Midhurst/ May 14, 2008 – The County of Simcoe reiterated today its long-standing desire to work with all partners to implement the Simcoe Area Growth Plan, a critical road map drafted to meet provincial policy directions for planning for this region over the next 25 years.

A major milestone was achieved today when the Corporate Service Committee supported the Growth Steering Committee recommendation to adopt the Area Wide Growth Plan as amended through public consultations. The Growth Plan will be used as a framework for the County’s Official Plan with the Transportation Master Plan and the Natural Heritage components feeding into the Official Plan. The next step in the approval process for the Growth Plan will be its consideration by Simcoe County Council on May 27, 2008.

Upon Council approval, the County of Simcoe Official Plan development will include the new Growth Plan concepts. Further public consultations will occur in 2008 to share this important information with residents.

Completion of the County’s new Official Plan will be a major achievement because it will give local municipalities a framework in which to bring their official plans into compliance with Ontario’s ‘Places To Grow’ legislation.

Commenting on recent remarks from some City of Barrie Councillors, County Warden Tony Guergis stated that their remarks seemed very incongruent with those from the Province of Ontario.

“At a meeting last week with the Greater Barrie Home Builders Association, Assistant Deputy Minister Brad Graham of the Growth Secretariat for the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal publicly stated that he was very pleased with the initial planning work of Simcoe-area municipalities,” stated Warden Tony Guergis. “We appreciate this acknowledgement by the Province indicating their satisfaction with the County’s efforts thus far.

“We are disappointed however in some of the public posturing over the growth plan by some partner municipalities. Nonetheless we are pleased that these municipalities, specifically the City of Barrie, have indicated that they will be complying with the Places to Grow density and intensification targets in their planning documents.”

Warden Guergis added that stopping urban sprawl, intensifying development, preserving farmland, protecting our environment, developing efficiencies in infrastructure and services as stated by the City of Barrie in a May 6 press release are important goals for everyone and common ground on which to build.

“Those are the very core principles of the Simcoe Area Growth Plan,” Warden Guergis stated. “The County of Simcoe is in line with the Province’s ‘Places To Grow’ legislation and we are ready to move into the implementation phase of this process. The Province of Ontario has asked the County of Simcoe to lead this growth plan for the region – all 16 member municipalities plus Barrie and Orillia. We will not apologize for the fact that the Province has placed this trust in the County.”

The Simcoe Area Growth Plan was presented to the public at a series of open houses held in April and participants congratulated the County for listening to concerns and incorporating suggestions from the public into the document. Residents applauded the process which was open, transparent and invited extensive public input.

“We have listened to our residents and they told us that creating jobs and protecting the environment are two of their top priorities,” Warden Guergis stated. “I’m proud to say that this Growth Plan has taken those elements into serious consideration and the recommendations for growth in this area are designed to improve the environment and bring employment opportunities closer to home for the many residents who will choose to live here in the future.”

Despite numerous invitations, City of Barrie councillors have refused to take an active role on the Growth Process Steering Committee or its subcommittees. Our partners at the City of Orillia did participate. Instead, it was the City of Barrie’s choice to have observer status making comments only at the end of the process on aspects they feel don’t support the City’s individual desires.

“We respect the position by our colleagues at the City but let’s be absolutely clear,” stated the Warden:

• We have always wanted Barrie to be a part of this process. We made amendments to the Terms of

Reference in order to accommodate Barrie to be a part of this from day-one.

• The Simcoe Area Growth Plan does implement provincial policy direction regarding planning for

population and economic growth in Ontario.

• The Simcoe Area Growth Plan not only comprises the Province’s vision for this region but also sets the

framework for economic prosperity.

• The County of Simcoe has always recognized Barrie’s role as a major urban centre in this region.

• The County of Simcoe Growth Plan does not promote urban sprawl because designated growth is allocated to existing settlement areas as suggested by some.

“We were surprised that the City has chosen to not participate politically on behalf of their residents on the Area

Wide Growth Plan. We are however, grateful for their technical data and staff input to our process.”

By working together, 18 municipalities can ensure the long-term prosperity of greater Simcoe County. The City of Barrie is again invited to work co-operatively with all municipal partners.

“Barrie is certainly an important part of the solution as the biggest urban centre in our region and we respect this fact. But the City of Barrie is just one of 18 voices that we need to jointly consider in order to ensure we all prosper through the regional planning decisions we are making today.”

The County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit the website at simcoe.ca.