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“We’re protecting Ontario from economic uncertainty driven by tariffs and protectionism. We’re protecting Ontario from the threats to our national and global security.”

The province said the proposed 10-year strategy could create as many as 43,000 jobs, add $6 billion annually to Ontario’s economy and generate more than $400 million in yearly provincial tax revenue by 2035.

According to the province, Ontario’s defence sector currently comprises more than 300 companies employing over 13,000 workers and contributing upwards of $5 billion annually to the economy.

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Cleanup crews and police were on site Sept. 11 after notices of action were issued the day before.

Nuttall said 36 of 44 people living at the encampment have accepted local support services. He emphasized the state of emergency as the right move to address growing safety concerns.

“It’s important that we acted, and we acted in the way that we have because we take this very seriously – we are really trying to focus on moving forward out of this emergency,” he said.

The mayor pointed to recent violence and health hazards as justification, citing a double homicide where dismembered body parts were found, high E. coli readings leaking into Kempenfelt Bay from Dyments Creek, multiple fires, and weapons and drugs discovered in tents.

“These are signs that we are in an emergency,” he said.

Nuttall cautioned that eliminating all encampments across the city will take time.

“It will take months to do this correctly,” he said.

“There are quite a lot of people living homeless here, so this will take some time to work through – day by day, person by person.”

He added that people seeking support will continue to have access to mental health care, addiction treatment, housing programs and employment assistance.

“You will see progression across the city and we will ensure no encampments are left and that folks who need more help will get it,” Nuttall said.

The mayor said the response since the declaration has been positive so far.

“People have been waiting for the help to be given to individuals who need it, but they’ve also been waiting for order to be restored on the streets of our city,” he said.

“It’s something that requires a lot of work, coordination and resources. The goal is to keep our city a place where the community feels safe and strong.”

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First on the list is housing. Mayor Nuttall wants to make sure Barrie continues receiving federal support to build more affordable homes.

“We want to continue working with the administration on housing and ensuring that we are getting dollars to market to allow for affordable units to be built and to spur adequate housing in our community,” he said.

While the city has already secured funding from the province, Nuttall said he believes the federal government also needs to step up, especially when it comes to addressing homelessness.

One major issue is encampments.

“The province has stepped up with substantial funding for the City of Barrie, going forward with both the HART hubs and the encampment removal funding. But I think there’s an opportunity for the federal government to be at the table on that as well,” he said.

The federal government has struck deals with other cities on this issue, but Barrie has been left out.

Beyond housing, trade is another key concern. The mayor wants the federal government to take a stronger approach to diversifying trade beyond the United States.

“How our municipality falls in line with the approach to tariffs south of the border is critical. We need to be working with the federal and provincial governments to ensure our municipality is onside, to maximize the response, and hopefully get us out of this trade war,” he said.

He also called for reviving the Energy East pipeline project and expanding Canada’s trade opportunities. “Get Energy East done and set up better trading opportunities, both to the east and west off of our shorelines to diversify away from the U.S. That’ll only serve our national interests better in the long term,” he added.

The Energy East was a proposed oil pipeline in Canada, that would have delivered oil from Western Canada and North Western United States to Eastern Canada. It was cancelled in 2017 and has been a hot issue in the federal election.

The fentanyl crisis is also top of mind. Nuttall said he is frustrated that Canada only took action after pressure from the United States, saying that the country should have been proactive in addressing the crisis long ago to protect Canadian lives, not just to respond to U.S. concerns about drug trafficking.

“I called for this in 2017 and 2018, and it still hadn’t been done until now. And it took U.S. pressure for Canada to get real about fentanyl in order for us to move forward. I don’t think that should have happened.”

“I want to protect Canadians. I want to protect Ontarians. I want to protect residents of the City of Barrie. It shouldn’t take another country to put pressure on us to take this seriously. We should have been taking this seriously from the beginning,” he added.

Asked about federal policies he would like to see changed, Nuttall said he is critical of the carbon tax, calling it a “massive failure.” He also believes the current government has not done enough to strengthen Canada’s energy sector and expand trade opportunities.

“The shutting down of energy, the looking at opportunities in Hudson Bay to ship during the summer months through Churchill — these things need to be developed further. Unfortunately, they were kiboshed under the current administration. It doesn’t mean that it’s too late. It just means we’ve got to get cracking.”

