Ontario Proposes Boundary Adjustment to Support Growth in Simcoe County
Boundary adjustment aims to unlock housing, jobs, and long-term Simcoe County growth.
TORONTO – The Ontario government has introduced new legislation that would transfer roughly 1,673 hectares of land from the Townships of Oro-Medonte and Springwater to the City of Barrie—an expansion the province says is essential to meeting urgent housing and employment needs in Simcoe County.
If passed, the Barrie-Oro-Medonte-Springwater Boundary Adjustment Act, 2025 would unlock as many as 8,000 new homes, support major business investments, and align the region’s growth with critical infrastructure projects, including the Barrie GO Line expansion and the Bradford Bypass.
The Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator (OPLDF) would oversee next steps, including discussions on implementation and financial compensation from Barrie to its neighbouring municipalities.
Government Says Barrie Needs More Land to Sustain Rapid Growth
Barrie—the largest urban and economic hub in Simcoe County—has seen its population grow nearly 13% in just two years, but has no remaining developable land within its current boundaries.
Provincial data shows that without expansion:
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Barrie will run out of residential land by the 2030s
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Employment land will be exhausted by the 2040s
“Further delays put future housing and employment needs at risk,” the province said, noting the city’s ability to immediately service new lands using its existing water and wastewater infrastructure.
The proposed boundary change would support future homes for 23,000 additional residents, while enabling job creation and industrial growth benefiting the wider county.
Why the Province Intervened
The OPLDF has been facilitating discussions among Barrie, Oro-Medonte, Springwater, and Simcoe County since May 2024, but the parties were unable to reach an agreement after 18 months of negotiations.
The province said that legislative action is now required to avoid further delays that could impede long-term growth planning.
Pending approval, the boundary shift would take effect January 1, 2026, or upon Royal Assent, whichever comes later. The legislation also grants authority to adjust ward boundaries ahead of the 2026 municipal election.
Impact on Local Municipalities
The proposed changes would transfer:
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2.3% of Springwater’s land area
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0.8% of Oro-Medonte’s land area
If passed, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing would be able to regulate transitional matters such as:
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Phasing-in of property tax changes
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Financial compensation frameworks
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Support mechanisms for affected residents and businesses
A Strategic Move for Provincial Growth
The province says the boundary adjustment will strengthen Simcoe County’s long-term economic prospects by opening new employment zones along Highway 400 north of Highway 11, supporting manufacturing, logistics, and resource-sector connections to Northern Ontario.
It also aligns with major ongoing transportation investments, including:
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Barrie GO Line ridership, projected to grow from 4.3 million (2024) to up to 14 million by 2041
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The Bradford Bypass, designed to ease congestion between Highways 400 and 404
The government maintains that the boundary expansion is critical to building homes “where it makes sense and is needed most.”
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