Anyway you slice it, a new face will be representing Ward 8 at Barrie City Hall in a month’s time.
There is no incumbent in Ward 8, as councillor Arif Khan chose not to seek re-election.
Running for the position are Jim Harris, Brian Miller, Shelly Skinner and Brad Thompson.
BarrieToday reached out to all four candidates to get their take on some of the issues facing not only Ward 8, but the city at large.
Some of the issues identified include community safety, traffic, lakeshore transit and the possibility of a waterfront stadium, inclusivity, accessibility and property taxes, to name just a few.
The Allandale Neighbourhood Association is hosting a Ward 8 all-candidates meeting Tuesday, Sept. 25 beginning at 7 p.m. at Unity Christian High School, which is located at 25 Burton Ave.
The municipal election is set for Oct. 22.
JIM HARRIS
Jim Harris says road conditions and the speeds driver reach along those streets are among his main concerns heading the municipal election.
“As a lifelong Barrie resident and long-term resident of Ward 8, I am keenly aware of the concerns related to safely and effectively moving traffic and people in our city,” Harris tells BarrieToday. “This experience has been reinforced from my conversations with Ward 8 residents.”
If elected to city council, Harris says he would listen to what his constituents want to ensure “traffic suppression.”
“To ensure our roads are maintained, I would support a detailed infrastructure plan that focuses on investment in our roads as a priority item,” he said.
Other key concerns include value for the tax dollar, managing residential growth, improving the downtown, increasing access to jobs and preserving the lakeshore.
“Certainly, the news that Barrie had among the highest unemployment rates in Canada should be a call to action for all,” Harris said. “The next council should be focused on opportunities to attract business and organizations that will provide jobs for those that live in Barrie.”
He would also like to see city officials revisit the idea of bringing a university campus to Barrie.
“A campus will bring jobs, reduce the cost of receiving a university education and improve access for both our youth and adults looking to retrain or advance their career,” Harris said. “ We need to align our efforts in preparation for the next call for new campuses in Ontario.”
To address growth and taxes, he says the city’s plan must include a focus on expanding both the industrial and commercial tax base and ensuring fees for new residential development address the tax burden placed on current residents.
Harris says his “deep appreciation” and knowledge of the city would be a key strength he could bring to the council table. He also holds a masters of public administration and a bachelor of arts, and in his professional life says he has worked with many of the city’s partners on key projects, such as affordable housing.
“I bring an extensive record of successful partnerships and collaborations at the provincial, regional and local level, built on trust, integrity, a positive attitude and a commitment to getting things done,” Harris said.
“As a new councillor, I will bring a new perspective, approach and energy to moving these items forward,” he said, adding he will be “transparent and accountable” while also following through on what he says.
BRIAN MILLER
Brian Miller has been going door to door, listening to the concerns of residents in Ward 8 since Aug. 1.
Common issues have included aging infrastructure, rapid growth, the need for quality jobs, affordable housing and property taxes.
An issue specific to Ward 8, which includes the Allandale Waterfront GO station, is a plan to relocate the transit terminal to the lakeshore as a transit mobility hub.
“I have received mixed responses with some residents expressing concerns over the impact of additional bus and vehicle traffic in an already congested area,” Miller tells BarrieToday. “I’ve also heard concerns regarding the existing noise caused by GO trains idling in the early morning hours.”
He says residents are also frustrated by the dormancy of the neighbouring Allandale Station project.
Another matter specific to Ward 8 is the possibility of building a stadium along the waterfront.
“The majority of residents have shared they do not support this specific location as they want the waterfront to remain as parkland,” Miller said.
Miller says concerns include traffic congestion, parking and noise from events. He says it would be better suited to near the Barrie Molson Centre, “considering (the former) Molson Park used to be extremely popular for this type of outdoor venue.”
Like every corner of the city, growth in Ward 8 is moving ahead at a rapid pace.
“Several infrastructure renewal projects have already been identified for historic Allandale neighbourhoods, so we need to ensure they remain on schedule,” Miller said.
But Miller knows growth everywhere is a concern, and hopes growth pays for growth, minimizing future tax increases. He also wants to make sure the city closely monitors the annexed land in the south.
Miller says many residents believe the city is growing too fast, “and we need to ensure growth does not negatively impact other areas of the city.”