On working with the federal government, Nuttall acknowledged that there have been successes, particularly in housing, but said there is still more to be done. “We have realized cooperation on the housing front, but on the encampment front, we haven’t been able to realize those opportunities yet,” he said.

He said that while he has not had direct discussions with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about these issues, he hopes to find ways to push them forward now.

“I understand Marco Mendicino was named the chief of staff to the prime minister [Mark Carney.] Marco’s someone I’ve worked with in the past when he was a newly minted minister and secretary. So, I think that there are opportunities for us to work together, but we haven’t been able to realize those yet.”

Looking ahead, Nuttall hopes that no matter who forms the next federal government, they will take these concerns seriously.

“I hope that we will see a government that is going to defend our sovereignty, not just by speaking loudly, but by making the long-term decisions and investments that are needed to be able to maintain our sovereignty and choose our own future as Canadians.”

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Downey, MPP for Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte, and Khanjin, the MPP for Barrie–Innisfil, both secured their third consecutive terms in the Ontario election held in February.
Nuttall said the importance of collaboration in shaping the city’s future, stating that a key priority is working together to drive growth and development.

“There is an opportunity for city building in Barrie,” he said. “You look at the performing arts centre, as an example, that we have coming down the line. I think we could work at getting it financed and move forward.”

He said the securing provincial support for a new performing arts centre would provide
significant benefits to the community.

“It would be a beautiful addition and provide a beautiful fabric to the city,” he said. He also said the Royal Victoria Health Centre (RVH) expansion is critical for Barrie, highlighting
the need for city services to keep pace with growth. Plans include a multibillion-dollar expansion of RVH and a new hospital campus in Innisfil on an 83-acre parcel of land.

During the Ontario election, Downey stated that the PC government would continue collaborating with hospital partners and local leaders to ensure they have the necessary
resources.

Nuttall emphasized his eagerness for the RVH expansion, noting that as the city continues to build new homes, expanding city services must remain an equal priority.

“The RVH expansion is incredibly important,” he said. “We’re trying to keep up, however, to put this into perspective, we’ve seen about 20,000 new people come to Barrie in the last few years, so we have to make sure the capacity exists at RVH to service residents.”

He expressed optimism that by collaborating closely with Downey and Khanjin, the next steps will be taken soon.

“I want to work with them to ensure we get to the next steps for the RVH expansion and I do think we will get there soon.”

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The directive follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to enforce a 25 percent tariff on all Canadian imports, which took effect at midnight on Tuesday, March 4. The sweeping trade measure marks a major escalation in economic tensions between the two countries.

“Effective immediately, I have instructed city staff to remove all United States of America flags from all city-owned facilities,” Nutall announced. “There will be no American flags flying at any city facilities.”

The mayor emphasized that the move is not intended as an act of disrespect but rather as a statement of solidarity with Canadians affected by the tariffs. He stated that residents should not have to see the U.S. flag displayed on municipal properties during a period of heightened tensions.

“The reality is that we live in Canada, we’re an independent country, self-determination and freedom,” he said. “The only flag that should be flying at our facilities is the Canadian flag.”

According to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Barrie ranks 19th out of 41 Canadian cities most affected by American tariffs. Over 90% of Barrie’s exports, valued at more than $766 million, go to the United States.

Nuttall stated that if the tariff tensions are resolved, he would be open to reinstating the U.S. flags.

“If there is a time where we get through these difficulties and the relationship is restored, then we can determine at a point if it’s appropriate to put them back up,’ he said.

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This year, Barrie residents were asked to complete the short survey online between October 7 and October 21. According to Mayor Alex Nuttall, it is a vital tool for gauging public opinion on the existing services provided by the city.

“[The annual budget survey] is really important because it lets us know where the people of Barrie are at in terms of the services available — whether it’s the police, library or other concerns they have about different things happening in the community,” says Mayor Alex Nuttall.

The large majority of Barrie’s $392 million budget is collected through property taxes, though it also maintains several other sources of revenue — including grants and subsidies from the federal and provincial government as well as development charges levied for particular projects.

This year’s survey solicited opinions on various areas of expenditure — including emergency services, public transit and waste management programs. For each area, the survey provided a rough calculation of what a typical household — one where the property has been assessed as worth $368,000 — currently pays through taxes. Respondents were asked to choose between keeping the budget flat, increasing it by five per cent or decreasing it by the same amount. The city also provided a brief outline of how services could be improved by increased spending or stripped down by a cut.

