Ontario Premier Doug Ford is currently under investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) concerning his government's handling of the Greenbelt land swap. This investigation centers on allegations that the Ford administration favored specific developers by removing certain lands from the protected Greenbelt area to facilitate development.

Background:

• Initial Proposal (2018): In 2018, a video surfaced showing Doug Ford expressing intentions to "open up a big chunk of the Greenbelt" for housing development. Following public backlash, he retracted this statement, assuring that the Greenbelt would remain protected.

• Policy Reversal (December 2022): Despite earlier assurances, in December 2022, the Ford government announced the removal of 7,400 acres from the Greenbelt to allow for housing projects, while adding 9,400 acres elsewhere. This move led to significant controversy, especially after reports emerged that certain developers had purchased Greenbelt land shortly before the announcement, raising concerns about potential insider information and favoritism.

Investigations and Findings:

• Auditor General's Report (August 2023): Ontario's Auditor General released a report indicating that the process of selecting lands for removal from the Greenbelt was biased towards certain developers, who stood to gain over $8 billion. The report criticized the lack of transparency and failure to consider environmental, agricultural, and financial impacts.

• Integrity Commissioner's Findings (September 2023): Ontario's Integrity Commissioner found that Housing Minister Steve Clark had violated ethics rules in relation to the Greenbelt land swap, leading to his resignation in September 2023.

RCMP Involvement:

• Criminal Investigation (October 2023): The RCMP announced a criminal investigation into the Ford government's Greenbelt land swap decisions, focusing on potential irregularities and allegations of developer favoritism. As of January 2025, the investigation is ongoing, with opposition parties urging the RCMP to provide updates, especially in light of the upcoming snap election called by Premier Ford.

Distraction Maneuver:

• Snap Election Call (January 24, 2025): Premier Ford announced a snap election for February 27, 2025, citing the need to address potential economic challenges arising from proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports. Opposition leaders, however, have accused Ford of using the election to divert attention from the RCMP investigation into the Greenbelt scandal.

• Opposition's Stance: Ontario political parties criticized the election call, this move by Premier Ford is publiclly considered "To distract the people of Ontario from the RCMP investigation." They also called on the RCMP to provide an update on their investigation before voters head to the polls.

These events have been documented in various government reports and official statements, confirming the outlined details.

Sources:

Here’s a list of official government sources that confirm the points related to Doug Ford's Greenbelt controversy:

Auditor General’s Report on Greenbelt Land Swap
https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/specialreports/specialreports/Greenbelt_en.pdf

Integrity Commissioner's Report on Minister Steve Clark
https://www.oico.on.ca/web/default/files/public/Commissioners%20Reports/Report%20Re%20Minister%20Clark%20-%20August%2030%2C%202023.pdf

RCMP Launches Criminal Investigation into Ford Government's Greenbelt Dealings
https://www.tvo.org/article/rcmp-launches-criminal-investigation-into-ford-governments-greenbelt-dealings

The Auditor General released a special report detailing the process and implications of the Greenbelt land removals. You can access the report and related materials here:

https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/news/specials_newsreleases/newsrelease_Greenbelt_EN.pdf

Doug Ford’s Announcement of Snap Election
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/premier-canadas-most-populous-province-seeks-early-election-because-trump-2025-01-24/

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