Three candidates running for Ward 2 face off at the debate organized by Engage Barrie

Ward 2 is one of the four wards where the incumbent councillor is not seeking reelection. Other three wards are numbers 4,6 and 10. 

In a debate organized by Engage Barrie, Bob Ossowski, Greg Peach, and Tracy Strohm participated. Another candidate Craig Nixon was present during the debate but couldn't get his microphone working. 

Bob Ossowski worked in the auto industry for 30 years. He also worked five years as a CEO and president of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. 

Greg Peach has been living in Ward 2 since 1994 with his wife and they raised their son there. He volunteers for Scouts Canada in different capacities and wants to prioritize roads and other infrastructure. 

Tracy Strohm has been a resident of Barrie for most of her life and worked as a teacher and principal at Prince of Wales and Maple Grove public schools in Barrie. Affordable housing is one of her top priorities. 

The debate was moderated by James Kerekes of Engage Barrie. 

Housing Affordability - 

Peach said he supports recommendations of the affordable housing task force including the oversight of a senior staff member. “We do need to review the existing inventory of unused properties and vacant buildings to determine which would provide the biggest impact in the shortest timeframe for reducing the homeless population.” He also supported converting commercial and unused buildings into affordable housing.

Strohm supported Peach’s idea but also wants to make sure essential services such as grocery stores and pharmacies are close to the affordable housing units. “It's hard to be a green community if you have to drive to get all your basic necessities,” she said. 

Ossowski said the recommendations of the task force are 10 years too late. He advocates for rents no more than 30 per cent of renter’s gross annual income. He also wants to expedite the building process and change it by reducing environmental impact. “We need to build housing much faster. Housing in months, and not years,” he said. 

Attracting Youth, Jobs and Creating  Inclusive and Vibrant Community

All three candidates stressed the importance of building affordable housing to attract young people and jobs to the city.

To attract youth and jobs especially in the downtown, Strohm wants to replace the city of Sudbury’s program that provided three months of rent to young entrepreneurs. “We also need to look at attracting greener businesses to our city that are hiring and requiring paying decent jobs for our 20 and 30 year olds,” she said. 

Ossowski wants to introduce Barrie students to mentorship and co-op programs starting grade 10. He said more companies can be attracted to the city “by keeping taxes low, and having infrastructure ready for new employers to move into the area.” 

Needs of Growing City - 

Ossowski said taxes should be lower to keep the city affordable and police needs training to “better understand the underlying causes of social issues.” 

Peach criticized Barrie’s planning as reactionary. To address the demands of the growing city, he said the city needs to “make the bus system more efficient” and implement “the 15 minute are walkable communities with biking and walking paths connecting all parts of the city.” He also wants to find the right balance between new development and green space. 

Strohm wants new and renovated developments of over 20 units to have 10 per cent of their units dedicated to affordable housing. She also wants the city to administer these units.