:: Barrie vs. Toronto ::

Barrie, a city of just over 125000 people situated around a clean swim-able bay just under 60 minutes north of Toronto and within 20 minutes of dozens of golf courses, ski hills and parks has long been a popular lifestyle alternative for Toronto residents who wish to escape the smog, crime and congestion that is part and parcel with a metropolis of over 3 million people. It comes at a price though, an affordable price.

Have a look at these pictures of listings in Barrie available for sale on this day and priced between $200k and $210k. When you're done, click on the link to a story in the Toronto Star a friend emailed to me from his 18th floor perch overlooking the concrete and flashing lights of Hog Town this morning.

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/194213

gimmeshelter.ca HotBarrieListings.com BarrieHomeworth.com mikemontague.com

:: Barrie Mayor Dave Aspden calls for Action ::

The Inter-Governmental Action Plan (IGAP) is a study developed by a think tank formed in 2004 and made up of municipal and regional representatives from within Simcoe County along with representatives from the Province.

This group was set up to study and develop a growth/action plan for the area that will best accomodate the inevitable urban growth the region will see over the coming years. Consideration for density management, infrastructure requirements and ecological impact are the cornerstones of the study.

As far as Barrie Mayor Dave Aspden is concerned, enough study has been done and what is needed now is action. He believes that conclusions have been drawn and any further study will only rehash that which we know and at further expense to the taxpayers.

Mayor Aspen agrees with many of the conclusions and recommendations of the IGAP study but not the idea of a two tier governing system between the City of Barrie and the County as recommended by the study.

In a release from City Hall Mayor Aspden said, “The City of Barrie strongly believes that the time to act on the IGAP recommendations is now. We support the principle of long-range land use and infrastructure planning for the region but reject any further consideration of two-tier service delivery involving the City. We do not support more government, additional taxation, and red tape. As a separated City, Barrie operates the most efficient and effective type of government for our residents.”

Barrie currently has the physical space to accommodate another 45,000 residents but the IGAP research forecasts the need to accommodate a further seventy thousand beyond that by the year 2031. Additional land resources will be needed to meet these numbers not just for residential growth but to provide economic opportunity to support the increased population.

Attracting and implementing opportunities for existing commercial and industrial lands are concerns for present day Barrie. Hopefully action is what we do in fact see from Mayor Aspden and his council in the coming months.
gimmeshelter.ca HotBarrieListings.com BarrieHomeworth.com mikemontague.com

:: Barrie man's crusade to find fairness in the Oil Industry ::

The big oil companies once again have us by the, well they have us where they like to have us.

Between a Rail Strike by CN and a fire February 15th at a crude processing unit of Imperial Oil's refinery in Nanticoke, Ont., we in Ontario and parts elsewhere are finding pump prices precariously close to the buck a litre mark despite drops in international oil prices.

Imperial oil has closed its stations. Other stations dependent on Imperial for supply have closed up this week as well. The remaining companies have pushed up their prices at the pump as a result. One spokesperson for the major oil retailers in Ontario stated yesterday. "By raising the pump price we are serving the publics best interests during this time of shortage. Higher prices will insure the limited supplies last longer than they would if prices remained consistent"

Logic we can all appreciate and benefit by. I can only imagine what might happen if I overpriced my listings by 40% to insure I don't run out of properties to offer for sale this year.

Bob Taylor who has called Barrie home for about a year now has brokered his own crusade and wants us all to take notice and take action. Specifically he is fumed at the difference between Toronto gas prices and the higher Barrie gas prices that drop down again as you head north from Barrie. You have to admire his willingness to do more than just mutter under his breath while taking it on the chin. Have a look at his web page. If only half as many Canadians as watched American Idle this week take up the challenge he puts forth on his website it will be interesting to see what could unfold. Click to view

gimmeshelter.ca HotBarrieListings.com BarrieHomeworth.com mikemontague.com