Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte

Another new riding carved from the 2012 redistribution, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte encompasses the northern portion of the City of Barrie along with the rural townships of Springwater and Oro-Medonte in Simcoe County. The riding stretches from the urban neighbourhoods north of Dunlop Street in Barrie into the agricultural and recreational landscapes of the two townships, which include communities such as Elmvale, Hillsdale, Midhurst, and Minesing.

Candidates

Alex Nuttall (Conservative) — Born in Liverpool, England, Nuttall immigrated to Canada with his family in 1989 and grew up in Barrie. He served two terms on Barrie City Council beginning in 2006, representing Ward 10, while working in the financial services industry. At twenty-nine years old, he was among the younger candidates running in the 2015 election.

Brian Tamblyn (Liberal) — Tamblyn mounted a strong Liberal challenge in this new riding, running a competitive campaign that ultimately fell short, prompting a judicial recount that confirmed the narrow Conservative victory by a margin of eighty-nine votes.

Ellen White (NDP) — White carried the NDP’s standard in the riding, competing in a three-way contest that proved to be one of the tightest races in the country.

Marty Lancaster (Green Party) — Lancaster represented the Green Party, drawing attention to environmental concerns in a riding that includes significant agricultural land and natural areas.

About the Riding

Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte blends urban and rural Ontario in a single constituency. The northern wards of Barrie include the city’s downtown core along the waterfront of Kempenfelt Bay, a western arm of Lake Simcoe, while the townships beyond the city limits are characterized by farming operations, small villages, and recreational properties. Springwater Township was formed in 1994 through the amalgamation of Flos and Vespra Townships along with the Village of Elmvale and the Hillsdale area. Oro-Medonte, to the east, includes the community of Horseshoe Valley, a popular destination for skiing and outdoor recreation. The area’s economy combines agriculture, tourism, and service industries with the commuter economy of residents who work in Barrie proper or travel south to the GTA. Infrastructure investment, including road improvements and broadband internet access for rural communities, were key concerns heading into the 2015 election.