Oro-Medonte pushes for Accountability, Transparency and Public Input in Boundary Adjustment Negotiations

Oro-Medonte Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for more accountability, transparency and public input in the process of Barrie's planned annexation for employment lands.

The full resolution and proposed process of resolution is on the Oro-Medonte website at https://oromedonte.civicweb.net/FileStorage/DCFC7B47DD27412D9E997B73ED1B13D4-2025%2002%2025%20A%20Motion%20Regarding%20the%20Barrie%20Boundary%20.pdf

Summary

Rationale

The "Explanatory Note" to this motion echoes many of our concerns with this issue (see our brief), noting that the Facilitation process:

• is not transparent to the Public and does not allow public input,

• is slow to yield progress and does not have a specific timeline to start and end,

• does not provide the positions of the Parties either to the public or between themselves,

• the process to date has failed to adequately address a problem or need for which the facilitation seeks to address,

• the findings of the Stage 2 Hemson Report and the prior report commissioned by the Township and County of Simcoe has identified Barrie does not have need for employment lands. However, Barrie continues to assert this need,

• does not give elected representatives the opportunity to communicate face-to-face,

• may not provide procedural fairness to the parties if the Province is called upon to decide any residual matters,

• is vulnerable to assertions that it is being affected by the hand of the Province,

• does not have a procedure of any form.

Resolution

The Township of Oro-Medonte then resolves that:

• all further discussions be held in Open Sessions, with all Parties being present at each Session

• all Parties enter into discussions in the Sessions in the manner described in the proposed Process

  • all Parties be present at all Sessions

  • Sessions to be live streamed

  • Sessions to be mediated by the same Facilitator, acting as Chair of the Sessions

  • agreement on any issue will be by vote

  • and other practical "housekeeping" proposals

• that the Process not take more than six months

Follow-Up (March 19)

It should be noted that Mayor Nuttall responded with a letter to the Mayor of Oro-Medonte on March 19, expressing surprise at the unanimous resolution and objecting to its content. This letter was shared on the March 19 Circulation List: https://barrie.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13940516&GUID=50F203AC-059F-41EF-8911-3871C13D35C1