[All] Bill 23, Regional Planning, Greenbelt Attacks - AG Report Update

Thu Aug 10 11:03:48 EDT 2023

Good Day,

As you likely have seen in media across Canada, the Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk presented her scathing 95 page report on the changes to the Greenbelt.  It confirms what we already knew - this was never about housing - thousands of acres of the highest quality agricultural lands in the world have been sacrificed for billions of dollars of profits for a select few PC donors.  

There has been absolutely nothing built yet though.  The lands are still in their original natural state.  This government needs to immediately recall the Legislature, reverse course, and return these lands to the Greenbelt as even the Auditor General is recommending.  We also need to extrapolate this pattern of actions, process, and methodology of this Conservative government that we have seen over and over again with MZO’s and ministerial overrides with no consultation with anyone but industry, no public input, little municipal input, acting repeatedly against the greater public good, and benefiting only a select group of insiders to also see other boundary expansions rescinded, the reversal of the elimination of regional planning, and many other concerning issues corrected.

The TVO Ontario article below describes the situation well - The Ford government is corrupt and this Greenbelt report proves it.  We need to demand resignations and further investigations to restore some integrity to our province.  As the Toronto Star states Doug Ford has betrayed the public and he should pay dearly for it.  We need to keep up the pressure on the Premier, Cabinet and local MPPs.  The Press Release below from the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition calling out their local Conservative MPPs as complicit and guilty for supporting these Greenbelt takeout activities could be a model for our communities.  

Valid questions are raised about how we can trust this government when they are so clearly willing to lie, make backroom deals with rich friends, and sell out to the highest bidder regardless of the true cost to the rest of us.  Here is a government blatantly using their absolute power to enrich their friends while so many in province struggle with the basics of housing, healthcare, and education.  We need to speak up for a better future.

1) Fantastic Journalism - It’s hard to beat the incredible journalism that has been demonstrated over the past year exposing these stories and now reporting on so many complex aspects.  Here’s some excerpts that explain the core issues and findings:

The Globe and Mail - "Ontario’s Auditor-General has issued a scathing report on the provincial government’s removal of 3,000 hectares from its protected Greenbelt <https://www.theglobeandmail.com/topics/ontario-greenbelt/>, saying the move was unnecessary to hit the province’s housing goals, done without considering environmental impacts, and favoured certain developers.  The report released Wednesday by Auditor-General Bonnie Lysyk also estimates, based on data from the Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (MPAC), that the landowners of the 15 formerly protected sites opened up for housing last year could see their worth balloon by $8.3-billion.  The audit recommends that the Progressive Conservative government of Premier Doug Ford re-evaluate its “seriously flawed” decision, while putting in place a new formal process to allow non-political civil servants to raise objections when “proper information-gathering and decision-making protocols are disregarded.”

The Toronto Star - “In a searing 93 page report to the legislature Wednesday, Bonnie Lysyk found Ford’s opening up of 7,400 acres of environmentally protected land last fall “cannot be described as a standard or defensible process”.  Lysyk said the Tories did not need the 15 parcels of land to achieve their promised target of building 1.5 million homes over the next decade to alleviate Ontario’s housing crisis.  We found that how the sites were selected was not transparent, fair, objective or fully informed.  Provincial government actions failed to consider environmental, agricultural and financial risks and impacts, proceeded with little input from experts or affected parties, and favoured certain developers/landowners said Lysyk”.

Perhaps nothing states the current situation and the required path forward better than the editorial in today’s Toronto Star by the Star’s Editorial Board:

	The Province’s Gerrymandering Of The Greenbelt Is Worse Than We Thought.  Heads Should Roll:
	https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/the-province-s-gerrymandering-of-the-greenbelt-is-worse-than-we-thought-heads-should-roll/article_95dc3553-c0e9-5252-9595-04f76ed69a47.html

2) Social Media - There are also great points being made on social media:

Tyler Watt - This scathing report from the Auditor General's investigation on Doug Ford and the Greenbelt confirms our suspicions.  This is as corrupt as it gets.  Ford’s friends stand to make $8.3 billion off this.  This is an appalling abuse of government.

Jennifer Keesmat - Nearly 50 years of public policy came together in the Greenbelt.  Every step of the way citizen advocates played a crucial role in shaping the future of our region.  Lobbying, advocating, conducting research, disseminating information.  Until Now.  In 1973 Bill Davis protected the Niagara Escarpment.  In 1990 the United Nations declared the Niagara Escarpment a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.  In 2001, Mike Harris protected the Oak Ridges Moraine, laying the foundation for the Greenbelt.  In 2005, Dalton McGuinty pushed the Greenbelt over the finish line and created Places to Grow, directing growth to existing urban centres.  We officially began growing up as a region.  In 2022, the Auditor General outed Doug Ford for beginning the sell off of these protected lands to his friends, for astronomical profit.  Very curious as to what will come next.  The story is unwritten and we all have a role to play - as we always have.

