Every strong-mayor decision and direction in Barrie
The City must publish each use of the strong-mayor powers in writing. This is that register, all 91 entries as read on September 15, 2026, sorted by one rule and each non-routine entry summarised from its signed document. For what the powers are and where they come from, see the strong-mayor issue page.
How the entries are classified
A routine entry is the approval of by-laws council has already passed, which s. 284.11(4) of the Municipal Act requires of the mayor at every meeting. A direction (the MDIR series) is the mayor setting work in motion on his own initiative: a rezoning, a by-law to be drafted, a grant, an agreement, a budget instruction. Any other numbered decision is a structural, procedural or ceremonial act. The rule is applied to the document's own wording; nothing is left out.
| Year | Routine by-law approvals | Directions | Other decisions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 21 | 13 | 2 |
| 2024 | 19 | 4 | 1 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
Sources: Mayor, council and committees — Mayoral decisions and directions, City of Barrie. Original document. The City's own register of every mayoral decision and direction made under Part VI.1, published as O. Reg. 530/22 s.3 requires. Most entries are routine by-law approvals; the page states that rather than treating a raw count as a meaningful figure on its own. Mayoral decisions and directions, the signed documents (MD001-23 to MD0014-26, MDIR001-24 to MDIR007-26), City of Barrie. Original document. Every one of the ninety register entries links to a one- or two-page signed document; all ninety are archived and their text extracted. All retrieved September 15, 2026.
What the documents show
Three things are read off the 90 signed documents mechanically, by the words they use. 3 directions act "notwithstanding" a council motion or pause one (MDIR006-26, MDIR002-25, MDIR002-24): the power used against a decision council had already made. 2 state council's backing in their own text (MDIR005-25, MDIR002-24). And 2 set the 0% operating-budget target (MD013-25, MDIR001-24) that five incumbents campaign on: under these rules the mayor's budget is his to write, and the target was set by written direction rather than by a council vote. See taxes for what the total increases were.
Every non-routine entry, newest first
| Item | Entry |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2026 MD0014-26 decision |
Written decision to provide delegated authority to the Chief Administrative Officer re: updated organizational structure for the Corporation. The document: Delegates to the CAO, under s. 284.6, the authority to set an updated organizational structure for the corporation, communicated to staff July 16, 2026. |
| May 28, 2026 MDIR007-26 direction |
Written direction to staff amend the Zoning By-law to support sovereign defence facilities and/or uses approved by the City, Provincial and Federal Governments; give notice to update the existing Employment Development Community Improvement Plan to add an additional program; and to amend the Regulatory By-law, as required to allow for activities associated with sovereign defence projects. The document: Citing the federal Defence Industrial Strategy and Ontario's defence strategy of the same day, directs Planning Act notice to amend the Zoning By-law for sovereign-defence uses, to add a program to the Employment Development CIP with an initial $50 million allocated from the Tax Capital Reserve, and to amend the Regulatory By-law. Enacted the following month as By-law 2026-077; later appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. Enacted the following month as By-law 2026-077; announced at CANSEC alongside a $50 million incentive package. Later appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal by a resident. |
| May 13, 2026 MDIR006-26 direction |
Written direction to staff to relocate the watersport (jet-ski) operations from near Rotary Island. The document: Notwithstanding council motions 25-G-064 and 25-G-251 on waterfront watersport licensing, directs staff to relocate the jet-ski operation from Rotary Island to between the Centennial Park fountain and the Tiffin Street boat launch, funded from licence fees. Overrides a council motion. |
| May 4, 2026 MDIR005-26 direction |
Written direction to staff to introduce a by-law within 30 days to establish a Barrie Conservation Municipal Services Board. The document: Directs a by-law within 30 days creating a Barrie Conservation Municipal Services Board (up to five councillors, the Mayor of Springwater and citizens) over thirteen named natural areas, plus a $20,000-a-year trail program in the 2027–2036 capital plan. |
