Greenbelt Controversy: Ontario Premier Under Scrutiny
Evidence Emerges of Development Industry Influence
Earlier this year, suspicions arose regarding the undue development industry influence surrounding Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s decision to open up the Greenbelt around Toronto for housing construction. However, little firm evidence was available to support these claims at the time. This week, the release of a scathing report from the province’s auditor general shed new light on the situation and raised additional ethical questions.
The Cultural Significance of the Greenbelt
In a 2005 article, Norimitsu Onishi explained that the Greenbelt, spanning two million acres, quickly gained cultural significance despite its relatively short existence. Supporters consider it sacred, while others view it as an arbitrary obstacle to growth, even comparing it to a rainforest.
Shifting Positions on the Greenbelt
Ford’s stance on the future of the Greenbelt has undergone several changes. During the 2018 Ontario Progressive Conservatives leadership race, a video surfaced of Ford telling supporters that he planned to open the area to housing construction, based on discussions with developers. However, after facing criticism, Ford abandoned the idea. Later, he cited Toronto’s housing shortage and increased immigration as reasons for opening parts of the Greenbelt. Critics suggested that his close ties to real estate developers influenced this decision.
The Involvement of Developers
Media reports revealed that a significant portion of the land being removed from the Greenbelt belonged to developers who were generous donors to the Progressive Conservatives. Some of these developers acquired the land after Ford took office. Developers played a role in influencing the land selection process by providing envelopes detailing the areas they wanted removed from the Greenbelt to the housing minister’s chief of staff.
The Auditor General’s Report
The auditor general’s report concluded that the process for choosing the land for development lacked transparency, objectivity, and proper public consultation. The political aide overseeing the process selected 14 out of 15 land parcels that were removed from the Greenbelt. Land owned by the two developers involved in the process now constitutes 92% of the available Greenbelt land for development, increasing its value by 8.3 billion Canadian dollars.
Reactions and Ongoing Investigations
Ford denied knowledge of the aide’s involvement and disputed the auditor general’s findings, claiming no preferential treatment was given. The integrity commissioner is conducting a review, while the Ontario Provincial Police are investigating the matter. However, no significant updates have been provided on the progress of the investigation. Ford remains determined to proceed with Greenbelt development amid ongoing roadblocks and opposition.
Implications for Toronto’s Future
The controversy surrounding the Greenbelt has forced Toronto to confront the competing forces that shape the city’s identity – its ambition to be a world-class metropolis and its commitment to environmental sustainability and curbing urban sprawl.
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Written by Ian Austen, a Canadian journalist with over two decades of experience reporting for The New York Times.
