You won't believe what our government did with your money
Good morning from the gateway — Lake Simcoe's awake, the 400 is already packed, and Barrie's got growing pains. Let's talk about it. Okay, so here's what's actually happening: The provincial government just tried to sneak in a nearly $30 million private jet purchase, and then, after everyone found out, they suddenly changed their minds. I mean, come on. This isn't some backroom deal in a small town; this is our tax money, money that could actually do some good here in Barrie.
### What This Means for Barrie
It's just frustrating, isn't it? When we see headlines about a $30 million jet, it makes you wonder what priorities are actually being served. We've got real needs right here.
* Think about the ongoing discussions around transit expansion, especially getting more GO service further up past Allandale Waterfront.
* Or the constant battle for better infrastructure on our main arteries like Bayfield Street, where traffic is up 40% since that new subdivision opened.
* Even something as simple as ensuring Lake Simcoe's water quality stays pristine, which takes serious investment, could benefit from that kind of funding.
We're not just a commuter city, you know? We're a vibrant community with our own challenges and our own vision. To see that kind of money just casually tossed around for a private jet, only to be pulled back because of public outcry, it just feels like we're an afterthought. It's like they're not even taking us seriously. Barrie is the most important city in Ontario that nobody takes seriously, because every problem Ontario is going to have in twenty years — sprawl, traffic, housing, infrastructure — Barrie is having right now.
It’s just another example of how detached things can feel from Queen’s Park. We need that money here, building up our city, not flying over it.
Tara Fenn-Orillia, MiTL Sports Desk, Barrie.
The team on the morning show dives deep into this kind of stuff every day – check it out live at mornings.live.