FOI documents show government dead-set on dirty deals

October 30, 2023

QUEEN'S PARK — Ontario Greens leader and MPP for Guelph Mike Schreiner released the following statement in response to the release of thousands of pages of freedom-of-information documents showing that Ford government political staff directed changes to municipalities’ official plans despite contradictory advice from municipal and provincial planning officials.

“These documents confirm once again that the Ford government is prioritizing wealthy, well-connected insiders over building homes that ordinary people can afford.

The thousands of pages of FOI documents released today show a government caught in a perpetual downward spiral.

Despite their frantic attempts to change the channel, this is a scandal that is sticking to them.

I’ve called these boundary expansions Greenbelt 2.0, and now we have the proof in front of us.

These documents raise significant doubts about the government’s version of events.

They suggest that the Premier and his cabinet were aware of proposed boundary changes prior to October 2022 – when Ford claims to have learned about the Greenbelt giveaway.

They prove that former Housing Minister Steve Clark’s chief of staff Ryan Amato was running key decisions by the Premier’s office, despite repeatedly denying as much while under oath.

How are we expected to trust anything this government says when we have thousands of pages of evidence showing that they deliberately and repeatedly deceived Ontarians?

It’s clear where this government’s priorities lie – and it’s not with the people of Ontario.

I urge the RCMP to expand their investigation of the Greenbelt giveaway to include the government’s now-reversed boundary expansions and overuse of MZOs.

Ontarians deserve some honest answers, and it’s time to start delivering them.”

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