Tanya Saari
Candidate for Mayor in the 2026 Barrie municipal election.
- 4 times on the record
- 0 times elected
Campaign contact
- Campaign website
- vote@tanyasaari.ca
- 705-205-6219
Contact details are from the City's candidates list, except any marked inferred, searched or supplied; hover the mark to see where that detail came from. We do not reproduce the home addresses the City also publishes.
In their own words
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 October 8, 2026. Passages are capped at 60 words and listed newest first. Campaign pages are undated, so only the retrieval date is shown for them, and they sort by it. 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.
Strong mayor powers
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Within my first 90 days, I will publish a clear Strong Mayor Powers Policy setting out how and when I would use those powers.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Five, under 'Using Strong Mayor powers appropriately', first sentence. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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Saari said she would prefer to work through council and would only consider using the powers when required by legislation, such as in certain budget matters, and promised to be transparent about the reasoning behind any use.
Source: As reported by Barrie 360, Barrie mayoral candidates broadly aligned but offer different visions on homelessness, taxes and more, October 7, 2026 (paragraph 27 (photo captions and podcast promo not counted)). Read October 7, 2026. news reported
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I do not want to use strong mayor powers,
Source: As quoted in Barrie 360, Barrie mayoral candidate Tanya Saari promises transparency, affordability focus and collaborative leadership, September 17, 2026 (paragraph 24, under subhead 'Opposes use of strong mayor powers' (subheads and listen promo not counted)). Read October 7, 2026. news
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Strong mayor powers takes away the democratic process,
Source: As quoted in Barrie 360, Barrie mayoral candidate Tanya Saari promises transparency, affordability focus and collaborative leadership, September 17, 2026 (paragraph 26, under subhead 'Opposes use of strong mayor powers' (subheads and listen promo not counted)). Read October 7, 2026. news
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Decisions made with the community, not handed down from mayor's office. Every voice at the table.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, Priorities, under 'Leadership That Brings People Together'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
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Strong-mayor powers used to bypass democratic council structure
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, 'A different kind of leadership', under 'Current approach' (list item). Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
Snow clearing
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I will make sure Barrie’s streets get snowplowed properly. I will redirect funding from corporate subsidies to operational funding in Barrie’s budget for winter control, basic road maintenance, and core municipal services that have been starved by this Mayor.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Three, under 'Investing in Winter Control and Your Basic Services'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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I will work with staff in each department to establish and publish clear service standards for areas such as roads, snow clearing, transit, and parks, with regular reporting on how the City is performing.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Three, under 'Publishing clear service standards'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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Roads, winter control, transit, accessibility and parks may not always make the biggest headlines, but they have a huge impact on daily life. Residents should be able to see the level of service the city is promising and whether we are actually delivering it.
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Saari promises 'line-by-line review' of Barrie's 2027 budget, September 29, 2026 (paragraph 9, second and third sentences). Read October 7, 2026. news
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You’re already paying plenty in property taxes. You should see it in the basics: smoother roads, better snow clearing, safe sidewalks, and parks that feel cared for.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, Priorities, under 'Services That Work for You'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
Transportation
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I will pursue a $1 transit fare and a $25 monthly pass.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Three, under 'Making transit more affordable'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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Before implementing it, I will make sure the financial plan is clear and public, including the cost, expected ridership impact, available provincial and federal funding, and what it means for the overall transit budget.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Three, under 'Making transit more affordable', first sentence of second block. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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The safety concerns around e-bikes and e-scooters are real
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: Candidates spin what to do about e-bikes, e-scooters, September 7, 2026 (paragraph 7). Read September 11, 2026. news
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Before deciding whether Barrie needs a ban or additional restrictions, I would want to understand exactly where the problems are occurring and what is causing them.
