The infrastructure gap

Barrie's tax-supported infrastructure — roads, buildings and equipment, not the rate-funded water and sewer systems — comes to roughly $6 billion measured at what it would cost to replace it. (Everything the City owns, water and sewers included, is $11.5 billion; see the asset plan below.) Keeping pace with their ageing would take about $121 million a year. The 2026 budget plans to transfer $55.4 million. The City states the difference itself: a shortfall of over $65.6 million a year.

The City's own arithmetic

These are not derived figures. Every number below is printed in the Infrastructure Investment Funding section of the 2026 business plan and operating budget.

Tax-supported infrastructure, as stated in the 2026 budget
Measure	Amount
Value of tax-supported infrastructure, at historical cost	about $2 billion
The same assets, at current replacement cost	about $6 billion
2025 amortization expense, on historical cost	$48 million
Estimated annual amortization, on replacement value	$121 million
Planned 2026 transfer to capital reserves	$55.4 million
Annual shortfall, in the City's words	over $65.6 million

Source: Infrastructure Investment Funding (2026 Business Plan & Operating Budget), City of Barrie. Original document. One page. States the $6.4M IIF contribution represents a 2% tax levy increase. Retrieved August 9, 2026.

Why two values for the same assets: accounting amortization is charged against what something cost when it was built, and Barrie's pipes and roads were largely built decades ago. Replacing them happens at today's prices. The budget says the transfer is "slightly higher than this year's amortization expense" measured the first way, and far short of it measured the second. Both statements are true, and that is the whole argument.

What the City has done about it

The dedicated renewal levy — an extra percentage added to property taxes for infrastructure — has a traceable history in the budget documents:

First approved in the 2015 budget, as an annual increase to the capital reserve contribution equivalent to a 1% tax increase for the typical residential taxpayer.
Raised to 2% for 2024 and 2025 as part of the 2023 budget approval, with the additional 1% directed to stormwater capital renewal through a new Tax Funded Stormwater Capital Reserve.
The stormwater contribution was continued for a further year in the 2025 budget, proposed under the strong-mayor budget process.
For 2026, the Infrastructure Investment Funding contribution is $6.4 million, which the budget states is a 2% tax levy increase.

That stormwater 1% has a second half worth knowing. Council approved a separate stormwater user fee in February 2022 that would have appeared as a line on water bills from spring 2023, then cancelled it during 2023 budget amendments and funded stormwater renewal from property taxes instead. So stormwater is paid for on the tax bill, not the water bill. See water and wastewater rates.

The state of what the City owns

In 2025 the City published a 213-page Corporate Asset Management Plan under the provincial regulation that requires one (O. Reg. 588/17). It grades every class of asset the City owns on a five-point scale — Very Good to Very Poor, consistent with the International Infrastructure Management Manual — and compares what renewal should cost against what the 2025–2034 capital plan actually funds. The plan's own totals: $11.5 billion of assets at 2025 replacement value, 87.3% in fair or better condition and 6.5% — $711 million — very poor. Both percentages are measured against the graded value, which excludes about $605 million of assets whose condition is unknown; that is why 6.5% of the $11.5 billion headline works out higher than the $711 million printed. Renewal is funded at $90.6 million a year against a $111.8 million need — a renewal gap of $21.2 million a year.

Barrie's assets by service area — 2025 Corporate Asset Management Plan
Service area	Replacement value	Condition (plan's five-point scale)	Renewal gap, $/yr
Wastewater	$3.0B	Good — sewers 90.3% fair or better	$11.5M
Transportation	$2.8B	Good — network average PCI 71	$4.8M
Water	$2.2B	Good — watermains 97.2% fair or better	$1.8M
Stormwater	$1.6B	Good	$0.4M
Facilities	$1.5B	Good — 82.3% fair or better, but 10.6% very poor	$0
Parks, outdoor recreation & natural areas	$313M	Good	$1.0M
Barrie Collingwood Railway	$85.6M	Fair — about 58% fair or better	$0.69M
Fleet	$75M	Fair — 33% past optimal life, $24M+ replacement backlog	$0
Transit	$63M	Fair	$1.0M
All assets	$11.5B	Good — 87.3% fair or better	$21.2M

Wastewater Transportation Water Stormwater Facilities Parks BCRY Fleet Transit

Billions of dollars at 2025 replacement value, the same figures as the table above; segment values are on hover or tap. The drawn segments sum to about $11.6 billion against the plan's stated $11.5 billion total — each service-area figure is rounded in the plan itself, and the rounding accumulates. Four buried or paved categories — wastewater, transportation, water and stormwater — are about 83% of everything the City owns, which is why a renewal gap shows up as a watermain break long before it shows up as a closed building.

