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Opposition parties push for investigation into Greenbelt proposal

Ontario's integrity commissioner and auditor general have been called on to probe the purchase of Greenbelt-protected land by developers.
This 2018 photo, shows homes under construction in Brantford, Ont. Ontario's integrity commissioner and auditor general have been called on to probe the purchase of Greenbelt-protected land by developers. Photo by Postmedia Network /Toronto Sun

Ontario opposition politicians have asked Ontario’s integrity commissioner and auditor general to investigate the circumstances around the purchase of Greenbelt-protected land by developers who stand to profit now that the Doug Ford government plans to open it to housing construction.

NDP, Liberal and Green Party MPPs are raising concerns about whether the Ford government, which reversed its 2018 position on leaving the Greenbelt alone, told some people before posting the proposed change for public comment on the Environmental Registry on Nov. 4.

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“Ontarians want to know did you talk to developers before opening up the Greenbelt?” NDP MPP Jessica Bell said Tuesday. “It’s a very simple question — yes or no.”

The NDP has formally requested the Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk look into the matter, while Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner has filed a complaint with Integrity Commissioner David Wake.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark said he followed the proper process for the posting of the amendments, which would see 7,400 acres come out of the Greenbelt to allow for the building of at least 50,000 new homes and another 9,400 acres added to the protected area.

“I’m the Housing Minister,” Clark said when asked about meeting with developers. “I meet with people who want to build housing whether they’re Habitat for Humanity, whether they’re Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services, whether they’re a private homebuilder that builds one home a year or a thousand homes.”

The message to the 15 owners of property in the affected 7,400 acres is that they must get shovels in the ground and show substantial progress in building new homes by 2025, he said.

“Or they’re going back in the Greenbelt,” Clark said. “Plain and simple.”

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Unlike the previous Liberal government which carved up the Greenbelt 17 times, including for a big box store and a couple of golf courses, the Ford government is doing it to meet its commitment to see 1.5 million homes built within a decade to address the housing crisis, he said.

Previous Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne said in the 2018 general election that Ford could not be trusted to protect the Greenbelt, and that he would open a large piece of farmland to developers.

Liberal Leader John Fraser said Ford has always been focused on municipal matters and in particular developer issues.

“I wonder if he’s not just part of that club,” Fraser said.

aartuso@postmedia.com