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: Candidates spin what to do about e-bikes, e-scooters, September 7, 2026 (paragraph 8, second sentence). Read September 11, 2026. news
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The next council needs to look closely at what is happening here in Barrie and decide whether there are practical rules we can actually enforce that would make these devices safer to use
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: Candidates spin what to do about e-bikes, e-scooters, September 7, 2026 (paragraph 10). Read September 11, 2026. news
Taxes
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I will conduct a line-by-line review of the 2027 budget to identify savings, efficiencies, and spending that needs a closer look, and commitments that may need to wait.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment One, under 'Conducting a line-by-line budget review of the 2027 budget'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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I will make sure we are talking about the whole picture, and commit to delivering lower tax increases.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment One, intro block. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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Property taxes, water bills, groceries, they’re all going up and for a lot of people on fixed incomes every increase comes straight out of somewhere else
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Cost of living and taxes dominate Barrie mayoral Q&A at Grace United Church, October 7, 2026 (paragraph 7, first quoted sentence). Read October 7, 2026. news
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I will conduct a line-by-line review of the 2027 budget, make sure residents can clearly see the full impact of their tax bill, and take a hard look at major spending commitments.
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Saari promises 'line-by-line review' of Barrie's 2027 budget, September 29, 2026 (paragraph 5, first sentence). Read October 7, 2026. news
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Rather than promising tax freezes or reductions, she said she would commit to keeping increases as low as possible through detailed budget reviews.
Source: As reported by Barrie 360, Barrie mayoral candidate Tanya Saari promises transparency, affordability focus and collaborative leadership, September 17, 2026 (paragraph 11, under subhead 'Affordability and spending under scrutiny' (subheads not counted)). Read October 7, 2026. news reported
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Local households face soaring property taxes while public safety and infrastructure suffer. Barrie requires a mayor committed to financial transparency and honest talk, giving every resident a voice in our city's governance.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, second block under the headline. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
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Our taxes are up 16% over four years. That’s the biggest increase in years.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, Priorities, under 'Honest Affordability'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
The record shows: The City's stated increases since 2023 average +4.21% a year: 4.85% (2024), 4.28% (2025), 4.80% (2026); the 2023 figure is on the chart. Taxes, by year.
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Headline tax freeze, hidden cost increases
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, 'A different kind of leadership', under 'Current approach' (list item). Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
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People are already feeling stretched. We can’t just keep adding things to the tax bill and assume people can absorb it.
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: Mayoral candidates asked about top issues facing city, August 31, 2026 (paragraph 10, second quotation). Read September 11, 2026. news
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We need to focus on what matters most, spend carefully and sometimes be willing to say ‘not yet.'
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: Mayoral candidates asked about top issues facing city, August 31, 2026 (paragraph 11, second quotation). Read September 11, 2026. news
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I want us to take a hard look at what we’re spending, what we’ve already committed to, and what we can realistically afford over the next four years
Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Mayoral candidates’ visions for homelessness & affordability, August 28, 2026 (paragraph 22). Read September 11, 2026. news
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Her campaign priorities include what she calls “honest affordability,” which would provide residents with a focus on taxes, fees, debt, reserves, user rates and future costs.
Source: As reported by CompassNews, Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race, July 9, 2026 (paragraph 12). Read September 10, 2026. news reported
Encampments
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The reality is that the Mayor’s declaration of a homelessness emergency has failed.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Two, intro block, first sentence. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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Creating a Barrie Homelessness Task Force within my first 90 days.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Two, heading 'Creating a Barrie Homelessness Task Force within my first 90 days.'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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I strongly believe that housing first needs to be a much bigger part of the answer,
Source: As quoted in CTV News, Barrie mayoral candidates debate how to handle homelessness, October 7, 2026 (paragraph 8). Read October 8, 2026. news
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To get someone into stable housing and safe housing, with the supports that they require around them, whether that’s mental health, addiction treatment, or just assistance with day to day life,
Source: As quoted in CTV News, Barrie mayoral candidates debate how to handle homelessness, October 7, 2026 (paragraph 9). Read October 8, 2026. news
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I will create a homelessness task force focused on practical solutions, clear responsibilities and better outcomes for both people experiencing homelessness and the broader community.