Two different gaps, do not add them. This plan's $21.2 million-a-year renewal gap compares the capital plan against a ten-year renewal forecast. The $65.6 million shortfall higher up this page is the operating budget's amortization-on-replacement-value measure. They answer different questions with different methods, and this page keeps them apart. The plan also reports a separate growth gap of roughly $35 million a year, almost all of it parks and outdoor recreation. The largest single renewal line is wastewater vertical assets (plants and stations) at $11.5 million a year — the same figure as the entire wastewater row above, which is to say the whole of that service area's renewal gap sits in the plants and stations; the buried sewers show none in this measure.

Wastewater Transportation Water Parks Transit BCRY Stormwater

The plan's own average annual renewal gap per service area, 2025–2034 — what renewal is forecast to need minus what the capital plan funds. Facilities and fleet show no renewal gap in this measure and so do not appear, though the plan flags a $24M+ fleet replacement backlog and 10.6% of facilities in very poor condition. Derived from Table 1-1 of the plan.

Source: Corporate Asset Management Plan — Proposed Levels of Service (2025), City of Barrie, dated June 12, 2025. Original document. Rev 02, June 12, 2025; 213 pages, written to O. Reg. 588/17's proposed-levels-of-service deadline. A local copy is kept with the site's research files. Its $21.2M/yr renewal gap is a capital-plan-versus-need measure — a different method from the operating budget's $65.6M amortization-basis shortfall, and the two must not be conflated. Retrieved August 17, 2026.

The railway the City owns

One of those service areas is easy to miss: Barrie owns a working freight railway. The Barrie Collingwood Railway is 32.8 km of City-owned track running from the CP Rail junction west of County Road 56 in Essa Township, through Barrie, south to the Innisfil Heights employment area, with its interchange at the Utopia rail yard — owned half-and-half by the City and the County of Simcoe. The City has owned and operated it through a contract with Cando Rail and Terminals since 2012, after the non-profit that previously ran it was dissolved in 2011.

The asset plan values it at $85.6 million to replace — 43% of that in two bridges — grades it Fair (about 58% of assets fair or better, the weakest overall grade of any service area alongside transit and fleet), and flags the aging Lockhart Road rail bridge as its capital issue, with a renewal gap of $0.69 million a year. The Collingwood half of the name is history: Barrie and Collingwood bought the abandoned line together in 1996, service to Collingwood ended in 2011, and that corridor — sold to the County of Simcoe in 2018 — is now a recreational trail.

Why it is an election issue

A renewal shortfall does not announce itself in any single year. It appears as resurfacing deferred, a watermain that fails before it was scheduled to be replaced, a facility closed for repairs. Every candidate who proposes to hold the tax increase down, and every candidate who proposes new capital spending, is making a choice about this $65.6 million, whether or not they name it. The gap is the City's own number, so it is a fair question to put to anyone asking for a seat.

What is approved here, and what is not. The 2% levy itself is approved: the City states that Council approved a zero per cent operating increase for 2026 "while continuing the contribution of two per cent for the Infrastructure Investment Funding levy". The asset and shortfall figures above are the budget document's own, published with the proposed budget and not restated since. See where your property taxes go and sources.

What the candidates have said

Verbatim, attributed, dated. Every passage below is copied exactly from an archived copy of its source — a campaign website, a news article, or the candidate's own social media post — and links to it. Nothing is paraphrased by this site and no for-or-against label is applied: read the words, follow the link. Passages from news coverage say whether they are the candidate quoted, the reporter's reported speech, or the reporter's characterisation.