According to Nuttall, he has been consistently surprised by the outcome of the annual budget surveys. “Sometimes, you get feedback on the issues where you think you know what the community wants — but [what the community wants] is actually in a different direction,” he says.

“Getting this information is good because it feeds into the decision-making process and ensures we’re moving forward on behalf of the people of Barrie — walking with them and not leaving them behind.”

The Barrie Fire and Emergency Service cost the average Barrie home owner $424 in 2024. According to the survey, a five per cent budgetary increase would provide for 75 per cent of the construction and staffing costs of operating a sixth fire station in southeast Barrie. The survey noted a budget cut would lead to reduced response times and, potentially, higher home insurance premiums.

Public transit cost about $233 per head in 2024. According to the survey, by increasing expenditure, the system could halve the amount of time between trips on its bus routes, from every half-hour to every 15 minutes. Alternatively, a five per cent budget reduction would lead to the closure of existing routes in low demand.

In 2024, the average household paid about $160 for the city’s waste management services. An increase to the department’s budget would, among other things, allow it to extend the opening hours of its household waste and recycling depots. Alternatively, a cut would lead to increased disposal fees and decreased opening hours for the depots.

This year’s survey will be used in the development of Barrie’s budget for 2025. Its results, as well as those of a similar phone survey conducted during the same period, will be made available to the public next month, following a meeting of the finance and responsible governance committee on Nov. 20.

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“I’m the wrong guy to ask!” jokes Alex Nuttall, who will London Mayor Josh Morgan when his two-year term begins in December. “But I’m looking forward to working each of the other mayors to continue to push for solutions to the problems we’re all facing.”

The former MP was chosen for the role by leaders of Ontario’s 29 largest cities, who make up the membership of the OBCM, during a closed-door meeting in Markham on Friday.

Nuttall acknowledges that part of the reason he was able to win over his peers might have been because Barrie is making headway on issues faced in all the major centres across the province. “Homelessness, is right at the top of the list — along with lawlessness as well as providing help and treatment for those affected by addictions and mental health concerns.”

At the same event, the caucus also passed a motion calling for co-ordinated efforts between municipalities and provincial and federal governments to manage the growing number of encampments popping up in city parks, including by improving access to shelter and mental health services.

“It’s such a huge issue!” says Nuttall. “For the city of Barrie, we’re facing not being able to ensure that kids’ play spaces are kept safe and clean.”

The motion also urged the federal and provincial government to accept “intervenor status” in court cases affecting cities’ ability to manage encampments. “It says a lot when you have the largest municipalities coming together to ask the province and federal government not to let this be an ad hoc issue settled by courts. It is something that requires a comprehensive approach to be taken across the province and the country.”

Judged against the mayor’s other political achievements, his election as vice-chair seems relatively modest laurel. The 39-year-old got his start in politics more than two decades ago when he served as Barrie’s junior mayor for a two-week term. After turning 21 in 2006, the Liverpool-born politician, who has lived in Barrie since immigrating to Canada in 1989, was elected as the city’s youngest-ever councillor.

At 30, he was one of a very few new Conservative candidates to win a seat in Parliament during the same election that saw Justin Trudeau’s Liberals swept to power. He was later named as the opposition’s youth, sports and persons with disabilities critic.

While the ex-MP may believe the power to solve issues related to encampments rests in provincial and federal hands, his personal ambitions remain decidedly local. Asked if he would ever consider returning to Parliament, the normally gregarious Nuttall responds with an uncharacteristically curt “no.”

After some prodding, he acknowledges feeling annoyed by politics as it plays out on the national stage. “When you look at the federal side, there’s a lot of partisanship and bickering. I’m somebody who has always been focused on solutions and getting past problems that exist.”

It is also clear he prefers discussing what drew him toward Barrie rather than away from Ottawa. “Working on council as mayor, I am, for the first time, finding my work incredibly fulfilling. . . . I love a good, well-run meeting and working with my colleagues.”

Nuttall says that while he may not have any desire to accomplish more on the federal stage, he still has quite a bit left on his municipal to-do list. “Barrie’s such a beautiful place and such a wonderful one to raise a family in. We’re just missing a few things.”

The mayor places a university at the top of that list. While efforts to build a campus in Barrie date back more than 30 years, none have succeeded. It is now the third-largest municipal centre in Ontario without one, after Burlington and Richmond Hill.

“That would be something we need to double-down on at council so that we can ensure our young people don’t have to leave town to become educated and successful, should they choose to go down the university route rather than the college route.”

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