Midland and Collingwood have joined in supporting Barrie’s criticism that Simcoe County’s growth plan does not support them in their quest to become more complete communities.

Ontario’s Places to Grow policy directs municipalities to manage growth by limiting growth to established settlements, especially those with transit, water and waste-water; the provincial document advocates using existing infrastructure better – whether it be roads, pipes or recreation centres.

Midland and Collingwood joined the city in criticizing the plan that spreads population growth throughout the area and which advocates an economic zone along unserviced lands beside Highway 400 in Innisfil and Bradford West Gwillimbury.

Barrie criticized the county for giving “largely rural townships” more population growth than the 5,000 gave Barrie; those include Essa (5,300), Clearview (11,400), Springwater (8,400), Severn (7,700) and Ramara (5,700).

Essa Mayor David Guergis blasted Barrie for not participating in the county’s process, yet coming out at the end strongly opposed to the plan.

“They go on to say none of these places can be called complete communities. I take great offence to that. I heard my New Tec neighbour discussing the best employer in the community (Honda). Adjala-Tosorontio and I share CFB Borden, another major employer. We should be the model for development in Ontario because we’re so far ahead,” he said

“Barrie has to get away from ‘the centre of the universe’ philosophy. We have to work together. We all have needs.

“If they want to participated in the process, then I say get back to the table with us.”

Midland and Collingwood voted against the county plan that puts a particular focus on Wasaga Beach in terms of residential development; the plan would see population there more than double from the 2006 population of 15,600 to 35,000 in 2031. The county’s strategic growth plan also directs significant population growth to Innisfil (32,600 increase over the next 25 years), Bradford West Gwillimbury (24,7000) and New Tecumseth (20,200). Clearview would also see 11,400 in growth, almost as much as Collingwood’s 12,200.

Communities in the north are forecast to see marginal growth – such as 2,800 more people in Midland, 2,700 more in Tiny, 2,600 in Penetanguishene and 1,200 in Tay.

The plan also recommends focusing employment growth along the Highway 400 corridor in Innisfil and BWG.

“The north was shortchanged,” said Midland Mayor Jim Downer, who also stood up for Barrie.

“We’re the largest community in the north and we were overlooked. I applaud Barrie for taking a stand on it. I applaud Collingwood as well – for not just sitting there and shaking their head yes because everyone else did. We were shortchanged.”

Pressure was on to approve the plan, the culmination of more three years work that started with the Intergovernmental Action Plan and an environmental study and wrapped up with recent reports by five subcommittees that examined issues including health lifestyles, economic development, and seasonal housing.

Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier said the plan wasn’t ready for approval, because it fails to build on investments in Collingwood in transit, in protecting the environment and in attracting jobs. “Vote No, not yet. Continue with the hard work to find a more-sustainable growth plan for the greater good,” he urged his colleagues.

“It’s easy to find discord. I read in Barrie’s letter was No, not yet. Let’s work towards finding a better solution.”