Barrie and Innisfil talk

Provincial development facilitator Alan Wells brought Barrie and Innisfil back to the negotiating table Monday.

Sources said boundary talks between the municipalities broke down April 30, after Barrie Mayor Dave Aspden suggested a side deal to service land owned by a developer who supported his campaign. That same night, Barrie council turned to the OPP for help, to ascertain whether a trip Aspden took to China with the developer played a part.

The investigation continues.

As word about the trip surfaced in mid-April, city council removed Aspden from its negotiating committee and replaced him with Development Services Committee chairperson Coun. Mike Ramsay.

Monday’s meeting was the first time local politicians met to discuss how to accommodate an estimated 76,900 people in the “Barrie-south Simcoe” area as identified in the Intergovernmental Action Plan (IGAP) a year ago.

Technical teams – involving engineers, planners and chief administrative officers – have continued to meet during the summer and last met Sept. 13. They are examining Lake Simcoe’s ability to absorb phosphorous effluent and Barrie’s sewage treatment capacity.

Simcoe County has had observer status during the talks, as the county leads a region-wide growth management process, which will include forums with developers and the public in late October.

Last spring, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Gerretsen and Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal David Caplan told county politicians – including those from the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia – to create a local plan for growth or forego millions in infrastructure funding to upgrade roads, bridges, water mains and sewage treatment facilities.

Wells would not comment on the talks, although a joint statement from his office was being prepared and approved by Barrie and Innisfil at press time.