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Saari promises 'line-by-line review' of Barrie's 2027 budget, September 29, 2026 (paragraph 8). Read October 7, 2026. news
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Nobody wants to see people living in encampments. The question is what we do about it.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, pull quote below 'A different kind of leadership'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
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Supportive housing as the real solution
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, 'A different kind of leadership', under 'Tanya's approach' (list item). Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
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I would want to understand what the state of emergency is actually accomplishing before making a decision to continue or end it.
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: State of emergency debated after full year in effect, September 10, 2026 (paragraph 4). Read September 11, 2026. news
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What has changed because of it? What additional resources has it brought to Barrie? If it’s helping us move toward solutions, that matters
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: State of emergency debated after full year in effect, September 10, 2026 (paragraph 5). Read September 11, 2026. news
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Ultimately, I want fewer people living outside because we’ve actually helped them find somewhere to call home. That’s how we reduce encampments
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: State of emergency debated after full year in effect, September 10, 2026 (paragraph 7). Read September 11, 2026. news
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There also needs to be a much more co-ordinated approach between the city, the County of Simcoe, the province and community organizations, Saari added.
Source: As reported by barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: How would mayoral candidates manage poverty, addiction?, September 2, 2026 (paragraph 17). Read September 11, 2026. news reported
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I don’t think tents in our parks are the answer, but moving people from one place to another isn’t the answer either
Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Mayoral candidates’ visions for homelessness & affordability, August 28, 2026 (paragraph 15 (under subhead 'Moving people from one place to another isn’t the answer')). Read September 11, 2026. news
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On homelessness, mental health and addictions, Saari said solutions must focus on partnerships and proven approaches, including supportive housing.
Source: As reported by CompassNews, Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race, July 9, 2026 (paragraph 17). Read September 10, 2026. news reported
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My experience in housing has shown me that people are experiencing homelessness for many different reasons
Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race, July 9, 2026 (paragraph 18). Read September 10, 2026. news
Safety & policing
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I support Barrie Police and want officers to have the resources they need to keep our community safe, but Police costs are rising far faster than other services. Police costs should not rise faster than the Fire Department, Roads, or other municipal costs.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment One, under 'Reviewing major police budget increases carefully'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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I will make sure we review significant budget increases carefully. Overtime, vacancies, technology, equipment, capital spending, and other operating costs are all fair areas to review.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment One, under 'Reviewing major police budget increases carefully', third block. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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I know we’re looking at criminalizing and I think if people are doing something that’s against the law then they should be punished for it. If people are openly using drugs then they need to be punished.
Source: As quoted in Simcoe.com, Barrie votes: three of four mayoral candidates address key issues during all-candidates meet-and-greet, October 6, 2026 (under 'Tanya Saari', 'Addiction', first two sentences). Read October 7, 2026. news
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So I think we do need to look at that massive increase and see if there’s anywhere where we can get it down. I’m not looking to cut police services, I’m looking to not cut police budgets.
Source: As quoted in Simcoe.com, Barrie votes: three of four mayoral candidates address key issues during all-candidates meet-and-greet, October 6, 2026 (under 'Tanya Saari', 'Police budget', second and third sentences). Read October 7, 2026. news
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Saari says she understands what Nuttall is trying to do with the petition, and agrees that police need the right tools when someone is severely impaired and poses a risk to themselves or others.
Source: As reported by barrietoday.com, Mayoral candidates divided as Nuttall floats 'compassionate intervention team', September 11, 2026 (paragraph 6). Read September 11, 2026. news reported
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We cannot police our way out of homelessness and addiction.
