Greenbelt Scandal Update

This week, the media is flooded with news about the Auditor General’s Special Report on Changes to the Greenbelt.

The Auditor General’s report confirmed that:

• Well-connected developers had Greenbelt land removed at the direction of the Minister’s most senior staff person.
• Those developers stand to gain over $8 Billion as a result.
• The removals were not needed to meet housing targets because there are tens of thousands of acres of land already designated for new homes.
• Environmental criteria were abandoned when they conflicted with removing the developers’ preferred lands.

The Premier and the Minister say they did not know which lands had been selected to be removed. This is either untrue or the Premier and Minister have turned over the decision-making responsibility with which they are entrusted to a staff person. Either is unacceptable.

Environmental Defence is demanding an OPP investigation into the relationship between the provincial government and development industry, the return of all lands removed from the Greenbelt and stronger legislation to ensure this never happens again. 

Join our call for good governance by telling your MPP that public trust can only be restored with an OPP investigation into the connections between this government and billionaire developers.

Right now, we’re working with municipal councils, indigenous communities and the federal government to explore ways to protect these vital forests, wetlands and farmland. We’re conducting media interviews, creating radio and social media ads and preparing a legal strategy. We’re also witnessing a groundswell of public outrage all across the province.

On Sunday, Durham Region turned out in huge numbers to demand their local MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy hold the Premier accountable. More than 100 people just turned out in Orillia on a Monday evening!

We’re adding new rallies to our map everyday. You can keep on top of our ongoing efforts to protect the Greenbelt by checking in at HandsofftheGreenbelt.ca.

In Solidarity,

Tim Gray
Executive Director
Environmental Defence