He also says plenty of land has been tagged for residential development in the Salem and Hewitt’s secondary plans, but he’s worried there isn’t enough for sustainable employment such as technology companies.
Many, if not all all, wards face traffic concerns. Miller would like to see a council-endorsed volunteer committee, in partnership with Barrie police, that would look at traffic-safety issues. He says it should include appointed citizens from each ward, as well as its councillor.
Miller, who is retired from policing and has served on various boards and committees, says he would make city council his full-time job.
SHELLY SKINNER
Shelly Skinner says Ward 8 shares many of the same issues as the rest of the city, including “unchecked speeding” and vehicle break-ins.
“It's important that we have community input in programs we’re launching and develop solutions that foster community togetherness, like active neighbourhood watch programs or launching a ‘mini-council’ with in each ward,” Skinner tells BarrieToday, noting community representatives from the ward could help identify issues.
Skinner says “community togetherness” begins with shared values, encouraging involvement and inclusivity.
“Supporting local businesses and bringing events and activities to our neighbourhood are important parts of community building,” Skinner said. “Not everyone can attend community events when they are held in downtown Barrie. I would like to see a focus on creating community gathering spaces and annexes in our neighbourhood that would reduce our need to drive.”
Skinner says her background would serve her well if elected to city council.
“As a black woman, I bring a totally different perspective,” she said. “Our current city council doesn’t reflect Barrie’s diversity or the increasing diversity we are expecting in the coming years.”
Skinner says she’d also bring an understanding of programs in the community which “gives me an advantage when it comes to changemaking. Being homeless, even while running for council, my direct experiences with the city and our municipal services, give me a highly credible voice.”
She wants to see a council elected that represents the city’s growing diversity.
“With Barrie’s population becoming increasingly more diverse as we continue to grow as a city, it’s important everyone can relate to city council and our municipal programs,” said Skinner, who’d also like to see more inclusive programs representing different ethnicities and backgrounds.
Skinner says she has dedicated herself to improving her community. Her key concerns include affordable housing and accessibility.
“Let’s build a community where everyone can afford to live, together, without feeling separated as a group or singled out,” she said. “This sense of belonging begins in creating greater community awareness of the root causes of homelessness. This understanding leads to the development and community-wide acceptance of more mixed residential neighborhoods.”
In lower-income communities, she’d like to develop a member-led community board model.
On accessibility, Skinner says everyone should be able to enjoy the city to its fullest.
“It starts by viewing our community and the municipal services we provide through an accessible lens,” she said.
“Making accessible transit schedules more flexible and frequent and prioritizing snow removal to include sidewalk access are some examples,” Skinner added.
BRAD THOMPSON
During the past two months canvassing in Ward 8, Brad Thompson says he has knocked on more than 5,000 doors. Common complaints include property taxes, road maintenance and community safety.
“Residents want more say in what their tax dollars are spent on,” Thompson tells BarrieToday. “They want lower percentage increases in the future and less spending on things like the waterfront and more money put into maintaining our infrastructure.”
He says many roads are in need of repair and many projects should not be started unless the city plans to complete them, citing Baldwin Lane.
Thompson also says there needs to be more support for policing in some neighbourhoods which are experiencing break-ins and drug use.
If elected, Thompson says he would bring business experience, including working through budgets, to city hall.
“I know how to live within one’s means without absorbing debt,” he said. “I know how to prioritize expenditure and then implementing a plan to make things happen.”
Thompson, who is retired, says he would also bring leadership and works well in a team environment, while also being a problem solver.
“I have a history of listening to others and taking all the good ideas in finding a solution and acting quickly,” he said, adding a common sense “is always a good approach.”
Across the city, Thompson says the main issues include maintaining infrastructure on pace with growth, revitalizing the downtown and bringing a university to town.
Thompson says bringing a hotel/conference centre downtown would “do wonders for our city centre,” while moving the bus station closer to Highway 400 would also help.
Bringing a university to the city would help across the board, Thompson says.
“Both my sons were able to receive all their education, including post-secondary, in Barrie,” he said. “They were able to find good jobs and settle here. We need to attract a university back as it will be a benefit to our youth and our city.”
Thompson says Ward 8 is also ready for change.
“With new blood comes new ideas,” he said. “I think Ward 8 has some good candidates to choose from. The change will be good for our ward and our city.”