Compiled in a research batch dated September 11, 2026, reviewed by hand before publication on September 11, 2026. Passages are capped at 60 words. Campaign pages are undated, so only the retrieval date is shown for them. A candidate with nothing located on an issue is listed as such, with the date their sources were checked; a race is shown only once every candidate in it has been checked. See methodology.

Mayor

Tanya Saari

She said one of Barrie’s biggest challenges is making sure the city’s rapid growth is matched with the infrastructure and services needed to support residents.

Source: As reported by CompassNews, Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race, July 9, 2026 (paragraph 14). Read September 10, 2026. news reported
But we also need the roads, infrastructure, parks and services to keep up.

Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race, July 9, 2026 (paragraph 16). Read September 10, 2026. news

Show 3 more passages

Saari said one of the biggest issues Barrie faces during the next four years is how the city grows without making life less affordable for the people who already live here.

Source: As reported by barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: Mayoral candidates asked about top issues facing city, August 31, 2026 (paragraph 8). Read September 11, 2026. news reported
But with growth comes pressure on roads, water, transit, recreation and the everyday services people rely on.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: Mayoral candidates asked about top issues facing city, August 31, 2026 (paragraph 9, second quotation). Read September 11, 2026. news
We need to keep planning ahead and make sure growth, infrastructure and services are moving together. Before we approve major growth or major new spending, I want us asking some pretty basic questions.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: Mayoral candidates asked about top issues facing city, August 31, 2026 (paragraph 10, first quotation, first two sentences). Read September 11, 2026. news

No published statement on this issue located for 3 candidates. Campaign website did not answer when checked (September 10, 2026): Alex Nuttall. No campaign website on the City's list: Kay Sayer, Russell Tighe. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 1

Stefano Agostino

Barrie is also growing faster than ever and we need to plan ahead. That means making smart decisions about infrastructure, roads, services, housing and the investments our city will need for the future.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Ward 1 candidate says Barrie residents 'want action' on safety issues, August 28, 2026 (paragraph 9). Read September 11, 2026. news

Shaughna Ainsworth

Road revitalization is still needed on local roads.

Source: ainsworth4ward1.ca, Platform page, section '05 Keeping Ward 1 Beautiful and Ensuring the Revitalization of Local Roads', first bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
Ward 1 deserves neighbourhoods that are safe, well-maintained, and welcoming. I will work to ensure our roads, parks and public spaces receive the attention and investment they need.

Source: ainsworth4ward1.ca, Platform page, section '05 Keeping Ward 1 Beautiful and Ensuring the Revitalization of Local Roads', closing paragraph. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
Require infrastructure investment that protects a neighbourhoods character and green space

Source: ainsworth4ward1.ca, Platform page, section '02 Responsible Growth', third bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Brent Bowser

Push for clear infrastructure and service-capacity planning alongside major growth, so residents can see what improvements are needed, when they are required and how they will be funded.

Source: brentbowser4ward1.com, Priorities page, first 'Responsible growth' block, How I'll advocate, first paragraph. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. site
As Ward 1 grows, City services and infrastructure need to keep pace. Plan for the real impact of development, identify gaps early, and make sure roads, transit, public services and infrastructure can support the people who call the community home.

Source: brentbowser4ward1.com, Priorities page, second 'Responsible growth' block, My approach. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. site
Push for a fix-it-first approach that prioritizes preventative maintenance before avoidable problems become costly repairs.

Source: brentbowser4ward1.com, Priorities page, 'Infrastructure & maintenance', How I'll advocate, third bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. site

Hafiz Rahman

I will work to identify damaged sidewalks, uneven pavement, and areas that create safety hazards.

Source: votehafiz.net, Home page, under 'Improving Sidewalks and Community Safety', second bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
Investing in repairs and maintenance will make Ward 1 safer, more accessible, and easier to navigate for all residents.

Source: votehafiz.net, Home page, under 'Improving Sidewalks and Community Safety', third bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

No published statement on this issue located for 2 candidates. No campaign website on the City's list: Christian Cadera. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 11, 2026): Pauline Stevenson. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 2

Frank Casera

That means investing in roads, transit and the infrastructure beneath our streets, while finding smarter and more sustainable ways to pay for it. Development should contribute appropriately to the infrastructure needed to support new growth, while the City continues to pursue provincial and federal funding and carefully manages the infrastructure we already have.

