The Mayor of Mississauga, Bonnie Crombie, has requested a full public inquiry after Premier Doug Ford revealed he would reverse the decision to remove 7,400 acres from Ontario’s Greenbelt to develop new housing.
In a move that surprised many, Ford totally announced the reversal of his government’s Greenbelt land development plan at a press conference in Niagara Falls.
The initial plan to develop on Greenbelt lands has faced strong criticism since it was announced last year. Amid the controversy and allegations of conflicts of interest, many government officials resigned from their posts, including Ontario Housing Minister Steve Clark.
While making the announcement, Crombie said: “Doug Ford needs to be held to account. I am not sorry he did it, he’s sorry he got caught.
“I made a promise to you that I wouldn’t touch the Greenbelt. I broke that promise. And for that, I am very, very sorry.”
This is not the first time Crombie has requested an investigation into the Ford government’s handling of the Greenbelt. Since the Auditor General’s report in August which was extremely critical of the way Ford government is handling the Greenbelt lands, Ford has been under constant criticism from the media and other members of the government.
Ford said: “I said when the Auditor General (Bonnie Lysyk) released the report that the process was flawed. (As of) now, we are following the recommendations.”
Lysyk’s report discovered the government’s decision in 2022 to remove 7,400 acres of environmentally protected land Greenbelt for development did not consider environmental, agricultural and financial risks and impacts, proceeded with little input from experts or affected parties, and favoured certain developers/landowners.
Also, the report questioned the role of Ryan Amato, the chief of staff to Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark, in choosing the plots of Greenbelt land.
Ford and Clark admitted they moved too fast and didn’t review Amato’s proposal.
In a press conference in August, Ford said: “We could have had a better process. As Premier, the buck stops with me. And I take full responsibility for the need for a better process.”
After the report, Crombie requested a full investigation to be launched by the “appropriate and independent authorities.”
She said: “Doug Ford and his Conservative government can’t be trusted.”
Crombie claimed the Ford government was abusing its power and ignoring the legislated protection of the Greenbelt willfully.
