Greenbelt scandal

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In late 2022, Premier Doug Ford released properties from Greenbelt protection. At the end of August 2023, Ontario's Integrity Commissioner found Housing Minister Steve Clark had broken ethics rules, and on September 4, Clark tendered his resignation. The next day, Ford announced that he would reverse his decision to open the Greenbelt to development.

After winning a majority in the 2018 Ontario general election, the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario formed a new government in the province, led by Premier Doug Ford. Before Ford was first elected in 2018, a video emerged of him informing developers that he would "open up a big chunk of the Greenbelt" if elected.[1] However, he changed his mind and said he would not touch the Greenbelt and he "heard the people".[2]

Second Ford term (2022–present)[edit]

After re-election in 2022, and amidst a worsening housing and affordability crisis, Ford became embroiled in controversy over properties released from Greenbelt protection.[3] One developer had purchased property shortly before the decision was made. A total of 7,400 acres of Greenbelt land was removed, while 9,400 acres of land was added.[4]

Ford has disagreed with criticism regarding his friendships with developers, saying, "no one can influence the Fords".[5] Specifically, he called questions about the optics of developers attending his daughter's pre-wedding party in August 2022, "ridiculous". Ford sought clearance for the event from the Integrity Commissioner in January 2023.[6] In February 2023, the Ontario Provincial Police anti-rackets branch were still looking into complaints about his government's decision to open up a portion of the Greenbelt for development.[7] The OPP asked the RCMP to take over the file in August 2023, in order to avoid any perceived conflict of interest.[8]

On August 9, 2023, the Auditor General released a report on the Greenbelt swap-out which found the government's flawed process had favoured certain developers who stood to earn over $8 billion.[9] The AG also confirmed that alterations to the Greenbelt were not necessary to reach Ontario's housing target and that Housing Minister Steve Clark's chief of staff "failed to consider environmental, agricultural and financial risks and impacts".[10] Calls from the opposition for Clark to resign were resisted by Ford and Clark himself, but Clark's chief of staff stepped down. At the end of August, Ontario's Integrity Commissioner found Clark had broken ethics rules, and on September 4, Clark tendered his resignation and was replaced by Paul Calandra.[11] He also stated more applications to remove land from the Greenbelt would be reviewed.[12] He did not answer a reporter's question about reinstating Rent Control, nor did he comment on calls from First Nation Chiefs across Ontario to return traditional territories to the Greenbelt.[13]

On September 20, another minister from Ford's cabinet, Kaleed Rasheed, resigned over his relationship with a developer involved in the Greenbelt land swap.[14] The next day, Ford announced that after continuous backlash from constituents and two reports regarding the flawed process of opening the Greenbelt he would reverse his decision to open the Greenbelt to development. He apologized to the people of Ontario and promised to encourage building within urban boundaries.[15]

On October 10, the RCMP announced it was opening a criminal investigation into the allegations around developer favouritism in the Greenbelt land swap process used by the Province of Ontario. [16]

On October 16, Minister Calandra tabled a bill that would restore the Greenbelt lands removed in 2022 and that any future changes to the Greenbelt would have to go through the legislature.[17] On December 6, the Bill became law.[18]

Companies[edit]

The following companies owned land in the Greater Toronto Area Greenbelt at the time that the Ontario Government proposed to develop the greenbelt:


    • Seven companies owned by Vaughan-based construction family De Gasperis family (president: Silvio De Gasperis[19]), owners of Tacc Developments, Tacc Construction.[20] Arista Homes, Opus Homes and Decast Ltd.[21] Companies include Tacc Developments (Block 41) Inc, Leslie Elgin Developments Inc.[20]


    • Green Lane Bathurst GP Inc. owns five parcels of land. Green Lane Bathurst GP's president is president Michal Rice,[22] owner of Rice Group.[20][23]


    • Torca II Inc (president Marcelo Perez-Hassaf)[20]
    • 2502536 Ontario Limited (president: Weixiang Wang)[20]


    • Three numbered companies, also with the president Weixiang Wang)[20]
    • Flato Upper Markham Village Inc. (president: Shakir Rehmatullah)[20][24]
    • Minotar Holdings[20]


    • Nash Road Developments (president: Peter Tanenbaum)[20]


    • A numbered company (president elect: Yuchen Lu of Fuyang, China)[20]

See also[edit]

Greenbelt

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Video shows Doug Ford saying he would open up 'big chunk' of Toronto-area Greenbelt for housing development". National Post. The Canadian Press. April 30, 2018.
  2. ^ Callan, Isaac; D'Mello, Collin. "What did Doug Ford say about the Greenbelt? A timeline of the premier's promises". Global News. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Ontario just got 14,000 hectares of land to develop — so why does Doug Ford want the Greenbelt too?". November 12, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
  4. ^ "Ontario premier won't back away from plans to build on protected Greenbelt". cbc.ca. August 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "'Absolutely ridiculous': Ford rebukes questions on daughter's stag attended by developers". Toronto. February 15, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "Integrity commissioner clears Doug Ford after developers attend daughter's stag and doe | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Ontario's integrity commissioner, auditor general launching Greenbelt investigations CBC
  8. ^ O'Brien, Abby (August 23, 2023). "RCMP probing Ford government's handling of the Greenbelt". CTV News.
  9. ^ "Special Report on Changes to the Greenbelt" (PDF). Office of the Auditor General of Ontario. August 2023.
  10. ^ Bond, Meredith; D'Cunha, Patricia (August 9, 2023). "Ford government favoured developers, Greenbelt land not needed for housing target: Auditor general". CityNews Everywhere.
  11. ^ Callan, Isaac; D'Mello, Collin (September 4, 2023). "Ontario housing minister resigns amid Greenbelt land swap scandal". GlobalNews.ca.
  12. ^ "Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his government will 're-evaluate' more Greenbelt lands". September 5, 2023.
  13. ^ Casey, Liam. "Ontario chiefs unanimously oppose province's Greenbelt land swap". Globalnews.ca. The Canadian Press.
  14. ^ "Ontario minister resigns from Ontario PC Party amid contradicting accounts of Las Vegas trip". September 20, 2023.
  15. ^ Bureau, Rob Ferguson, Robert Benzie and Kristin Rushowy Queen's Park (2023-09-21). "Doug Ford cancels controversial $8.28-billion Greenbelt land swap: 'It was a mistake'". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2023-09-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Jabakhanji, Sara (October 10, 2023). "RCMP investigating Ontario government's plan to open Greenbelt land for development". CBC News.
  17. ^ "Ontario tables bill to return Greenbelt land". ctvnews.ca. October 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "Bill 136, Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  19. ^ Jones, Ryan Patrick (11 July 2023). "Ontario developer asks court to prevent, delay interview with auditor general in Greenbelt audit". CBC. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Jones, Ryan Patrick; Brockbank, Nicole (11 Nov 2022). "Who are the GTA developers set to benefit from Ford government's Greenbelt land swap?". CBC. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  21. ^ Jones, Ryan Patrick (25 Nov 2022). "Prominent developer family linked to more Greenbelt properties slated for housing". CBC. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  22. ^ Gray, Jeff (2023-02-01). "King Township mayor says he knew nothing about Greenbelt plans in advance". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  23. ^ McIntosh, Emma; Javed, Noor; Kennedy, Brendan (17 Nov 2022). "Six developers bought Greenbelt land after Ford came to power. Now, they stand to profit". The Narwhal. Archived from the original on 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  24. ^ "Ontario developers who benefitted from Ford government decisions on Greenbelt and MZOs dined with the premier at his daughter's wedding". thestar.com. 2023-02-10. Archived from the original on 2023-02-13. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
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