Randy Barba

Stouffville

Editor and Reporter at Freelance

Featured in: Favicon

therecord.com Favicon

thespec.com Favicon

stcatharinesstandard.ca Favicon

thepeterboroughexaminer.com Favicon

niagarafallsreview.ca Favicon

wellandtribune.ca Favicon

pentictonherald.ca Favicon

thetrillium.ca Favicon

canadian-accountant.com

Articles

A Slippery Slope or Sensible Reform? Council Pushes for Housing on the Moraine

1 week ago | pentictonherald.ca | Randy Barba

● Stouffville’s Council is backing a resolution calling on the Province to ease restrictions on building additional residential units (ARUs) on protected Oak Ridges Moraine lands. ● Provincial policy limits or bars ARUs throughout the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan areas, affecting much of rural Stouffville. ● Critics say the existing rules create inequities and prevent older rural landowners from aging in place.
A Slippery Slope or Sensible Reform? Council Pushes for Housing on the Moraine

1 week ago | thespec.com | Randy Barba

● Stouffville’s Council is backing a resolution calling on the Province to ease restrictions on building additional residential units (ARUs) on protected Oak Ridges Moraine lands. ● Provincial policy limits or bars ARUs throughout the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan areas, affecting much of rural Stouffville. ● Critics say the existing rules create inequities and prevent older rural landowners from aging in place.
Record York Region Transit Use Fuels Demand for Lasting Provincial Supports

1 week ago | pentictonherald.ca | Randy Barba

● York Region Transit (YRT) set an all-time record in 2024 with 23.7 million passenger trips, a 12 percent increase over the previous year. ● Cross-boundary trips to Toronto surged nearly 28 percent following implementation of the One Fare Program’s launch. ● Officials are urging the Province to make the One Fare Program permanent as its initial term is set to expire next year. ● YRT increased service hours by 10 percent and implemented 108 service improvements throughout the year.
Record York Region Transit Use Fuels Demand for Lasting Provincial Supports

1 week ago | thespec.com | Randy Barba

● York Region Transit (YRT) set an all-time record in 2024 with 23.7 million passenger trips, a 12 percent increase over the previous year. ● Cross-boundary trips to Toronto surged nearly 28 percent following implementation of the One Fare Program’s launch. ● Officials are urging the Province to make the One Fare Program permanent as its initial term is set to expire next year. ● YRT increased service hours by 10 percent and implemented 108 service improvements throughout the year.
“A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity”: York Region to Allocate $45 Million to Social Housing

1 week ago | thespec.com | Randy Barba

● York Region ended 2024 with a $71.4 million operating surplus, attributed to underspending and increased revenues. ● Staff recommended $10 million from the surplus be allocated to the Social Housing Development Reserve, which is meant to increase delivery of community housing. ● Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt successfully pushed for an additional $35.1 million, bringing the housing commitment to $45.1 million.
2025 Federal Election Voter Guide: Markham-Stouffville

2 weeks ago | thespec.com | Randy Barba

● While many have switched to the new York–Durham riding, most Stouffville residents remain in the Markham-Stouffville district for the 2025 federal election. ● The updated riding includes the Stouffville community area bound by York-Durham Line to the east, Highway 48 to the west, Bethesda Sideroad to the north, and 19th Avenue to the south. ● The new boundaries encompass 78 square kilometres with an estimated 87,221 eligible voters.
2025 Federal Election Voter Guide: York-Durham

2 weeks ago | thespec.com | Randy Barba

● Many rural Whitchurch-Stouffville voters will cast their ballots in the new York–Durham riding for the 2025 federal snap election. ● It includes all areas between Highway 404 and Highway 48, as well as land north of Bethesda Sideroad between Highway 48 and the York Durham Line. ● Redistribution shifted riding boundaries to balance population, creating a district of over 1,800 square kilometres and nearly 97,000 eligible voters.
2025 Federal Election Voter Guide: Markham-Stouffville

2 weeks ago | pentictonherald.ca | Randy Barba

● While many have switched to the new York–Durham riding, most Stouffville residents remain in the Markham-Stouffville district for the 2025 federal election. ● The updated riding includes the Stouffville community area bound by York-Durham Line to the east, Highway 48 to the west, Bethesda Sideroad to the north, and 19th Avenue to the south. ● The new boundaries encompass 78 square kilometres with an estimated 87,221 eligible voters.
2025 Federal Election Voter Guide: York-Durham

2 weeks ago | pentictonherald.ca | Randy Barba

● Many rural Whitchurch-Stouffville voters will cast their ballots in the new York–Durham riding for the 2025 federal snap election. ● It includes all areas between Highway 404 and Highway 48, as well as land north of Bethesda Sideroad between Highway 48 and the York Durham Line. ● Redistribution shifted riding boundaries to balance population, creating a district of over 1,800 square kilometres and nearly 97,000 eligible voters.
As Development Accelerates, Affordable Housing in Stouffville Remains a Challenge

2 weeks ago | thespec.com | Randy Barba

● Stouffville is projected to add 16,710 new residential units by 2051, with 4,662 intended to be affordable. ● Despite this goal, no affordable ownership units and only six rental units were built in 2023. ● The average home price in Stouffville last year was $1.36 million, far exceeding affordability thresholds set by the Town and York Region. ● A lack of affordable housing is contributing to housing and rental market strain, as well as broader economic concerns.