All wards

Ward 3 Councillor

4 certified candidates, listed alphabetically by last name.

Candidates

Amy Courser

Background
Born and raised in Barrie. Spent more than 20 years in digital marketing, ran a small business, and worked in non-profits, manufacturing and construction. Co-founded the non-partisan group Politics for Women and helped raise more than 300,000 pounds of food for the Barrie Food Bank. Ward 4 councillor since 2022 (37.3%), under the previous ward boundaries; now running in Ward 3. Council appointee to the Barrie Public Library Board and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority board; has chaired the Arts Advisory Committee.
Ward-specific priorities
Investing in public services and the library; safer, walkable neighbourhoods.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact
Profile sources: City of Barrie [S001]; BarrieVotes.ca [S072]; Campaign [S073]; BarrieToday [S074]

Ben Hughes

Background
Grew up in Midhurst and moved to Barrie in 2018; played in the Barrie Minor Hockey Association and then junior hockey. Works as an electrician in Barrie. First run for Barrie council; no earlier Barrie council ballot appearances on record since 2003.
Ward-specific priorities
Snow clearing on sidewalks, at bus stops and for transit access as well as on roads.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact
Profile sources: City of Barrie [S001]; BarrieVotes.ca [S075]; CompassNews [S071]; Campaign [S078]; BarrieToday [S081]

Bryan Jones

Background
About 28 years of legal experience, including the last eight as a prosecutor in the Ontario Court of Justice. His family's history in Barrie goes back 150 years; he returned after living in Pickering. First run for office in Barrie; no earlier Barrie ballot appearances on record since 2003.
Ward-specific priorities
Traffic safety around schools, including red-light cameras near schools.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact
Profile sources: City of Barrie [S001]; BarrieVotes.ca [S083]; CompassNews [S071]; BarrieToday [S084]

Ryan Rijo

Background
Homeowner and former professional baseball player with the Barrie Baycats. Ran in Ward 3 in 2022 (15.4%, not elected).
Ward-specific priorities
The annexed lands from Springwater and Oro-Medonte: development that respects existing residents, farms and rural communities, with residents involved early. Snow clearing and stormwater systems.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact
Profile sources: City of Barrie [S001]; BarrieVotes.ca [S086]; Campaign [S087]; CompassNews [S071]; BarrieToday [S089]

Compare positions

Each issue lists every candidate in the same alphabetical order.

Property taxes and budget

Amy Courser
Protect taxpayers while recognizing that city services shape quality of life; residents deserve to understand how tax dollars are used.
Source: Campaign [S073]
Ben Hughes
Property taxes are already high enough; higher taxes should not be the automatic first answer.
Sources: Campaign [S076]; Campaign [S082]
Bryan Jones
No stated position found.
Ryan Rijo
Keep spending disciplined and find efficiencies and cut duplication before raising taxes.
Sources: Campaign [S087]; Campaign [S088]; BarrieToday [S089]

Housing affordability

Amy Courser
Supports housing people can actually afford.
Source: BarrieToday [S074]
Ben Hughes
Says rising housing and living costs create financial pressure that can lead to housing insecurity and homelessness.
Source: Campaign [S082]
Bryan Jones
No stated position found.
Ryan Rijo
No stated position found.

Homelessness and encampments

Amy Courser
No stated position found.
Ben Hughes
No stated position found.
Bryan Jones
Supports practical solutions for homelessness and drug addiction.
Sources: BarrieToday [S084]; BarrieVotes.ca [S083]
Ryan Rijo
No stated position found.

Public safety and policing

Amy Courser
Says she has advocated for safer streets and pedestrian infrastructure.
Source: Campaign [S073]
Ben Hughes
No stated position found.
Bryan Jones
Names homelessness, addiction and public safety among the city's biggest challenges; wants red-light cameras around schools.
Sources: CompassNews [S085]; CompassNews [S071]
Ryan Rijo
Support police, fire, paramedics and other first responders; tackle crime, theft, vandalism and repeat problem areas.
Sources: Campaign [S087]; BarrieToday [S089]

Transit and roads

Amy Courser
Safer streets, pedestrian infrastructure and walkable neighbourhoods.
Sources: Campaign [S073]; BarrieToday [S074]
Ben Hughes
Snow clearing should cover sidewalks, bus stops and transit access, not just roads; infrastructure planning should keep pace with growth.
Sources: Campaign [S078]; Campaign [S079]
Bryan Jones
Better street maintenance: snow cleared properly and potholes filled.
Sources: BarrieToday [S084]; CompassNews [S071]
Ryan Rijo
Repair roads, potholes and sidewalks; snow clearing, stormwater, water and traffic management must keep pace with growth.
Sources: Campaign [S087]; BarrieToday [S089]

Strong-mayor powers

Amy Courser
No stated position found.
Ben Hughes
No stated position found.
Bryan Jones
No stated position found.
Ryan Rijo
No stated position found.

Growth and development

Amy Courser
Responsible development without sacrificing green space or neighbourhood character.
Sources: Campaign [S073]; BarrieToday [S074]
Ben Hughes
Judge growth by whether it makes Barrie stronger, not by population or revenue; new areas need services and older neighbourhoods need continued investment.
Sources: Campaign [S077]; BarrieToday [S081]
Bryan Jones
Smart development, built responsibly and in line with the community.
Sources: BarrieToday [S084]; BarrieVotes.ca [S083]
Ryan Rijo
Growth should come with the roads, emergency services and infrastructure to support it; development on annexed land should respect existing rural communities.
Sources: BarrieToday [S089]; CompassNews [S071]

Addiction and public drug use

Amy Courser
No stated position found.
Ben Hughes
No stated position found.
Bryan Jones
Supports practical solutions for drug addiction.
Sources: BarrieToday [S084]; BarrieVotes.ca [S083]
Ryan Rijo
No stated position found.

Jobs and economic development

Amy Courser
No stated position found.
Ben Hughes
Wants more businesses, employers, industry and good jobs; support local businesses and entrepreneurship.
Sources: Campaign [S080]; CompassNews [S071]; BarrieToday [S081]
Bryan Jones
More jobs mean more income and resources for Barrie; supports efforts to attract defence manufacturing jobs.
Source: CompassNews [S085]
Ryan Rijo
No stated position found.

E-bikes and e-scooters

Amy Courser
No stated position found.
Ben Hughes
No stated position found.
Bryan Jones
No stated position found.
Ryan Rijo
No stated position found.

Transparency and council accountability

Amy Courser
Says she has pushed for more transparent decision-making; decisions should rest on evidence, and she will vote differently when the facts support it.
Sources: Campaign [S073]; BarrieToday [S074]
Ben Hughes
No stated position found.
Bryan Jones
Says Ward 3 residents would be his bosses and that he answers emails and calls.
Sources: CompassNews [S085]; BarrieToday [S084]
Ryan Rijo
Will return calls and emails, explain his votes in plain language and publish his priorities so residents can hold him to them.
Sources: Campaign [S088]; BarrieToday [S089]

Parks, green space and environment

Amy Courser
Protect parks, green spaces and the environment; development should not sacrifice green space. Signed the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition's sustainability pledge, which commits signers to protecting natural heritage, farmland and clean water and to using green infrastructure.
Sources: BarrieToday [S074]; Campaign [S073]; Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition [S207]
Ben Hughes
Keep maintaining roads, parks and sidewalks in established neighbourhoods.
Source: Campaign [S210]
Bryan Jones
Safe, clean parks for everyone to enjoy.
Source: BarrieToday [S084]
Ryan Rijo
No stated position found.