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Mayoral candidates divided as Nuttall floats 'compassionate intervention team', September 11, 2026 (paragraph 7). Read September 11, 2026. news
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Public safety and compassionate solutions, not one or the other.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, Priorities, under 'Safer Communities, Real Solutions'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
Housing
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Before supporting additional development charge reductions or waivers, I will require a public analysis showing the cost, the expected benefit, what taxpayers may have to absorb, and what results are expected in return.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Four, under 'Making sure growth pays its fair share'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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For City-controlled housing programs like the Community Investment Program (CIP), I will push for affordability measures that look at people’s incomes, not simply whether a unit is priced below the current market.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Four, under 'Defining affordability honestly'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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Saari also raised concerns about whether the 50% reduction will be passed on to homebuyers.
Source: As reported by Frequency News, Barrie Council Reduces Development Charges by 50%; Recognizes General Manager of Access Barrie, September 28, 2026 (paragraph 6, second sentence). Read October 7, 2026. news reported
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More housing, but with the roads, transit, parks, and services to match so growth makes life better, not harder, for people already here.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Home page, Priorities, under 'Smart Growth'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived September 10, 2026. site
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If we want fewer encampments, we need to give people somewhere else to go. That means more focus on permanent and supportive housing and working with the county, province, health-care providers and community organizations to make that happen.
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: State of emergency debated after full year in effect, September 10, 2026 (paragraph 6). Read September 11, 2026. news
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If we want fewer encampments, we need to give people somewhere else to go. I want us putting more of our energy into long-term solutions that actually move people out of homelessness, particularly supportive housing.
Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Mayoral candidates’ visions for homelessness & affordability, August 28, 2026 (paragraph 16). Read September 11, 2026. news
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We’re growing. We need more housing; we want new investment, new jobs
Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race, July 9, 2026 (paragraph 15). Read September 10, 2026. news
Major investments
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Why would we spend tens of millions on vanity projects Downtown when people can't even get down their street in the winter?
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Three, intro block. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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Can we afford this now or is it something that needs to wait?
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Cost of living and taxes dominate Barrie mayoral Q&A at Grace United Church, October 7, 2026 (paragraph 8, second quoted sentence). Read October 7, 2026. news
Show 5 more passages
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This might get controversial, but I would say not yet to the rec center,
Source: As quoted in Barrie 360, Barrie mayoral candidate Tanya Saari promises transparency, affordability focus and collaborative leadership, September 17, 2026 (paragraph 15, under subhead 'Affordability and spending under scrutiny' (subheads not counted)). Read October 7, 2026. news
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Saari says these projects are not just a matter of want and need.
Source: As reported by barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: How do mayoral candidates weigh high project costs with affordability?, September 5, 2026 (paragraph 11). Read September 11, 2026. news reported
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Every major project announcement seems to come with another significant investment attached to it, and I am genuinely concerned about what all of those commitments add up to.
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: How do mayoral candidates weigh high project costs with affordability?, September 5, 2026 (paragraph 12, second quotation). Read September 11, 2026. news
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It is whether we can afford all of them, at the same time, while still maintaining the roads, infrastructure and everyday services people rely on.
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: How do mayoral candidates weigh high project costs with affordability?, September 5, 2026 (paragraph 14, second sentence). Read September 11, 2026. news
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I am not prepared to say today that every project should move ahead on the current timeline,
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, BARRIE ELECTION: How do mayoral candidates weigh high project costs with affordability?, September 5, 2026 (paragraph 16, first quotation). Read September 11, 2026. news
Infrastructure
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Barrie is facing significant infrastructure needs, and some of our capital reserves are already under pressure.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment One, under 'Conducting a line-by-line budget review of the 2027 budget'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Data centres
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Meanwhile, Saari said she supports a moratorium to give the city time to better understand the potential impacts on the community.
Source: As reported by Barrie 360, Barrie mayoral candidates broadly aligned but offer different visions on homelessness, taxes and more, October 7, 2026 (paragraph 34 (photo captions and podcast promo not counted)). Read October 7, 2026. news reported
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Nobody really has enough information to provide us with an answer right now as to what the impacts would be from environmental, to noise pollution, to water usage
Source: As quoted in Barrie 360, Barrie mayoral candidates broadly aligned but offer different visions on homelessness, taxes and more, October 7, 2026 (paragraph 35 (photo captions and podcast promo not counted)). Read October 7, 2026. news
Fire and emergency
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I support Barrie Police and want officers to have the resources they need to keep our community safe, but Police costs are rising far faster than other services. Police costs should not rise faster than the Fire Department, Roads, or other municipal costs.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment One, under 'Reviewing major police budget increases carefully'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
Health care
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Saari says she wants to know if someone is picked up or connected to treatment, what happens next? Is there a treatment bed available?
