Barrie Hopes To One-Up Bylaw That Would Have Banned Feeding The Homeless

BARRIE, ONTARIO–After drafting a bylaw last year that would have seen fines handed out to those who feed the homeless, Barrie City Council is hoping to take things to the next level in 2024. 

“We’ve been considering something that would make it illegal to hold doors open for strangers,” said one unnamed councillor. “But that doesn’t come near what we did last year. This isn’t amateur hour. People opening doors on their own doesn’t hold a candle to stopping needy people from getting food.”

Bills 067 and 068, which were ultimately never passed, would have made it possible for organizations distributing food and water to receive a penalty. The controversy received substantial national media coverage and, according to some, really put the City of Barrie on the map. 

“Council’s current idea is a bill that would prevent children under ten from accessing the playgrounds by the waterfront,” said a staff member speaking under anonymity. “Picture this, a bunch of kids standing by a state-of-the-art play structure, completely unable to step within twenty feet of it without receiving a hefty fine.” 

But not everyone agrees with the council's current style. Future mayoral candidate, George Bailey, proposed his own strategy that has many voters yawning.

“What if we try to do what’s best for as many people as possible, including our vulnerable?” Bailey asked in a wildly unpopular social media post.

At the time of publishing, council had nearly completed the final touches on a bylaw that would prevent snow plows from entering low-income neighbourhoods.