Luke Bradley - Ford set up a Housing Affordability Task Force that came out with a report with 55 recommendations.  They were clear that land was not an issue and it did not require building on the Greenbelt.  Ford has failed to implement 90% of those recommendations.

TDotResident - If Doug Ford is okay with $8.3 billion in corrupt land deals being the centrepiece of his “housing plan” how many billions of corrupt deals were used in his transit, healthcare, and Ontario Place plans?

Colin D’Mello - Global News - When the lands failed to meet the development standards to allow for removal, the criteria was changed to specifically allow pieces of land owned by developers with access to the government to be removed.

Mark Evans - Ontario housing Minister’s Chief of Staff chose Greenbelt land parcels to benefit developers: Auditor General.  I wonder how Ford Nation feels about the $8 billion Greenbelt scandal? Do they see it as a scandal or how business is done?

Joan Telfer Faux - With Greenbelt Trending #1 on Twitter in Canada right now are Premier Doug Ford and Minister Steve Clark having a good night? Maybe the report from Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk about the blantant corruption involved in opening the Ontario Greenbelt for development is causing them stress.  It should.  They own this.

Richard Southern - Housing Minister Clark skirts the question I asked how he did not know what his Chief of Staff was doing.

Dr. Faisal Moola - A) The developers gave Ford’s team a USB drive with the list of properties to carve out of the Greenbelt.  B) Clark’s team ran the process and then Ford and Clark voted for it.  C) Much of the land (Duffins Rouge) WAS public until Mike Harris sold it to DeGasperis.

3) Auditor General’s Report - Read the report yourself at the following link or the PDF attached at the end of this e-mail.  Even just the Table of Contents reads like a scathing indictment:

	Special Report On Changes To The Greenbelt - Office of The Auditor General of Ontario
	https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/specialreports/specialreports/Greenbelt_en.pdf

4) Breaking Media Stories - Below are just some of the media stories from the past 24 hours as this has been headline news on every major news outlet:

	The Toronto Star & The Record - Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives Favoured Certain Developers In Controversial Greenbelt Plan Auditor General Finds in Scathing Report:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/auditor-general-bonnie-lysyk-delivers-greenbelt-land-swap-report-today/article_550f5523-3b2d-5e4d-abdc-1220a907ac7b.html <https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/auditor-general-bonnie-lysyk-delivers-greenbelt-land-swap-report-today/article_550f5523-3b2d-5e4d-abdc-1220a907ac7b.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=BreakingNews&utm_content=greenbelt>
	https://www.therecord.com/politics/provincial/doug-fords-conservatives-favoured-certain-developers-in-controversial-greenbelt-plan-auditor-general-finds-in-scathing/article_26f12b19-74ad-5109-9c6a-ddb7ed92307c.html

	TVO Today - Ford-friendly Developers Influenced Greenbelt Changes Says Auditor General:
	https://www.tvo.org/article/ford-friendly-developers-influenced-greenbelt-changes-says-auditor-general

	Global News - Developers Had Direct Influence Over Ontario Greenbelt Land Removal AG Finds:
	https://globalnews.ca/news/9884252/ontario-auditor-general-report-developers-greenbelt-land-removal/

	The Trillium - Greenbelt Removals Picked by Housing Minister’s Top Staffer at Developers Behest: Auditor:
	https://www.thetrillium.ca/news/housing/greenbelt-removals-picked-by-housing-ministers-top-staffer-at-developers-behest-auditor-7383186

	CTV News - Ontario Greenbelt Development Plans Were Biased: AG Report:
	https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-greenbelt-development-plans-were-biased-ag-report-1.6511544

	The Globe and Mail - Ford’s Greenbelt Plan Favoured Certain Developers, Ontario’s Auditor-General Report Says:
	https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontarios-auditor-general-report-says-fords-greenbelt-plan-unnecessary/

	The Narhwal - Ontario’s Housing Minister’s Chief of Staff Chose Greenbelt Land Parcels To Benefit Develeopers: Auditor General:
	https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-greenbelt-auditor-general-report/

	CBC - Ontario Government’s Greenbelt Land Swap Influenced by Well-Connnected Developers:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-auditor-general-greenbelt-report-1.6930390

	CityNews - Ford Government Favoured Developers, Greenbelt land not needed for housing target: Auditor General:
	https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2023/08/09/greenbelt-auditor-general-investigation/?

