Boundary Expansion Discussions

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the purpose of the facilitated discussions?

  The City of Barrie, is forecast to experience significant population and employment growth to 2051.   To address this growth, the City of Barrie, the Township of Oro-Medonte, the Township of Springwater and the County of Simcoe have agreed to engage in facilitated discussions to identify mutually acceptable solutions to accommodate anticipated growth.   The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has tasked the Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator to assist in these discussions.

  As a first step, Hemson Consulting was jointly retained to evaluate the need for additional residential and employment lands at the boundaries of Barrie/Springwater and Barrie/Oro-Medonte.  Hemson has completed that task.

• Will the Joint Land Needs Analysis and Study prepared by Hemson be made available to the public?

  Yes, the Joint Land Needs Analysis and Study is publicly available.

• What are the next steps in the process?

  Each municipal council will consider the Joint Land Needs Analysis and Study.   Subject to further consideration by each municipal council further analysis would take into consideration a number of criteria including, but not limited to, availability of water, wastewater and other infrastructure, protection of natural features and ecological functions, compatibility with existing uses, financial impacts on the applicable municipalities and consistency with Provincial Plan policies and Conservation Authority plans and policies.

• How would the public be engaged in the process?

  Although the continued facilitation discussions are confidential, all parties are committed to providing regular updates to keep their respective communities informed.  Details regarding the discussions will continue to be shared publicly.   

  Should Hemson be tasked with further work and analysis it could make recommendations on an appropriate consultation strategy for the parties to consider, including government ministries, agencies, municipal staff and councils, Indigenous communities and the general public.

• Who is Hemson Consulting?

  Hemson is an experienced consulting firm in the Province that advises on growth management, long-range strategic planning, and adequacy of land supply for municipalities.  Their services were contracted through a competitive procurement process.

• Who is paying the cost of the consultant?

  The cost of the joint land needs analysis and study has been shared by all four municipalities.  An agreement on the scope of further analysis and  cost sharing would be required before and further work is undertaken.

• What lands would be considered for future employment or residential uses?

  The study area includes lands along the Barrie/Springwater border and the Barrie/Oro-Medonte border.   The City of Barrie owns lands in the vicinity of Little Lake, in the Township of Springwater.   Further facilitated discussions could also include options for ensuring the long term environmental preservation and stewardship of those lands.