The Ontario election is set for Feb. 27.
The Barrie Compass reached out to candidates in the city’s two ridings for a brief Q&A. Here’s what they’ve said about their reasons for running for office.
First up, Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte. (The NDP candidate didn’t respond prior to deadline).
Doug Downey, the Ontario PC candidate for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte, has served as MPP since 2018, winning re-election in 2022. A former lawyer, he was an Orillia councillor from 2000 to 2006.
Q: What inspired you to enter politics?
A: Public service is one of the most powerful ways to create real, tangible, and lasting change. I’ve always been driven to serve my community, and through my work as a young volunteer with politicians across Ontario and Canada, I saw firsthand that one dedicated person can make a real difference. I entered politics to be that person— fighting for the people of my riding in Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, making their voices heard, and delivering results that improve lives.
Q: What’s the biggest issue in your riding?
A: Affordability is the number one concern I’m hearing at the doors—people are struggling with the cost of living, housing, and essentials. We need to build infrastructure and keep pace with our growing community, alongside our plan to help create more jobs and strengthen our economy. These concerns are all connected and addressing them requires decisive action. That’s why we’re taking steps to strengthen communities by investing in housing-enabling water infrastructure, creating pathways to good-paying jobs in the skilled trades, cleaning up our streets, and making the gas tax cut permanent for drivers—saving you hundreds of dollars.
Q: What would be your top priorities if re-elected?
A: Affordability, infrastructure, jobs, and a strong economy are critical for residents in Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, and likewise across Ontario. Unlike other parties, only the Ontario PCs have a plan to support families, workers, businesses, and residents. I will continue fighting for greater access to good-paying jobs, housing, state of-the-art and publicly funded healthcare and education—our PC team will deliver real solutions to help bring down the cost of living. We will continue investing where it matters, like in critical infrastructure, healthcare, and housing—to help keep pace with growing needs. US tariff threats are real, and we need a strong four-year mandate to stand up to President Trump and Protect Ontario. We need to be bold in the face of adversity and stand up for our communities.
Q: How would you advocate for Barrie in the legislature if re-elected?
A: I will be an unrelenting voice for Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte at Queen’s Park, ensuring the needs of our community are heard. I’m proud of my record securing funding for critical projects, like completing upgrades to bridges 3, 5, 7, and 9 along Highway 11. We delivered the first regional PET/CT scanner, doubled the number of dialysis beds, and supported $12 million to add 99 new hospital beds at RVH—we are ensuring access to better care, closer to home. We need to clean up our streets and responsibly deal with the mental health and addictions crisis. Announcing the new HART Hub in Barrie is a significant step forward. If re-elected, I’ll keep advocating for critical investments in infrastructure, like bridges and highways, complete the new schools we’ve started, and work hand-in-hand with local municipalities to get the job done. Our community deserves a strong, results-driven leader and government, and I will continue delivering for our community as your MPP.
Rose Zacharias, the Ontario Liberal Party candidate for Barrie–Springwater–Oro Medonte, brings over 20 years of experience as a local physician. She previously served as president of the Ontario Medical Association, advocating for healthcare professionals and communities.
Q: What inspired you to enter politics?
A: I am running to make healthcare a top priority in the Ontario Government. After over 20 years as a doctor, and as the past-President of the Ontario Medical Association, I have seen first-hand the impacts of a struggling healthcare system. People in Ontario aren’t receiving the healthcare services that our taxes are paying for, and healthcare is being neglected by the Ontario Government.
Q: What’s the biggest issue in your riding?
A: 55,000 people in Barrie do not have a family doctor, doctors in Barrie are nearing retirement age, and too many people have to drive long distances to see their family doctor for a check-up. People are waiting for long hours in the emergency department at the hospital, and healthcare heroes are burned out. On top of it all, prices of groceries, gas, and basic items are skyrocketing after 7 years of Doug Ford’s bad business deals
with insiders.
Q: What would be your top priorities if elected?
A: The Ontario Liberals have a real plan to bring more family doctors to our communities in Barrie, Springwater, and Oro-Medonte, connecting every person to a family doctor within four years. We will invest in healthcare, reversing Doug Ford’s cuts, and lower wait times at hospitals. We will also cut taxes for the middle class by 22%, remove tax on home heating and hydro bills, and eliminate $170,000 of fees on new houses.
Q: How would you advocate for Barrie in the legislature if elected?
A: My family has called this community home for over 20 years. I am focused on solving the real issues that people in Barrie face everyday, and will take every call, respond to every email, and share our stories in the Ontario Government. Barrie is a growing community and home to many young families, seniors, and hard workers. We need an advocate who won’t be afraid to stand up for our concerns.
Tim Grant, the Green Party of Ontario candidate for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte, taught high school shop for 13 years before editing Green Teacher magazine for 25 years. A community advocate, he has run as a Green candidate provincially three times and federally twice.
Q: What inspired you to enter politics?
A: For years, I was heavily involved in my residents association and realized that many shared my Green values. As a Green candidate, I came to appreciate that I could make a difference raising important issues than the 3 main parties were ignoring. Whether it was amalgamating the Catholic and public school boards or helping people reduce their energy costs while addressing climate change, it was important to have someone speaking up about these issues.
Q: What’s the biggest issue in your riding?
A: Affordability. We’re not building enough housing within the footprint of Barrie and little of it is affordable. (Province-wide, we built less housing in 2024 than in each of the previous 16 years.) Housing will only become affordable if we (1) remove investors and corporations from owning multiple properties, and (2) build it near transit. We are
strong advocates for housing co-ops, non-profit housing and safe shelters for the homeless.
Q: What would be your top priorities if elected?
A: Apart from housing, I’ll advocate for a plan to restore the health of Lake Simcoe. To that end, I’d work with farmers and municipalities to reduce phosphorous runoff and polluted stormwater from reaching the lake. I’d push for amalgamating the Catholic and public school boards and using the savings to hire desperately-needed teachers and education assistants. I’d advocate for the province to spend much more on health care. Few people know that Ontario spends less than any other province on health care. For a wealthy province, it is shameful that we’re not spending enough for everyone to have a doctor, for hospitals to have enough nurses and for long-term care home to have enough personal support workers. I’d also advocate for hourly bus transit between towns and cities in the region. We have the population density for inter-town transit to pay for transit between towns. This would make life affordable for thousands who would no longer have to buy a second car.
Q: How would you advocate for Barrie in the legislature if elected?
A: I would work with Barrie’s City Council, Simcoe County Council and that of Oro Medonte Township to obtain provincial funding for smart investments in affordable rental housing, in public transit and in energy efficiency. It is high time we had a Premier that supports our region instead of spending tens of billions on a tunnel under the 401 and other wasteful projects in the Toronto area.
