Greenbelt investigation in RCMP hands

Posted On: August 23, 2023

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TORONTO – Following the resignation of Housing Secretary Steve Clark’s chief of staff, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) announces the opening of an investigation into the Greenbelt real estate project at the request of the Police Province of Ontario (PPO). An investigation that follows the report of Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk reveals numerous irregularities by the government.

The controversy over real estate development in the Greenbelt, fueled by revelations in Comptroller Bonnie Lysyk’s Aug. 9 report, has taken several turns in the past 24 hours.

Specifically, the report, whose findings uncover anomalies, noted preferential treatment given to certain real estate developers in the removal of 15 parcels, or 7,400 acres, from the Greenbelt, adding more than $8.3 billion in total value.

Last night Ryan Amato, the chief of staff to the Secretary for Communities and Housing Steve Clark, abruptly resigned, a resignation that all opposition parties had been calling for since the Auditor General’s report was released.

Among other things, he would have changed the assessment criteria to facilitate the removal of areas from the green belt, 92% of which would have been directly designated by three proponents.

Marit Stiles, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), responded, saying, “This is the bare minimum for one of the gravest public breaches of trust in Ontario’s history.”

In addition, Minister Steve Clark has had to resign as this official clearly did not act alone.

An opinion shared by John Fraser, interim leader of the Liberal Party. “It is simply inconceivable that a single employee could be behind this $8.3 billion project. »

“The truth is that the minister [Steve Clark] and the Prime Minister knowingly backed this Cabinet project,” he adds.

In the course of the events surrounding the Green Belt, the opposition is demanding the resignation of Minister Clark. Photo credit: Maxime Delaquis

From the provincial police to the RCMP

While a complaint has already been referred to the Office of the Ontario Integrity Commissioner, specifically relating to the use of Prime Minister Doug Ford’s personal phone for government business, federal police have taken matters into their own hands and decided to launch an investigation following a request by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

“The RCMP can confirm that we have received a request from the OPP to investigate irregularities in the design of the green belt around Toronto. “We will review and evaluate the information received and take appropriate action if necessary,” a federal police spokesman confirmed by email.

Green Party leader Mike Schreiner said he was “delighted to hear that the RCMP will launch an investigation into the corrupt process that has allowed some wealthy and well-connected land speculators to rake in $8.3 billion on their backs .”

The three opposition parties are unanimously calling for the cancellation of real estate transactions and the return of land to the green belt.

More details to come.