| April 21, 2026 MDIR004-26 direction |
Written direction to staff that the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute a cross-border servicing and operations agreements with the Simcoe County Christian Housing Corporation (Tollendale) and the Town of Innisfil to support the Tollendale Village Development expansion. The document: Authorizes the mayor and clerk to sign cross-border servicing agreements with the Simcoe County Christian Housing Corporation and Innisfil for the Tollendale Village expansion. |
| April 1, 2026 MDIR003-26 direction |
Written direction to staff to reduce development charges by up to 50% for all applicable developments for the next three years. The document: Supports the federal-provincial program to cut development charges by up to 50% for three years: lets previously approved deferral projects pay before May 31, 2026 for full reimbursement by June 1, and allows Land Titles Act restrictions in place of financial securities. |
| February 26, 2026 MDIR002-26 direction |
Written direction to staff to rezone key lands owned by the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre to allow for expedited hospital projects. The document: Directs Planning Act notice to rezone the RVH campus and lands it recently acquired, including former Springwater lands, under the Strategic Employment and Economic District designation; by-law to council March 25, 2026. |
| January 23, 2026 MDIR001-26 direction |
Written direction to staff to waive fees associated with Cash-In-Lieu of parkland to an upset limit of $8000 for the County of Simcoe’s Affordable Housing development at 20 Rose Street, in consideration that the City of Barrie is in need of more affordable housing options. The document: Waives cash-in-lieu-of-parkland fees, to $8,000, for the County's affordable-housing project at 20 Rose Street. |
| December 22, 2025 MDIR0012-25 direction |
Written direction to staff to conduct a review to the City of Barrie Official Plan to include and address the properties impacted by Bill 76, The Barrie-Oro-Medonte-Springwater Boundary Adjustment Act, 2025, and implement any tools or measures to allow for this review to occur, and to exempt specified lands from the review, which will support employment land development and health care opportunities in the interim. The document: After the Boundary Adjustment Act took effect, directs an Official Plan review for the annexed lands, exempting five named properties (including 366 and 384 Penetanguishene Road) so that employment and health-care development can proceed in the interim. |
| November 14, 2025 MDIR011-25 direction |
Written direction to staff to add Audrey Milligan’s Pond as part of the lands to be included in the Conservation Trust, when the report is presented to General Committee. The document: Adds Audrey Milligan's Pond to the Conservation Trust lands. |
| September 10, 2025 MDIR010-25 direction |
Written direction to prepare an amendment to the City’s current Development Charges By-law to provide that development lands owned or leased from the municipality by a non-profit institution for institutional uses by the non-profit institution shall receive a 100% discount on the City’s Development Charges. The document: Directs an amendment to the Development Charges By-law giving non-profit institutions on municipally owned or leased land a 100% discount, with no securities required. |
| September 8, 2025 MDIR009-25 direction |
Written direction to staff to undertake additional direction related to motion 25-G-197 concerning Development Charges Deferrals and provision of 20% Affordable housing. The document: Two directions under one number. July 4: defers all municipal development charges for applicable developments until council adopts the deferral policy. September 8: adds conditions to motion 25-G-197 (annual occupancy reporting, a two-year Barrie residency requirement for affordable units, and eligibility for 100%-rental projects). The register prints two entries under this number (July 4 and September 8, 2025); both are kept. |
| July 4, 2025 MDIR009-25 direction |
Written direction to staff re municipal development charges. The document: Two directions under one number. July 4: defers all municipal development charges for applicable developments until council adopts the deferral policy. September 8: adds conditions to motion 25-G-197 (annual occupancy reporting, a two-year Barrie residency requirement for affordable units, and eligibility for 100%-rental projects). The register prints two entries under this number (July 4 and September 8, 2025); both are kept. |
| June 24, 2025 MDIR008-25 direction |