Source: buildbarriebetter.com, Prosperity page, paragraph beginning 'A successful city needs infrastructure'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Shanicka Edwards

As Barrie grows, our infrastructure must keep pace. Ward 2 residents continue to raise concerns about deteriorating roads, flooding, speeding and aging infrastructure.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Ward 2 candidate says affordability among 'defining issues' this election, September 3, 2026 (paragraph 9, first two sentences). Read September 11, 2026. news
Growth without the systems to support it is not responsible planning.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Ward 2 candidate says affordability among 'defining issues' this election, September 3, 2026 (paragraph 9, third sentence). Read September 11, 2026. news

Ajmal Noushahi

Commit to finding alternative funding methods for infrastructure — not automatically raising the levy year after year.

Source: voteforajmal.ca, Platform page, under 'Smarter Infrastructure Funding'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
Focus on doing things once and doing them right — saving taxpayer dollars instead of paying again and again for repeated fixes.

Source: voteforajmal.ca, Platform page, under 'Long-Term Planning'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

No published statement on this issue located for 2 candidates. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 10, 2026): Craig Nixon. No campaign website on the City's list: Tracy Strohm. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 3

Ben Hughes

As our city develops, we need to anticipate how growth will affect traffic, intersections, roads, stormwater systems, parks and public services. Planning ahead allows us to address pressure points early, maintain the infrastructure we already have and avoid more costly problems in the future.

Source: benhughesbarrie.ca, Infrastructure page, paragraph 1. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
I will support infrastructure planning that keeps pace with growth while continuing to improve the neighbourhoods and services existing residents rely on every day.

Source: benhughesbarrie.ca, Infrastructure page, paragraph 2, second sentence. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Show 2 more passages

'Growth cannot simply be about adding more homes and more people; we have to make sure the infrastructure that supports our city can keep up,' says Ben Hughes

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Electrician hopes to bring 'practical, hands-on' approach to Ward 3, September 8, 2026 (Feed summary (article page not archived)). Read September 11, 2026. news
That means asking whether our roads, water systems, parks and public services can handle increased demand, addressing weaknesses before they become larger problems, and ensuring maintenance keeps pace with growth rather than constantly playing catch-up.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Electrician hopes to bring 'practical, hands-on' approach to Ward 3, September 8, 2026 (paragraph 9). Read September 11, 2026. news

Ryan Rijo

Barrie is growing rapidly, and our infrastructure must keep pace. Roads, potholes, sidewalks, snow clearing, stormwater systems, water and wastewater infrastructure, and traffic management are the foundation of a functioning city.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Baseball helps shape Ward 3 candidate's attitude toward teamwork, September 4, 2026 (paragraph 11, first two sentences). Read September 11, 2026. news
Growth should come with the infrastructure needed to support it.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Baseball helps shape Ward 3 candidate's attitude toward teamwork, September 4, 2026 (paragraph 11, third sentence). Read September 11, 2026. news

No published statement on this issue located for 2 candidates. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 11, 2026): Amy Courser. No campaign website on the City's list: Bryan Jones. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 4

Iradat Ahmad

Roads, sidewalks and parks that keep pace with the ward we are becoming.

Source: ahmad4ward4.ca, Home page, under 'PRIORITY 04 Community safety and infrastructure', second line. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
New development pays its fair share of the infrastructure it demands.

Source: ahmad4ward4.ca, Home page, under 'PRIORITY 04 Community safety and infrastructure', third line. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Show 2 more passages

New development is coming to Ward 4, and Ahmad says roads, parks, transit and servicing have to arrive with it.

Source: As reported by barrietoday.com, Road safety, speeding among top issues in newly redrawn Ward 4, September 10, 2026 (paragraph 15, second sentence). Read September 11, 2026. news reported
We approve houses faster than we approve the things that turn houses into a neighbourhood.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Road safety, speeding among top issues in newly redrawn Ward 4, September 10, 2026 (paragraph 16). Read September 11, 2026. news

Lori Galeazza

New construction shouldn't overwhelm our aging infrastructure. I'll be the squeaky wheel at every development meeting, demanding growth that's planned for the people who already live here.

