Bill 76, Barrie – Oro-Medonte – Springwater Boundary Adjustment Act, 2025

Summary#

This bill changes the city limits around Barrie, Ontario. It moves specific lands from the Townships of Oro-Medonte and Springwater into the City of Barrie. It also sets rules for taxes, by-laws, planning, and how the change is managed.

• Takes effect on the later of January 1, 2026 or the day it becomes law.
• Barrie becomes the owner of municipal roads, water and sewer lines, and other city-type assets in the annexed areas.
• Barrie’s by-laws and development charge rules apply in the annexed areas, with some township by-laws kept for now.
• Unpaid property taxes from before the change are collected by Barrie, then passed back to the townships.
• Property tax increases are phased in over time, with longer relief for farms and managed forests.
• The Minister can set ward boundaries, require compensation payments between municipalities, and even change the annexed area by regulation.

What it means for you#

• Residents and property owners in the annexed areas

  • Your property will move into the City of Barrie.
  • Barrie’s by-laws (local rules) and services will apply. This can affect things like parking, speed limits, animal rules, and property standards.
  • Barrie’s development charges (fees on new building) will apply to new projects.
  • Some existing township by-laws about zoning, site plan control, traffic on local roads, drainage, and weeds will stay in place for now until Barrie changes them.
  • If your 2026 Barrie tax rate is higher than your 2025 township rate, the increase is phased in:
    • Homes, businesses, and most other properties: phased in over 2026–2030.
    • Farms and managed forests: phased in over 2026–2045.
  • The phase-in ends early if certain things happen, such as:
    • You sell the property (exceptions: parent-to-child for farms/managed forests, spouse-to-spouse for others).
    • You get planning approvals (like an official plan change, rezoning, site plan approval, subdivision, or a consent).
    • Your property’s tax class changes (for example, from residential to commercial).
  • If Barrie’s rate is lower than your 2025 township rate in a given year, you pay the lower Barrie rate for that year.
  • Unpaid taxes from before the change are owed to Barrie. Barrie must then pass those arrears (with interest and penalties) back to the townships.

• Businesses and developers in the annexed areas

  • Barrie’s development charges apply. This can change project costs.
  • Zoning and planning rules carry over at first, but Barrie can amend them.
  • If you seek new approvals (rezoning, site plan, subdivision, consent), your property may move to the full Barrie tax rate right away (ending the phase-in).

• City of Barrie residents (outside the annexed areas)

  • The city expands its boundaries and service area.
  • Ward boundaries may change by regulation to account for new residents and land.
  • Barrie gains control of roads and underground services in the annexed zones and takes over local records and plans for those areas.

• Residents of Oro-Medonte and Springwater (outside the annexed areas)

  • Your township’s boundary and tax base will shrink.
  • The province can require compensation payments between municipalities, but amounts and methods will be set by regulation.
  • Township councillors are not disqualified from office just because of the boundary change during the current term (ending November 14, 2026).

• Local governments (Barrie, Oro-Medonte, Springwater, County of Simcoe)

  • Ownership of municipal roads, water/sewer lines, and related rights in the annexed areas transfers to Barrie.
  • Other assets and liabilities tied to the annexed areas stay with the original municipality unless specified.
  • Studies, plans, records, data, and designs related to the annexed lands must be transferred to Barrie.
  • Tax sale and other administrative processes underway can be continued by Barrie.
  • The Minister can set ward changes, taxation phase-in rules, define events that end the phase-in, and require compensation. Regulations can be retroactive to the effective date.
  • If this Act or its regulations conflict with other laws, this Act and its regulations win.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Gives Barrie room to grow housing and jobs in a planned way.
• Streamlines services by putting roads, pipes, and local rules under one city, reducing confusion.
• Protects property owners from sudden tax hikes with phase-ins, especially for farms and managed forests.
• Keeps planning work moving by letting Barrie continue applications already in progress.
• Allows flexible adjustments by regulation (wards, taxes, compensation) to solve transition issues quickly.

Opponents' View#

• Oro-Medonte and Springwater lose land, tax base, and planning control over those areas.
• Property owners may face higher taxes over time, and many normal events (like a sale or rezoning) can end the phase-in early.
• Compensation amounts and methods are not set in the bill and left to regulations, creating uncertainty.
• Minister can change the annexed area and make retroactive rules, which some see as too much provincial power.
• Barrie may face new costs to extend services and infrastructure, with unclear funding details.