All wards

Ward 5 Councillor

2 certified candidates, listed alphabetically by last name.

Candidates

Duarte Da Silva

Background
First-generation Canadian. Studied radio broadcasting at Humber Polytechnic and professional communication at Royal Roads University. Has worked in business development and manufacturing, and most recently as a constituency assistant in a member of Parliament's office; now does communications consulting. First run for Barrie council; no earlier Barrie ballot appearances on record since 2003.
Ward-specific priorities
Real consultation on annexation; closing the gap in infrastructure investment between north and south Ward 5; development at 49 Miller Drive (611 homes with two entrances on one street); safety on County Road 90.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact
Profile sources: City of Barrie [S001]; BarrieVotes.ca [S107]; Campaign [S108]; BarrieToday [S109]

Robert Thomson

Incumbent
Background
Barrie resident for 25 years; has worked 30 years as a project manager in the construction industry. Ward 5 councillor since 2018 (55.2% in 2018; acclaimed in 2022) and Deputy Mayor since 2022. Vice-chair of the Barrie Police Service Board; council appointee to the Simcoe County Housing Corporation board.
Ward-specific priorities
Traffic calming, permanent speed humps and infill sidewalks such as Edgehill Drive; finishing the performing arts centre and the northwest library.
Public record
Not yet reviewed.
Contact
Profile sources: City of Barrie [S001]; BarrieVotes.ca [S110]; Campaign [S111]; Campaign [S112]; BarrieToday [S113]

Compare positions

Each issue lists every candidate in the same alphabetical order.

Property taxes and budget

Duarte Da Silva
Can't promise a tax freeze, but will go through the budget line by line.
Sources: BarrieToday [S109]; CompassNews [S106]
Robert Thomson
Keep property taxes low while paving roads; cites four straight years of 0% operating budget increases.
Sources: Campaign [S111]; Campaign [S112]
Context: Total property-tax increases, which include service partners such as police and the County of Simcoe, were 4.82% (2024), 4.31% (2025) and 3.95% (2026). The 0% applies to the City operating budget only; the City also kept a 2% infrastructure levy.
Sources: BarrieToday [S020]; BarrieToday [S021]; Barrie 360 [S018]; CTV News Barrie [S019]; BarrieToday [S022]; City of Barrie [S023]

Housing affordability

Duarte Da Silva
No stated position found.
Robert Thomson
More housing without sacrificing established neighbourhoods; cites nearly $100 million secured for housing, infrastructure and safety.
Sources: CompassNews [S106]; Campaign [S112]

Homelessness and encampments

Duarte Da Silva
No stated position found.
Robert Thomson
No stated position found.

Public safety and policing

Duarte Da Silva
Public safety is a campaign pillar; more traffic calming, especially around schools.
Sources: Campaign [S108]; CompassNews [S106]
Robert Thomson
Works with police, businesses and community groups on downtown safety.
Source: Campaign [S112]

Transit and roads

Duarte Da Silva
Says repaving County Road 90 is not a safety fix after several serious crashes this year.
Source: BarrieToday [S109]
Robert Thomson
Neighbourhood traffic calming, permanent speed humps and infill sidewalks.
Sources: CompassNews [S106]; Campaign [S112]; BarrieToday [S113]

Strong-mayor powers

Duarte Da Silva
No stated position found.
Robert Thomson
No stated position found.

Growth and development

Duarte Da Silva
Wants planning problems caught early, citing 611 planned homes at 49 Miller Drive with only two entrances on the same street.
Source: BarrieToday [S109]
Robert Thomson
Keep a meaningful buffer between existing neighbourhoods and new development on annexed land, while adding employment and commercial space.
Source: CompassNews [S106]

Addiction and public drug use

Duarte Da Silva
No stated position found.
Robert Thomson
No stated position found.

Jobs and economic development

Duarte Da Silva
Would support expanding small-business grants coordinated with Invest Barrie.
Source: CompassNews [S106]
Robert Thomson
Cites a regional innovation centre based on the Sandbox Centre model.
Source: Campaign [S112]

E-bikes and e-scooters

Duarte Da Silva
No stated position found.
Robert Thomson
No stated position found.

Transparency and council accountability

Duarte Da Silva
Accountability is a campaign pillar; says decency leaving politics is part of why people are disengaged.
Sources: Campaign [S108]; BarrieToday [S109]
Robert Thomson
No stated position found.

Parks, green space and environment

Duarte Da Silva
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.
Source: Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition [S207]
Robert Thomson
Cites an expanded outdoor library linked to community gardens in Lampman Park and a new multi-use playing surface there. 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 [S113]; Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition [S207]