Written direction to staff to prepare a funding agreement to provide Georgian College with $7.5 million dollars over a period of 10 years, subject to conditions. The document: Directs a $7.5 million, ten-year funding agreement with Georgian College, conditional on a downtown campus and Ministry support. |
| June 24, 2025 MD013-25 decision |
Written decision re matters for City Council’s consideration as part of the Mayor’s 2026 Business Plan & Budget. The document: Sets the mayor's 2026 budget parameters: keep the 0% City operating increase; move 1% of the infrastructure levy to a new intergovernmental-projects reserve from 2027 for ten years, shown as a separate levy line; rename the Theatre Reserve; cut the Allandale refurbishment by $45 million and the new library location by $5 million; remove the Spirit Catcher park project; and record $172.5 million of "cost avoidance". Sets a 0% operating target. |
| May 14, 2025 MDIR007-25 direction |
Written direction to staff that notice be given immediately to the Salem Landowner’s Group and property owners as defined under the Planning Act to advise of the intention to rezone the property of 264 Salem Road. The document: Directs immediate Planning Act notice of the intention to rezone 264 Salem Road to permit a place of worship, with council consideration before the summer recess. |
| May 9, 2025 MDIR006-25 direction |
Written direction to staff to prepare a Development Charge Deferral program. The document: Directs a twelve-month pilot deferring development charges to occupancy or two years after building permit, interest free. |
| May 9, 2025 MDIR005-25 direction |
Written direction that staff, the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor discuss and prepare with the Township of Springwater a boundary adjustment agreement to allow for City of Barrie to assume lands from the Township of Springwater, in alignment with the shared principles outlined. The document: Issued "with the unanimous support of City Council": directs negotiation of a boundary-adjustment agreement with Springwater on stated principles, including a joint economic-development committee, a boundary buffer and a tax phase-in, to be executed by the mayor and CAO. States council backing. |
| April 22, 2025 MDIR004-25 direction |
Written direction to staff to report to General Committee on the creation of a Conservation Trust. The document: Directs a report on a Conservation Trust for Little Lake and other sensitive lands, functioning by 2026, and names its council members: the mayor, the deputy mayor and Councillors Kungl, Nigussie and Harvey. |
| April 9, 2025 MDIR003-25 direction |
Written direction to staff re preparation of a by-law for the rezoning of 131 Lockhart Rd. The document: Directs staff to prepare a by-law rezoning 131 Lockhart Road from agricultural to general industrial and environmental protection, for the April 9, 2025 council meeting, to support a new manufacturing building. |
| April 8, 2025 MDIR002-25 direction |
Written direction to accept a voluntary contribution from Skyline, in lieu of using funds from the Reinvestment Reserve, to construct a flagpole up to 150 feet at the First Responders Campus by no later than July 1, 2025. The document: Notwithstanding council motion 25-A-036 (a $250,000 flagpole at the First Responders Campus from the Reinvestment Reserve), authorizes accepting a voluntary contribution from Skyline instead. Overrides a council motion. |
| March 4, 2025 MDIR001-25 direction |
Written direction outlining the City's response to the tariffs in the amount of 10–25% being imposed by the United States on Canadian products starting on March 4, 2025. The document: In response to U.S. tariffs: bans new procurement from U.S.-based vendors, removes them from preferred-vendor lists, authorizes senior staff to release funds for tariff costs, and orders quarterly reporting to the executive committee. |
| January 20, 2025 MD002-25 decision |
Written direction to establish an Executive Committee as a Committee of Council that will report to General Committee. The document: Establishes an Executive Committee reporting to General Committee: the mayor as non-voting chair, the deputy mayor, and the chairs of the four reference committees (the two Affordability chairs sharing one vote). The executive committee: seven members (the mayor, chairing without a vote, plus six councillors) with a broader mandate than the reference committees. Publicly minuted, but its formation bypassed a council vote. |
| November 27, 2024 MD018-24 decision |
Written acknowledgment of Dawn McAlpine, an employee of distinction for over 33 years with the City of Barrie, who will be retiring from the Corporation on November 30, 2024. The document: A ceremonial acknowledgement of a retiring employee of 33 years, issued as a numbered decision. A ceremonial acknowledgement of a retiring employee, issued as a numbered decision. |
