Barrie transit provider reaches tentative deal with union

Two Barrie Transit buses at a terminal in Barrie, Ont., on Tues., March 17, 2026. (CTV News/Rob Cooper)

The City of Barrie announced Saturday morning that its transit service provider, MVT Canadian Bus Inc., and the union representing its employees have reached a tentative deal.

“The City of Barrie is pleased a tentative deal has been reached and would like to thank MVT Canadian Bus Inc and the union executive team for reaching this point,” said the city in its notice.

MVT Canadian Bus Inc. is a Texas-based company holding a 20-year contract to operate Barrie Transit.

ATU International is the union supporting Local 1775.

The union had recently voted 96.5 per cent of strike action if a new deal was not reached, saying that the main issue is not pay, but what it calls ‘respect’ and ‘benefits’.

In a statement to CTV News on Tuesday, MVT said the following in part:

“Since June 2025, MVT has presented several comprehensive proposals to the union in the course of collective bargaining, consistent with its obligation to bargain in good faith.”

Roughly 10,000 people use Barrie Transit every day and the city said it had contingency plans in place if the strike went ahead.

With the tentative deal being reached on Sunday, the city confirmed that the union will hold a ratification vote of members on the contract on Sunday.

With files from CTV’s Rob Cooper and Jocelyn Martin.