Despite Serious Concerns, Barrie City Council Includes Safe Barrie in an Important Safety Committee

During last week’s City Council Meeting, Ward 4 Councillor Amy Courser put forward an amendment to remove Safe Barrie from the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan Committee.

She expressed concern about the appointment of a group called "Safe Barrie" to the committee. She mentioned that she couldn't find any information about the group, including business registration, nonprofit status, board of directors, or members. The only related information was a dormant Facebook group last active in 2019, which might not even be the same entity. 

The councillor highlighted the importance of transparency, noting that other committee members are verifiable and suggesting that Safe Barrie present more information to establish credibility before the councillor can support their appointment. “They could be an indie rock band. I have no idea who they are,” she concluded. 

Courser raised concerns about the group after two community leaders from Barrie sent open letters to Mayor Alex Nuttall and the council opposing the inclusion of Safe Barrie. Christine Naylar and Brandon Amyot claimed that the group was formed to oppose the safe consumption site and that there are no details available about their membership, mission, or past work.

Councillor Gary Harvey appeared to confirm these claims during the city council meeting. He noted that while Safe Barrie does not publicly list names or detailed information, this does not worry him. He mentioned that due to varying opinions on the safe consumption site, it's understandable why members might avoid publicizing their identities to prevent personal or business targeting.

However, with Mayor Alex Nuttall’s support for Safe Barrie, Courser's amendment failed, and the council proceeded with including the group in the committee.