| November 13, 2024 MDIR004-24 direction |
Written direction to staff re changing the date for Council's consideration of the 2025 Service Partner budgets. The document: Moves council's consideration of the 2025 service-partner budgets from February 12 to January 29, 2025. |
| November 11, 2024 MDIR003-24 direction |
Written direction to staff re providing grants for the Youth Haven Development at 22 Wellington Street East. The document: Grants Youth Haven $4,212.64 (its water-tapping fees) for the 22 Wellington Street East project, and directs further grants to cover any other City fees not already waived. |
| August 15, 2024 MDIR002-24 direction |
Written direction to staff re the Multi-Use Sports Field. The document: At council's request of August 14, 2024, pauses council motion 24-G-111 on the multi-use sports field so that public consultation can occur, citing a venture with "a global entity" in sport tourism. Overrides a council motion; states council backing. |
| July 12, 2024 MDIR001-24 direction |
Written direction to staff re 2025 Budget and Business Plan. The document: Directs the CFO to prepare the 2025 budget on a 0% increase to the City operating budget, continue the infrastructure levy increase beyond 2025, and to bring the 2026 budget on the same parameters; asks service partners to align; sets the budget calendar. Sets a 0% operating target. |
| November 8, 2023 MD006-23 decision |
Written notice to decrease the time to veto amendments passed by resolution of City Council concerning the City Operating and Capital Budgets and Service Partner Budgets from 10-days to 5-days. The document: Written notice shortening the mayor's window to veto council's budget amendments from ten days to five, under s. 284.16(4) and O. Reg. 530/22 s. 7(7). Shortened the mayor's budget-veto window from ten days to five; see the council vote of the same day at /data/council-votes/council-2023-11-08/. |
Routine entries, 62 of them, each approve the by-laws passed at one council meeting (the bills enacted under the motion to introduce by-laws plus the confirmation by-law); the documents are archived but not itemized here.
Sources: Mayor, council and committees — Mayoral decisions and directions, City of Barrie. Original document. The City's own register of every mayoral decision and direction made under Part VI.1, published as O. Reg. 530/22 s.3 requires. Most entries are routine by-law approvals; the page states that rather than treating a raw count as a meaningful figure on its own. Retrieved September 15, 2026. Mayoral decisions and directions, the signed documents (MD001-23 to MD0014-26, MDIR001-24 to MDIR007-26), City of Barrie. Original document. Every one of the ninety register entries links to a one- or two-page signed document; all ninety are archived and their text extracted. Retrieved September 15, 2026. Nuttall uses 'strong mayor' powers to strike new executive committee, BarrieToday (Bob Bruton), dated January 29, 2025. Original document. On-the-record councillor reaction to a January 20, 2025 mayoral direction restructuring the mayor's task force into an executive committee — the fullest documented debate over a specific use of the powers found in this site's research. Retrieved August 18, 2026. Barrie unveils defence investment incentives at CANSEC, Barrie 360, dated May 28, 2026. Original document. The $50 million package and the $2.5 million for Armed Forces training at Georgian, issued by mayoral direction (MDIR007-26, May 28, 2026) under the strong-mayor powers rather than by a council vote. Zoning implementation was By-law 2026-077, later appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
Common questions
How many times has Barrie's mayor used strong mayor powers?
The City's register lists 91 entries from August 2023 to September 16, 2026: 62 are routine approvals of by-laws council had already passed, which the Act requires at every meeting; 24 are written directions to staff; and 5 are other decisions. Whether a raw count means anything depends on which of those you count.
Has Barrie's mayor overridden council with strong mayor powers?
3 directions act "notwithstanding" a council motion or pause one: MDIR006-26, MDIR002-25, MDIR002-24. Each is summarised from its signed document in the table on this page.
Who decided Barrie's 0% operating budget increase?
The mayor, by written direction to staff: MD013-25, MDIR001-24. Under the strong-mayor rules the mayor prepares the budget and council can only amend it, so the target did not need a council vote.