NDP seeks Auditor General investigation into Ford’s forced urban boundary expansions

QUEEN’S PARK – Following a successful fight to protect the Greenbelt, Leader of the Official Opposition, Marit Stiles and her Ontario NDP are calling for the Auditor General to investigate Ford’s shady backroom deals, and his government’s decision to force municipal urban boundary expansions across the province.

“We know now that Ford’s corruption almost gave a select few wealthy land speculators the chance to make billions with his Greenbelt Grab,” said Stiles. “Everyone from farmers to First Nations to activists knew something wasn’t right and together, we got to the bottom of it. We’re ready to do the same again.”

The Ontario NDP’s request to the Auditor General returned an explosive report finding that Ford’s Conservatives rigged the system to give certain land speculators preferential treatment on Greenbelt lands.

Evidence suggests that preferential treatment was given to some of the very same people when urban boundaries across the province were expanded.

“These forced boundaries will cause unnecessary sprawl and pave over prime farmland,” said MPP Jeff Burch (Niagara Centre), NDP critic for Municipal Affairs. “After his Greenbelt scandal, Ford should know better than to push forward with an unpopular plan that ignores community decisions. I call on him to reverse course.”

Read the letter here.

Quick Facts

The Ontario NDP is requesting a value-for money audit and assessment of the financial and environmental impacts of the government’s amendments to:

• Municipal official plans such as Hamilton, Ottawa, Waterloo, York, Peel, Niagara, Peterborough, Halton, and Wellington.
• Minister’s Zoning Orders and ministerial orders under section 34.1 of the Planning Act.

The Ontario NDP made a similar value-for-money audit request into the Greenbelt, which led to the explosive August 9th report that lead to several high-profile resignations in Ford’s inner circle.

Quotes

Hamilton: MPP Sandy Shaw (Hamilton West- Ancaster-Dundas)

“These forced urban boundaries are the other half of Ford’s Greenbelt scheme that benefited wealthy land speculators. I call on Ford to do the right thing and respect the decisions of our Hamilton council and community by cancelling this plan.”

Ottawa: MPP Chandra Pasma (Ottawa West - Nepean)

“Ottawa’s city council has asked the new Housing Minister to review Ford’s plan – but Ford can’t be bothered to listen. I and the Ontario NDP are listening and are committed to getting to the bottom of what happened and reversing these forced expansions.”

Waterloo: MPP Catherine Fife (Waterloo)

“It seems that Ford doesn't trust our cities to do their jobs. We’re already losing 319 acres of farmland a day in the province of Ontario, and Ford’s forced expansion will make it worse. After the backlash to his Greenbelt scandal, he should think twice."