Source: As reported by barrietoday.com, Mayoral candidates divided as Nuttall floats 'compassionate intervention team', September 11, 2026 (paragraph 8). Read September 11, 2026. news reported
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If those pieces are not there, then we are just moving the crisis from one place to another,
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Mayoral candidates divided as Nuttall floats 'compassionate intervention team', September 11, 2026 (paragraph 9). Read September 11, 2026. news
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Because if we are serious about solving this, we need more than an intervention. We need somewhere for people to go.
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, Mayoral candidates divided as Nuttall floats 'compassionate intervention team', September 11, 2026 (paragraph 18). Read September 11, 2026. news
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I don’t have a firm yes or no position on supervised consumption at this point
Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Mayoral candidates’ visions for homelessness & affordability, August 28, 2026 (paragraph 19). Read September 11, 2026. news
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I want to understand the evidence, what’s worked and what hasn’t, and listen to the people working directly in addictions and mental health before taking a position. A lot has changed around supervised consumption sites in Ontario.
Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Mayoral candidates’ visions for homelessness & affordability, August 28, 2026 (paragraph 20, first two sentences). Read September 11, 2026. news
General
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I will work with Council, residents, Tourism Barrie, and other stakeholders to bring forward a made-for-Barrie framework that looks at registration, clear expectations for operators, and practical enforcement.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Three, under 'Bringing forward a made-for-Barrie short-term rental framework'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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I will make accessibility part of the conversation from the beginning of City projects, not at the end.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Three, under 'Building accessibility in from the beginning'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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I will restore online access to advisory committee meetings so residents can follow the discussions without having to attend in person.
Source: tanyasaari.ca, Commitments page, Commitment Five, under 'Bringing advisory committee meetings back online'. Page. The page is undated; retrieved and archived October 7, 2026. site
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I'd like to eliminate the executive committee and bring back making more of that stuff public.
Source: As quoted in Barrie 360, Barrie mayoral candidate Tanya Saari promises transparency, affordability focus and collaborative leadership, September 17, 2026 (paragraph 7, second quotation (subheads not counted)). Read October 7, 2026. news
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The simple answer is that I believe Barrie deserves a choice
Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race, July 9, 2026 (paragraph 6). Read September 10, 2026. news
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I don’t believe leadership is about being the best. I believe it’s about bringing the right people together
Source: As quoted in CompassNews, Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race, July 9, 2026 (paragraph 11). Read September 10, 2026. news
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Saari is also campaigning on improving transparency at city hall, increasing public engagement, addressing community safety concerns, supporting responsible growth and ensuring that core services such as road maintenance, snow clearing, sidewalks and parks remain a priority.
Source: As reported by CompassNews, Second candidate jumps into Barrie mayoral race, July 9, 2026 (paragraph 13). Read September 10, 2026. news reported
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'Residents are telling me they are frustrated with the current direction of City Hall and want a more practical, collaborative approach,' says Tanya Saari
Source: As quoted in barrietoday.com, 'It is about a better way forward': New candidate enters Barrie mayor’s race, July 6, 2026 (Feed summary (article page not archived)). Read September 11, 2026. news
Not yet checked for this race: social media posts.
Electoral record
Ran, not elected Contesting now
| Year | Contest | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Mayor | — | — | Contesting now |
| 2021 | Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte federal | 16,145 | 30.9% | Not elected |
| 2020 | Ward 3 councillorby-election | 427 | 23.2% | Not elected |
| 2018 | Ward 3 councillor | 415 | 18.0% | Not elected |
Federal and provincial rows come from Elections Canada and Elections Ontario results. They are a different level of government on a different ballot, so their vote counts are not comparable with a municipal count. See the full riding history for how Barrie's ridings have been drawn and renamed since 1999.
