Talks break off between Barrie and Innisfil
By Chris Simon

The future of the border between Barrie and Innisfil will be mirky for awhile, after the town walked away from formal land negotiations last week. The decision ends 18 months of talks. Innisfil officials will now wait for the County of Simcoe's growth plan, before deciding on their next course of action.

Land negotiations between Barrie and Innisfil have broken down once again.

After about two consecutive days of talks between the municipalities, along with 18 months of prior discussion, Innisfil officials have withdrawn from land and service negotiations with Barrie, says town mayor Brian Jackson. Last week, provincial facilitator Allan Wells called the two municipalities back to the bargaining table after months of delays.

Wells presented the sides with a proposed settlement, however Jackson says the deal would have been unfair for Innisfil residents.

Jackson says the deal would have impeded Innisfil's ability to expand the Highway 400 employment area in a costeffective and competitive way. Also, the amount of land and servicing levels were unfairly balanced in Barrie's favour.

"The diligent efforts by all the parties involved in the process over the last number of months to undertake the technical work necessary that led to the conclusion of the process (Friday) is much appreciated," said Jackson. "I am confident that the analysis will assist the county, Barrie and the town in meeting their respective challenges down the road. Other options to achieve council's goal of creating enhanced employment opportunities for our community will be pursued."

However, Barrie officials are disappointed by the break down.

Barrie councillor Mike Ramsay says the proposed settlement would have given the city more land, which it needs for residential and employment development.

"The city's negotiating committee felt that despite the proposal not being a long-term solution, the facilitator's compromise did meet the city's needs for a number of years and was a fair solution for all parties," he said. "This would have been the best deal to protect the long-term sustainability of Lake Simcoe."

Ramsay said Innisfil's decision jeopardized the provincial government's Places to Grow plan, which designates Barrie as the only major urban growth centre in Central Ontario.

"We attempted to cooperate with our neighbours in an attempt to find a local solution," he said. "So we are disappointed (when) both Innisfil and Simcoe County, which was at the negotiations as an observer, decided they were unwilling to compromise to reach a deal."

The province now needs to support the recommendations made by Wells, said Ramsay.

Jackson says town officials will await the completion of the county's growth management process before selecting their next course of action. That process is expected to be completed by June.

"Just because this initiative has wound up, it does not mean a local solution to the overall growth pressures the County cannot be found," he said.

"I am confident that there are solutions out there and Innisfil will continue to be active at the County level to contribute positively to that process."

Although Barrie is only participating as an observer in the county's growth process, Innisfil is expected to help the county work towards a long-term solution for the region, says warden Tony Guergis.

"The information gathered thus far was tremendously beneficial in terms of the parties' understanding of each other's position. Mayor Jackson has indicated that the Town of Innisfil will strive to achieve a made-in- Innisfil solution by working with the county in its growth plan process," he said. "Our region is growing and we wonder why any partnering municipality would focus on only its own issues instead of joining together to find an inclusive and broader solution to the challenges of growth.

"Our approach to growth is one of cooperation; a demonstrated willingness to work with each partner because we know that a more global solution makes sense. We're a coalition of municipalities and we represent the interests of all residents including those in Barrie and Orillia."

Guergis hopes Barrie officials will take a more active role in the county's growth process.

"We are hopeful that the two seats given to Barrie by the member municipalities on the growth steering committee will be occupied at future meetings," he said.