Exempting ‘uses and facilities required to support sovereign defence’ could contradict the Conservation Authorities Act and Barrie’s Official Plan, says appeal
Barrie’s ‘sovereign defence’ initiative is facing criticism at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).
An appeal has been filed at the OLT regarding changes to the city’s zoning bylaw that might encourage defence industry production.
This appeal is from Dr. Mackenzie Chown, a physician in Barrie and an organizer with Simcoe County for Palestine.
“I am appealing…because this amendment exempts ‘uses and facilities required to support sovereign defence’ from the zoning bylaw,” Chown stated in OLT documents.
He mentioned that this includes the requirement for developments to get conservation authority approval on protected areas before moving forward.
However, Chown argued that exempting ‘uses and facilities required to support sovereign defence’ goes against the Conservation Authorities Act and Barrie’s Official Plan.
“Both recognize and rely on conservation authorities to evaluate developments to ensure they will not be harmful to human health or the natural environment,” Chown noted in the OLT documents.
The City of Barrie has requested that Chown’s appeal be dismissed without an OLT hearing.
A hearing for this dismissal motion has been set for Sept. 23, 2026.
“The city is seeking a dismissal so the zoning bylaw amendment will be in full force and effect as approved by council on June 17, 2026,” said Michelle Banfield, Barrie’s executive director of development services.
At a public meeting on June 17, Mayor Alex Nuttall explained that this program aims to promote ‘sovereign defence’ investment in Barrie. Backed by an initial $50 million from the city’s tax capital reserve, it seeks to enhance a broader strategy positioning Barrie as a defence-ready city focused on jobs, investment, and long-term economic growth.
“The goal is simple: attract and accelerate high-value defence projects and deliver strong economic benefits; specifically this program will target projects to create jobs and drive private investment while strengthening Canada’s domestic defence capabilities as identified through Canada’s defence industrial strategy,” Nuttall stated.
Chown also spoke at the public meeting, arguing that investing $50 million of public funds this way isn’t right. He suggested it would be better used for social services like long-term care beds or hiring nurses and personal service workers.
The doctor from Barrie added that aligning with higher levels of government through this ‘sovereign defence’ investment means more military spending for Barrie.
“This push, while couched in the language of sovereignty and defence, is simply an effort to give concessions to American weapons companies and create favour with the (U. S. President Donald) Trump regime,” Chown remarked. “We are told that we should be grateful for any jobs these companies bring into our community, regardless of the moral and psychological impact of this type of employment.”
But at the OLT, Chown is taking a different approach.
“The Official Plan explicitly recognizes the policies of conservation authorities and expresses an intention to consult and work with them when planning development within the city of Barrie,” he pointed out. “Given this, the public could reasonably assume that the city would want to uphold conservation authorities’ core role in studying developments before issuing permits.”
The OLT addresses land-planning matters when developers, residents, and local councils can’t come to an agreement. It serves as what used to be known as Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).
Using his strong mayor powers on May 28, Nuttall directed staff in writing to amend Barrie’s zoning bylaw supporting sovereign defence facilities or uses approved by local municipal councils as well as provincial or federal governments. He also instructed updates needed for existing employment development community improvement plan (CIP) along with regulatory amendments allowing activities tied with sovereign defence projects.
Sovereign defence refers to having domestic capabilities necessary for independent research, development, testing, manufacturing, assembling, maintaining, repairing upgrading storing sustaining advanced technologies products equipment systems essential for protecting Canada’s territory infrastructure population while ensuring long-term operational readiness without relying on foreign production or sustainment capacities.
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