Source: lorigaleazza.ca, Home page, 'What She Stands For', item 05 Smart, Well-Planned Growth. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Arif Khan

Past planning ideals have proven flawed in their execution. Barrie's roads planning strategy is a prime example.

Source: arifforward4.ca, Home page, under 'PRIORITIES', item 02 'Responsible growth', third paragraph, first two sentences. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. inferred site
Yesterday's decision to wait to widen Mapleview and other projected arteries was a massive miscalculation. Today, residents and tax payers are paying the price.

Source: arifforward4.ca, Home page, under 'PRIORITIES', item 02 'Responsible growth', third paragraph, last two sentences. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. inferred site
Barrie’s population growth had moved faster than old projections. Arif Khan pushed for action that reflected today’s reality.

Source: arifforward4.ca, Home page, video blurb 'Growth Outpaced the Plan' under 'THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE TABLE'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. inferred site

No published statement on this issue located for 2 candidates. No campaign website on the City's list: Matthew Corbett, Patrick Harriott-Stewart. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 5

Duarte Da Silva

North-south investment gap: Closing the gap in infrastructure investment across the ward.

Source: duarteforward5.ca, Home page, 'The Major 5 in Ward 5', second bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Robert Thomson

This project will improve connectivity, reduce congestion, and support long-term growth in our city.

Source: thomsonward5.ca, Accomplishments page, 'Improving Our Roads', paragraph after the check-list. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Ward 6

Nigussie Nigussie

In addition, I helped secure nearly $100 million in housing and infrastructure funding that benefits our city and supports the long-term growth and sustainability of our community.

Source: www.votenigussie.ca, 'Why I Am Seeking Re-Election' page, paragraph after the investments list. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
My focus is to manage that growth the right way, by staying ahead with smart infrastructure, making sure our roads, services, and neighbourhoods are built to support growth. Keep people safe, and avoid higher costs down the road, while supporting families and seniors and ensuring our community remains safe, accessible, and well-served.

Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Race begins for Barrie’s 2026 municipal election, May 4, 2026 (paragraph 9 (second quotation attributed to Nigussie)). Read September 10, 2026. news

No published statement on this issue located for 2 candidates. No campaign website on the City's list: Nasar George Nader. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 10, 2026): Christel Pena. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting any of them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 7

Gary Harvey

Widening of Essa Road with sidewalks for 2028

Source: garyharvey.ca, Home page, under 'GARY GETS THINGS DONE', eleventh item. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. site
Upgraded key roads and secured $53M in provincial funding

Source: garyharvey.ca, Home page, under 'THE FIVE POINT PLAN', 'INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS', third bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 11, 2026. site

No published statement on this issue located for one candidate. No campaign website on the City's list: Michael Lewis. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 8

Jim Harris

My goal is to match infrastructure planning and growth to that population increase in the most efficient way possible, and in a way that matches the goals of the community.

Source: votejimforward8.ca, Key Issues page, under 'Efficient Services & Quality Facilities (Your Taxes)', sentence 5. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Amanda Fellows

Infrastructure and community services that keep pace with development.

Source: amandafellows.ca, Home page, 'My Platform', under 'THOUGHTFUL GROWTH', third bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
That means looking at the cumulative impact of development on traffic, roads, schools, parks, infrastructure and existing neighbourhoods — not evaluating each application in isolation.

Source: amandafellows.ca, Home page, 'My Platform', under 'THOUGHTFUL GROWTH', paragraph 3. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

No published statement on this issue located for one candidate. No campaign website on the City's list: Samina Alim. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 9

Norm Costello

We need to address the poor conditions of our city streets.

Source: normcostello.ca, Home page, Platform section, under 'Poor condition of city streets'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
Ensuring Hewitt's Secondary Plan Development include the necessary road and utility upgrades before congestion becomes unmanageable.

Source: normcostello.ca, Home page, Platform section, under 'Infrastructure & accountability'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Asmar Naveed

Barrie will continue growing, but development should be matched by infrastructure, roads, services, parks, and responsible planning.

