Ontarians win fight for the Greenbelt

September 21, 2023

GUELPH — Ontario Greens leader and MPP for Guelph, Mike Schreiner, released the following statement in response to news that the Ford government is reversing its Greenbelt giveaway.

“This is people power in action.

It’s thanks to the millions of Ontarians who raised their voices – who held rallies, signed petitions, wrote to their MPPs, and talked with friends and family – that we won the fight for our Greenbelt.

It’s an incredible feat, and Ontario Greens are proud to stand side by side with the many, many local leaders who made this happen.

But let’s not forget that this is the same Premier who called the Greenbelt a scam, a field of weeds, just a couple of months ago.

How can we trust that he won’t try the same thing again with his Greenbelt review or in a year or two?

We have to keep up the pressure in places like Waterloo Region and Halton, where Ford is imposing sprawl onto farmland, even though local councils have identified enough land for housing.

We can’t let this reversal be a get-out-of-jail-free card for Premier Ford or his cabinet.

The people of this province put their trust in this government, and they chose deals for wealthy Ford insiders over everyday Ontarians – failing to uphold the integrity of this legislature.

That’s why we’re continuing to call for a public inquiry to tackle the still-unanswered questions that have significant implications on the way we govern in this province – the standards to which we hold our Premier and cabinet accountable and the way we deliver that accountability when a breach of this scale takes place.

I’m also calling on this government to pass my Greenbelt bills and housing bills – to ensure that our Greenbelt remains permanently protected and that we build homes people can actually afford in communities they want to live in.”

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