Barrie mayor uses strong mayor powers for second time
Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall is acting unilaterally for one of the only times of his tenure thus far to help ensure a renovation project of a youth shelter gets completed.
On Monday the mayor issued a memo to staff, which he shared on social media, saying he was exercising his 'strong mayor powers' to provide funding for Youth Haven's emergency shelter renovation project.
In the memo Nuttall directs staff to provide Youth Haven a grant for $4212.64, which is what the costs of water tapping fees collected by the City would be.
"Youth Haven is an incredible organization, and with this action, we're taking concrete steps to help make vital resources available to those who need them most," Nuttall wrote on social media Monday.
The strong mayor powers give mayors of large municipalities the ability to propose and pass bylaws with just one-third of councillors supporting them, veto bylaws altogether, and hire and fire department heads.
The mayor has also asked staff to provide grants to the organization to cover any City construction fees or development fees that may not have already gotten council's approval.
Nuttall said that the project qualifies for these grants given that the project is being led by a not-for-profit organization to bring affordable housing units to market.
The site in question, located at 22 Wellington Street East, is where the organization's emergency shelter was located before its recent demolition. The project will see a larger facility built allowing the organization, which supports underprivileged youth, to assist more individuals in need.
In October leadership with Youth Haven told CTV News that there is a one million dollar fundraising goal for the facility, with about $650,000 raised.
Staff are aiming to have the project complete by the Spring.
With files from CTV's Rob Cooper.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's 'most wanted terrorist' arrested on gun charges in Canada
One of India's most wanted terrorists has been arrested and charged in connection with a recent alleged shooting in Ontario.
12-year-old boy charged in stabbing of 11-year-old boy at Edmonton McDonald's
The boy stabbed at a north Edmonton McDonald's last Friday is 11 years old.
What makes walking so great for your health and what else you need to do
Medical experts agree that walking is an easy way to improve physical and mental health, bolster fitness and prevent disease. While it’s not the only sort of exercise people should do, it’s a great first step toward a healthy life.
U.S. Congress hosts second round of UFO hearings
The U.S. government held another UFO hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the second such hearing in 16 months. This hearing was billed as an attempt by congress to provide a better understanding of what is known about previous sightings of UFOs, also known as UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena).
Dave Coulier, 'Full House' star, has cancer
Dave Coulier, an actor and comedian who found fame as Uncle Joey on "Full House," has revealed he has been diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer.
Toronto teenager charged with first-degree murder in Kitchener, Ont. homicide
A Toronto teen has been charged as part of an investigation into Kitchener, Ont.’s first homicide of 2024.
Donald Trump picks Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will nominate Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general, putting a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor.
Canada bracing for 'tough' talks as Trump's pick calls northern border an 'extreme vulnerability'
The Canadian government is aware it's likely in for 'tough conversations' with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's administration, after his border czar said there is 'an extreme national security vulnerability' he intends to tackle at the Canada-U.S. border.
Overwhelmed families surrendering custody of their children to CAS
Overwhelmed families in Ontario are having to surrender their children to the Children's Aid Society, and according to the society, the residential crisis is part of the problem.