to add 750 officers over four years.

Adrian Woolley, the president of the Peel Regional Police Association, said the additional staffing has already eased some of the pressure on officers in a region that had fallen behind some major Canadian police services in officers per capita.

“Having someone like Patrick at the microphone advocating for more staff, boots on the ground, and officers out there… he was at the forefront, fighting every day,” Woolley said in an interview with iPolitics. 

For officers already on the job, Woolley said one of the most noticeable differences has been the impact on workload and burnout.

“The burnout isn’t as prevalent as it was before,” he said, adding while officers remain busy, having additional staffing helped spread the workload.

Brown’s public safety push didn’t stop at adding officers.

Woolley said the mayor has been able to build support around the broader idea that residents, regardless of their views on policing, want to feel safe in their communities.

“I think that he found a common ground with everyone that everyone should feel safe in their community, and I think that’s an easy win for anyone to understand,” Woolley said.

Some of the more prominent advocacy has involved policies that mayors usually had little direct control.

READ MORE: Liberal government’s bail and sentencing changes now law 

Earlier this summer, Ottawa’s bail reform bill became law, making it harder for people accused of certain serious crimes to get bail, including violent auto theft, break and enter, human trafficking, assault, sexual assault and violent extortion.

Brown had pushed Ottawa for bail reform for years, including through a federal petition launched following the death of Darian Henderson-Bellman in 2020.

Woolley said those concerns reflected what officers were encountering in Peel.

“We certainly have recidivism in people that are let out that should not be let out,” he said, pointing to Brampton’s A. Grenville and William Davis Courthouse as one of the country’s busiest.

Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, cautioned against portraying Brown as the only mayor pressing senior governments on public safety, but said his previous experience in federal politics gives him an understanding of how to push for change in Ottawa.

Stamatakis said Brown’s approach, like funding the local police service while lobbying for legislative changes at other levels of government, is something that he would like to see more mayors do.

More recently, Brown has turned his attention to extortion, pushing Ottawa to treat a surge in cases as a national problem rather than one confined to Brampton and Peel.

“Extortion is an issue right across the country,” Stamatakis said. “We’ve got an epidemic of that kind of criminal activity occurring not just in his community, but on the West Coast, on the East Coast.”

The police association head said Brown’s willingness to identify when a local problem has broader implications is one of the mayor’s strengths.

While Stamatakis noted changes on the federal level, he said improving public safety requires more than adding police officers or passing tougher criminal laws.

Gaps in mental health care, addiction treatment and social services become public safety problems themselves, he argued, leaving police to respond to crises and disorder that may have originated elsewhere in the system.

“When we have gaps in other services, whether it’s health care or social services, it does have a public safety impact,” he said.

The post Insiders rank Patrick Brown as top Ontario mayor for public safety impact appeared first on CompassNews.

READ MORE: More affordable rental units at the Skyline towers

“The acquisition of these properties represents an opportunity to enhance services, improve outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness, and advance our shared goal of helping people move toward stable, permanent housing.”

He also stressed the importance of property management and site operations.

“With ownership of these properties comes an important responsibility to maintain a high standard of property management and site operations,” he said.

Residents, businesses, and neighbourhood stakeholders deserve confidence that the site will be well maintained, safe, and operated in a way that positively contributes to the surrounding community.”

More than 640 people were experiencing homelessness in Barrie earlier this year, according to county data.

The post Simcoe takes over downtown Busby Centre properties appeared first on CompassNews.