Update from Jull Dunlop, MPP
By Office of Jill Dunlop, June 17, 2025
As we welcome the warmer and brighter days of July, I’m pleased to share some important updates from Queen’s Park that reflect our government’s continued efforts to build strong, flourishing communities across Ontario.
Last month I was proud to join Premier Ford and Minister Jones as we announced the building of a new hospital in Orillia with support through the province’s Capital Planning Grant, to serve Orillia and the surrounding region for years to come. This funding for a new acute care hospital will increase critical care resources, the number of ICU beds and inpatient beds, and allow for more services for our communities. Exciting, is that OSMH, in partnership with Lakehead University, have agreed to explore the construction of a new hospital on the University’s campus located on University Ave. in Orillia
The province is continuing to invest in the future of health care through expanded nursing education, and is committing over $4.2 million to train more nurses, more quickly, so people can access the care they need, no matter where they live. This includes support for accelerated RN programs and additional capacity at colleges across the province. These investments will help build a strong health-care workforce and ensure communities across Ontario, including rural and northern areas, have access to quality care.
Our government is also taking bold action to build a cleaner, more reliable energy system that supports job creation and long-term economic growth. As part of Ontario’s first Integrated Energy Plan, we’re expanding our hydrogen energy advantage and taking a critical step in building affordable and secure sources of energy.
We also introduced the Supporting Children and Students Act, aimed at strengthening accountability and transparency in Ontario’s school boards, postsecondary institutions, and children’s aid societies. Whether it’s ensuring that public dollars are used effectively in our schools, that families understand postsecondary systems, or that vulnerable youth get the support they deserve, this legislation puts children and students first.
As always, I’m proud to represent Simcoe North and advocate for the needs of our region. Whether it’s investing in health care, strengthening our energy future, or supporting students and families, I remain committed to delivering meaningful progress for our communities.
Wishing you and your family a safe and joyful summer, filled with community events, local celebrations, and time to enjoy everything Simcoe North has to offer!
Time ticking down for mayors to find ‘framework agreement’ on land
By: Wayne Doyle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: BarrieToday.com, Jun 03, 2025
The countdown to find a solution to Barrie’s proposed boundary expansion is on.
In a June 2 letter to Springwater Township Mayor Jennifer Coughlin and copied to Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall, Oro-Medonte Mayor Randy Greenlaw and Simcoe County Warden Basil Clarke, among others, Jeffrey Schelling and Daniel Mathieson, from the Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator (OPLDF), advised the local municipal leaders that Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack has been briefed on the discussions that have taken place thus far and he will continue to be apprised as the process moves forward.
In their letter, Schelling and Mathieson said Flack’s expectation is that a framework agreement will be achieved to address the need for additional community and employment area land supply, as identified in the needs assessment report, by Sept. 30.
Such a framework agreement, they added, could inform the form and content of a restructuring proposal as contemplated in section 173 of the Municipal Act — proposal to restructure.
The OPLDF is facilitating discussions between Barrie, Oro-Medonte, Springwater and the county. The facilitation process will continue with all four municipalities as part of their efforts to develop a mutually acceptable approach to enable growth in the area.
According to the letter, the land-needs assessment report was “informed by the input of all parties” and determined the following:
Employment area supply: Barrie, Oro-Medonte and Springwater have sufficient employment area to meet long-term demand to 2051. However, Barrie faces a short-term gap in shovel-ready parcels of land, and accelerated growth in Springwater’s Midhurst Secondary Plan area may necessitate expedited designation of additional employment areas.
Community area land supply: Oro-Medonte and Springwater have sufficient community area land to meet their respective growth forecasts to 2051. In contrast, Barrie’s community area land is insufficient to meet its 2051 population forecast.
Future municipal boundary expansion: If necessary, future expansion of Barrie’s municipal boundary should address both community and employment area needs, encompassing up to 930 hectares of developable land — approximately 630 hectares for community areas and 300 hectares for employment areas.
“Given these findings, the next phase of the facilitation process will aim to explore viable options for accommodating growth along the respective existing borders of Barrie and the Township of Springwater/Barrie and the Township of Oro-Medonte,” the letter stated.
Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall said the letter from the OPLDF reflects the direction of the city’s ongoing discussions with the province over the past two years.
“We are encouraged to see a firm date of Sept. 30 set to reach a resolution, as it is a positive step towards a mutually beneficial outcome,” Nuttall said in an email to BarrieToday on Tuesday morning.
“In addition, we are also pleased with the province’s continued commitment to working collaboratively on the development and structure of the conservation trust,” he added.
Nuttall said he looks forward to continuing discussions with all partners involved.
BarrieToday reached out to Coughlin, Greenlaw and Clarke for their reaction to the letter, but did not receive responses prior to publication of this article.
According to Schelling and Mathieson, the work to explore viable options for accommodating growth along the existing borders is already underway and will require “a robust technical and planning analysis.”
The work that is required will include:
An evaluation of the suitability of different land locations and configurations for commercial, employment and residential development
The delineation of both undevelopable land and natural heritage areas
An evaluation of the serviceability of land (e.g. municipal water and wastewater, as well as transportation, electricity, and natural gas)
Consideration of local impacts and regional real-estate market conditions.
“Mayors know the needs of their communities best, and we commend the City of Barrie and Township of Springwater on working together to deliver better results for the people they serve,” Alexandra Sanita, communications manager for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said in an email to BarrieToday.
“Our government will continue to support municipalities as we strengthen local governance and give them the tools they need, and requested, to get shovels in the ground for critical infrastructure projects faster,” Sanita added.
The letter has been added to the correspondence and information items section of the agenda for Springwater Township’s council meeting on Wednesday, which starts at 6:30 p.m.