	The Public Record - Hamilton Developers Given Special Access to Lobby for Greenbelt Land Removal:
	https://www.thepublicrecord.ca/2023/08/hamilton-developers-given-special-access-to-lobby-for-greenbelt-land-removal-stand-to-make-billions-from-changes/

	The Star - Doug Ford’s Greenbelt Scheme Betrayed The Public And He Should Pay Dearly For That:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/doug-ford-s-greenbelt-scheme-betrayed-the-public-and-he-should-pay-dearly-for-that/article_402083bc-fa40-531f-b71a-b942146eac7e.html

	CityNews Online - Ford Government Under Fire After Auditor General’s Scathing Report:
	https://toronto.citynews.ca/video/2023/08/09/ford-government-under-fire-after-auditor-generals-scathing-greenbelt-report/

	TVO Ontario - The Greenbelt Report Proves It: The Ford Government Is Corrupt: Resignations and Further Investigations Are The Only Way to Restore Sense of Integrity:
	https://www.tvo.org/article/the-greenbelt-report-proves-it-the-ford-government-is-corrupt

	CHCH Detailed Television Report - Auditor General Finds Ontario Government’s Greenbelt Plan Favoured Certain Developers:
	https://www.chch.com/auditor-general-finds-ontario-governments-greenbelt-plan-favoured-certain-developers/

	CP24 - How Did The Ontario Greenbelt Decision Get Made?  Here’s The Timeline:
	https://www.cp24.com/news/how-did-the-ontario-greenbelt-decision-get-made-here-s-the-timeline-1.6512473

	CBC - The Greenbelt and Doug Ford: What’s Next?
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/greenbelt-doug-ford-whats-next-1.6931420

5) Other Recent Media Stories - Here’s also stories from the past week on other issues and leading up to the release of the Auditor General’s report:

	Great article focussed on Waterloo Region:
	The Toronto Star - Doug Ford’s Policies Are Putting Ontario’s Farmland at Risk:
	https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/doug-ford-s-policies-are-putting-ontario-s-farmland-at-risk/article_fad183ca-06f6-53f2-bfb7-e42d634a6945.amp.html

	The Toronto Star - Auditor General Dug into Doug Ford’s Controversial Greenbelt Plan.  We Are About To See What She Has To Report:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/auditor-general-dug-into-doug-ford-s-controversial-greenbelt-plan-we-re-about-to-see/article_b121c515-331d-5b9c-9164-2a12aac10a10.html

	The Toronto Star - Doug Ford Tories Brace for Auditor’s Report Into Controversial Greenbelt Land Swap:
	https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-s-tories-brace-for-auditor-s-report-into-controversial-greenbelt-land-swap/article_3305bfba-260b-522f-a81d-27d36239d866.html

	The Narwhal - Here’s How Doug Ford is Shaping Ontario’s Environmental Laws In His Second Term:
	https://thenarwhal.ca/ontario-environment-ford-explainer/

	CBC - 1.5 Years Into The Ford Government’s Housing Plan Most Cities Aren’t Even Close to Pace:
	https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-housing-construction-cities-report-card-1.6916180

6) Leadnow.ca - Already the national advocacy group Leadnow has a campaign and website running where you can send e-mails automatically to the Premier, Cabinet and other MPPs expressing your outrage and concerns at the way the government has sold off the Greenbelt to developers.  Tell the government that Greenbelt development isn’t the answer:

	Leadnow - https://act.leadnow.ca/ministers-greenbelt/

7) Environmental Defence - Has issued a statement on the Auditor General’s report demanding that lands must now be returned to the Greenbelt, calling for an OPP investigation, the pro-spawl agenda be reversed, the Greenbelt be expanded, an expansion of affordable housing, and legislation introduced to protect the Greenbelt and other lands from future attacks by governments and speculative developers:

	https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/08/09/statement-on-the-auditor-generals-report-that-the-ontario-government-colluded-with-developers-to-remove-lands-from-the-greenbelt/

8) Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition - SCGC has issued a brilliant media statement calling their local MPP’s complicit in the $8.3 billion dollar Greenbelt land grab:

	https://simcoecountygreenbelt.ca/media-statement-auditor-general-on-greenbelt-take-outs/

9) Environics Polling Shows Huge Support for Housing in Cities Not The Greenbelt - The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario (ALO) commissioned Environics Research to gauge public perceptions about the cause of the housing crisis facing Ontario, the preferred solution, and whose opinion people trust.  The results show there is overwhelming support for governments to be actively involved in getting housing built in existing towns and cities where services already exist. Ontarians do not want housing on the Greenbelt and farmland. 