Sources: City of Barrie certificates of election results. See all election results for the full documents.
Sources: Official Voting Results, by general election, Elections Canada. Original document. Table 12 (candidate results by electoral district) for each general election 2004 to 2025 covering a Barrie riding. The specific pages used are listed in the page's own citations. Member service dates were cross-checked against the House of Commons' member records at ourcommons.ca. Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate, by general election, Elections Ontario. Original document. Official candidate-level results for each Ontario general election 1999 to 2025 covering a Barrie riding. The commonly-repeated 609-vote margin for Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte in 2022 is wrong; this source's own Plurality field reads 296 votes. All retrieved August 17, 2026.
In full
Each contest Tanya Saari was part of, with the whole field, because a result only means something next to what it was up against.
2021: Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte (federal)
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Shipley | Conservative | 23,555 | 45.1% | Elected |
| Tanya Saari | Liberal | 16,145 | 30.9% | Not elected |
| Sarah Lochhead | NDP | 8,910 | 17.1% | Not elected |
| Chris Webb | People's Party | 3,629 | 6.9% | Not elected |
Contribution limits at this election: $1,650 from one individual a year, to one party's riding associations and candidates; corporations and trade unions could not give; the candidate's own money: up to $5,000 (Canada Elections Act, ss. 363(1), 367(1), 367(6)). Every election's limits, with sources.
2020: Ward 3 councillor (by-election)
| Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ann-Marie Kungl Elected | 542 | 29.4% |
| Tanya Saari | 427 | 23.2% |
| Devin Scully | 308 | 16.7% |
| Kelly Patterson McGrath | 234 | 12.7% |
| Gerry Marshall | 176 | 9.6% |
| Ram Faerber | 105 | 5.7% |
| Peter Silveira Ex-Ward 5 | 31 | 1.7% |
| Stephen James Ciesielski | 19 | 1.0% |
2018: Ward 3 councillor
| Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Doug Shipley Elected Incumbent | 1,614 | 70.0% |
| Tanya Saari | 415 | 18.0% |
| Lynn-Anne Hill | 277 | 12.0% |
Expenses
What Tanya Saari's disclosed spending went to, from the public record, reclassified into the same spending-type buckets on both sides — see council expenses and campaign finance for how every member and candidate compares.
Compliance & Legal Voter Outreach & Data Conference & Travel Meals & Appreciation Events & Sponsorships Advertising & Media Print & Communications Office & Administration Corporate (phone/tablet) Other / miscellaneous
Compiled from the public electoral record. If anything here is wrong, please tell us on the corrections page. Names are linked across elections only where we have confirmed by hand that the records refer to the same person; where we are unsure, they are kept separate.
Common questions
Who is Tanya Saari?
Tanya Saari is a candidate for Mayor in the 2026 Barrie municipal election, and previously ran in Barrie in 2018, 2020.
What is Tanya Saari running for in Barrie?
Mayor, on the ballot in the 2026 Barrie municipal election. Election day is October 26, 2026; internet and telephone voting opens October 16. See everyone running in this race.
Is Tanya Saari an incumbent?
No. Tanya Saari does not currently hold the seat being contested. The sitting members are listed at incumbents.
Has Tanya Saari run for office before?
Yes: on a Barrie municipal ballot in 2018, 2020, and on a federal or provincial ballot for a Barrie-area riding in 2021. The full record, with votes and results for every race, is below.
How do I contact Tanya Saari's campaign?
The campaign published a campaign website, an email address, a phone number on the City of Barrie's certified candidates list; they are shown under campaign contact above. This site does not reproduce home addresses.
Who can vote for Tanya Saari?
Every eligible Barrie voter: the mayor is elected city-wide. See how to vote.