Controversial $8.28-billion land swap plan has been previously described as "rushed and flawed"
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has announced that it has launched a criminal probe into the Ontario government’s controversial decision to carve up parts of the protected Greenbelt for housing development.
The $8.28-billion Greenbelt plan by Premier Doug Ford’s government saw the 2-million-acre protected area get divided into parcels meant for development.
“Following a referral from the Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP ‘O’ Division’s Sensitive and International Investigations (SII) unit has now launched an investigation into allegations associated to the decision from the province of Ontario to open parts of the Greenbelt for development,” the RCMP said.
The program was earlier criticized by Ontario Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake as having come about due to a “rushed and flawed process” characterized by a “lack of oversight.”
In his report, Wake named erstwhile Housing Minister Steve Clark as a major figure in facilitating the land swap deal, violating portions of the Members’ Integrity Act in the process.
The report further noted that Clark failed to “oversee the process by which lands in the Greenbelt were selected to development,” leading to “the private interests of certain developers being furthered improperly.”
Clark abruptly resigned from his post on September 4.
Aled ab Iorwerth, Deputy Chief Economist at CMHC, voiced concerns about housing supply challenges in Canada, citing difficulties in accessing capital and higher #interestrates affecting #housingstarts in 2023.
— Canadian Mortgage Professional Magazine (@CMPmagazine) September 28, 2023
https://t.co/LKZMvolJQg#mortgageindustry #housingmarket
Ontario provincial government insists on its innocence
Ford has previously maintained that the Greenbelt decision did not have any criminal act as part of its plan.
The premier assured that it will be working with the RCMP on the matter.
“We have zero tolerance for any wrongdoing and expect anyone involved in the decision-making about the Greenbelt lands to have followed the letter of the law,” the Ford government said in a statement.
“Out of respect for the police and their process, we will not be commenting further at this time.”