	Read the Environics Research Report at:
	https://www.liveableontario.ca/alliance-resources/new-poll-huge-public-support-for-building-housing-in-existing-towns-and-cities-not-on-the-greenbelt

10) Stop Sprawl Durham Rally and Activities - The communities most impacted by the extensive development of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve have A Rally to Save The Rouge coming up this Sunday, August 13th at 1:00pm to 2:30pm at 1550 Kingston Road, Pickering.  They also have a whole list of actions you can take to help them out and help protect these amazing natural areas:

	https://www.stopsprawldurham.com/
	https://actionnetwork.org/letters/save-the-duffins-rouge-agricultural-preserve-and-protect-rouge-national-urban-park-2/
	https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_YJ4Ov533izbCqmZa0JemahZobM7Na9S
	https://www.facebook.com/StopSprawlDurham/

11) Reminder - No Meeting this Friday - Please enjoy a break this Friday and join us next on Friday, August 18th at 5:30pm:

	Topic: Grand River Watershed Bill 23 Bi-Weekly Zoom Meeting
	Time: Every Other Friday at 5:30pm EST

	Join Zoom Meeting
	https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09

	Meeting ID: 826 4469 5701
	Passcode: 713374

Thanks for all the great efforts so far.  Speak up, talk to friends, write letters to the editor/opinion pieces, and please share any questions or ideas.

Cheers,
Kevin Thomason and Mike Marcolongo on behalf of all our community groups.

-----------------------------------
A) Upcoming Events

Sunday, August 13th - 1pm - Rally to Save The Duffins Rouge Ag Preserve - https://www.stopsprawldurham.com/

Friday, August 18th - 5:30pm - Next update meeting on Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82644695701?pwd=bnRsUGtWSUcrRnFWR21uYVBISG9jZz09

Monday, September 4th - 12pm - Labour Picnic at Waterloo Park - https://waterloolabour.ca/

Friday, September 11th - Ford Fest At Bingeman’s Kitchener - Details to be determined.

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B) Auditor General Special Report on Changes to the Greenbelt

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C) Recent Graphics and Social Media

Excellent Toronto Star Editorial - August 10, 2023

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D) Rally to Save the Rouge - Sunday, August 13th 1pm

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E) Waterloo Labour Council Labour Day Picnic - Monday, September 4th 12:00pm

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K) Speak Up and Ensure Your Voice is Heard:

Premier Doug Ford - doug.fordco at pc.ola.org <mailto:doug.fordco at pc.ola.org> or 416-325-1941
Steve Clark - Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing - steve.clark at pc.ola.org <mailto:steve.clark at pc.ola.org> or 416-585-7214
David Piccini - Minster of Environment, Conservation and Parks - david.piccini at pc.ola.org <mailto:david.paccini at pc.ola.org> or 905-372-4000
Todd Smith - Minister of Energy - todd.smith at pc.ola.org <mailto:todd.smith at pc.ola.org> or 613-962-1144
Michael Parsa - Associate Minister of Housing - michael.parsaco at pc.ola.org <mailto:michael.parsaco at pc.ola.org>

Local Conservative MPPs:
Mike Harris Jr - MPP Kitchener-Conestoga - mike.harris at pc.ola.org <mailto:mike.harris at pc.ola.org> or 519-669-2090
Brian Riddell - MPP Cambridge - brian.riddell at pc.ola.org <mailto:brian.riddell at pc.ola.org> or 519-650-2770
Jess Dixon - MPP Kitchener South - jess.dixon at pc.ola.org <mailto:jess.dixon at pc.ola.org> or 519-650-9413
Will Bouma - MPP Brantford-Brant - will.bouma at pc.ola.org <mailto:will.bouma at pc.ola.org> or (519) 759-0361
Ted Arnott - MPP Wellington-Halton Hills - ted.arnott at pc.ola.org <mailto:ted.arnott at pc.ola.org> or (519) 787-5247
Ernie Hardeman - MPP Oxford - ernie.hardeman at pc.ola.org <mailto:ernie.hardeman at pc.ola.org> or (519) 537-5222
Matthew Rae - MPP Perth-Wellington - matthew.rae at pc.ola.org <mailto:matthew.rae at pc.ola.org> or (519) 272-0660

Local NDP MPPs:
Catherine Fife - MPP Waterloo - cfife-qp at ndp.on.ca <mailto:cfife-qp at ndp.on.ca> or 519-725-3477
Laura Mae Lindo - MPP Kitchener Centre - llindo-qp at ndp.on.ca <mailto:llindo-qp at ndp.on.ca> or 519-579-5460

Local Green Party MPPs:
Mike Schreiner - MPP Guelph - mschreiner at ola.org <mailto:mschreiner at ola.org> or (519) 836-4190

Independent MPPs:
Bobbi Ann Brady - MPP Haldimand-Norfolk - babrady-co at ola.org <mailto:babrady-co at ola.org> or (519) 428-0446

-------------------------------------

Kevin Thomason
Vice-Chair, Grand River Environmental Network

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com <mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>
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