Source: asmarforward9.com, Home page, under 'Responsible Growth'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
Barrie is growing quickly, and Ward 9 has seen that growth firsthand. As councillor, I will support responsible development while pushing to ensure roads, parks, infrastructure and City services keep pace with new growth.

Source: asmarforward9.com, Priorities page, under 'Responsible Growth'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Show 3 more passages

As Ward 9 and southeast Barrie grow, I will push for roads, intersections, sidewalks, transit, parks, recreation, and other municipal infrastructure to be planned alongside new development rather than continually catching up afterward.

Source: asmarforward9.com, Ward 9 Forward page, item 2 'Infrastructure That Keeps Pace With Growth'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
I also want to focus on the everyday issues that directly affect quality of life in Ward 9: maintaining our roads and neighbourhood infrastructure, improving winter maintenance, investing in our parks and public spaces and ensuring that existing neighbourhoods continue receiving attention as Barrie grows.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Ward 9 candidate wants 'meaningful' community consultation, September 11, 2026 (paragraph 7). Read September 11, 2026. news
Growth is inevitable, but it needs to be responsible. New development must be supported by the infrastructure and services necessary to accommodate it, while ensuring existing residents aren't left feeling that their neighbourhoods have been forgotten.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Ward 9 candidate wants 'meaningful' community consultation, September 11, 2026 (paragraph 8). Read September 11, 2026. news

Dave Weingarten

Road maintenance, traffic calming and snow removal are popular topics. They are, in fact, safety issues for residents — especially seniors and those with mobility issues.

Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Councillors have power to keep Barrie affordable, says Ward 9 candidate, September 7, 2026 (paragraph 8, first two sentences). Read September 11, 2026. news

No published statement on this issue located for one candidate. Campaign website read, nothing located on this issue (September 11, 2026): Sergio Morales. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

Ward 10

Bryn Hamilton

Ward 10 is growing quickly. The next four years will be critical to ensuring our infrastructure and services keep pace while protecting the quality of life residents value.

Source: brynforbarrie.ca, Home page, 'My Commitment', introductory paragraph. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
Ensure new Ward 10 development is supported by the roads, parks, recreation, schools and infrastructure our communities need – while advocating for existing neighbourhoods when growth impacts them.

Source: brynforbarrie.ca, Home page, 'My Commitment', under 'Responsible Growth'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

Georgy Kapustin

Match development approvals with real service capacity. Roads, transit, utilities, schools, parks, and public services must be considered before development approval.

Source: georgyk.com, Priorities page, under 'Responsible Growth', third bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
Require transparency on long-term infrastructure costs. Residents should understand future costs before major growth decisions are made.

Source: georgyk.com, Priorities page, under 'Responsible Growth', fourth bullet. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
I will not treat growth as a checkbox. Before supporting major decisions, I will demand clear answers about whether roads, transit, services, parks, schools, local jobs, and neighbourhood plans can actually support what is being approved.

Source: georgyk.com, About page, 'My Commitment to Residents', second paragraph. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site

No published statement on this issue located for one candidate. No campaign website on the City's list: William Cadeau. Indexed news coverage checked September 11, 2026: none quoting them on this issue. Social media posts not yet checked.

School board trustees

None of the 19 trustee candidates across 7 races has a located statement on this issue; trustees do not decide it. Their statements are on the education page, and each candidate's own page says what was checked.

Common questions

What is Barrie's infrastructure gap?

The City's own 2026 budget states it: keeping pace with the ageing of tax-supported infrastructure would take about $121 million a year measured at replacement value, the 2026 budget plans to transfer $55.4 million, and the City calls the difference a shortfall of over $65.6 million a year.

What condition is Barrie's infrastructure in?

The 2025 Corporate Asset Management Plan values everything the City owns at $11.5 billion at replacement cost, grades 87.3% of it in fair or better condition and 6.5% — $711 million — very poor, and reports renewal funded at $90.6 million a year against a $111.8 million need.

What is Barrie's infrastructure levy?

A dedicated renewal levy first approved in the 2015 budget as the equivalent of a 1% tax increase, raised to 2% for 2024 and 2025. For 2026 the Infrastructure Investment Funding contribution is $6.4 million, which the budget states is a 2% tax levy increase.