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Doug Ford and the Greenbelt have a complicated relationship.
Since becoming Progressive Conservative leader, he has attempted to propose changes to this big stretch of protected land since 2018.
Each time, he's backed away after major blowback.
Here's a quick timeline:
Since becoming Progressive Conservative leader, he has attempted to propose changes to this big stretch of protected land since 2018.
Each time, he's backed away after major blowback.
Here's a quick timeline:
April 30, 2018:
“We will open up the Greenbelt—not all of it, but we're going to open a big chunk of it up—and we're going to start building and making it more affordable and putting more houses out there.” -- Doug Ford, over a month before he's elected https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/doug-ford-pc-greenbelt-open-developers-mike-schreiner-1.4641575
“We will open up the Greenbelt—not all of it, but we're going to open a big chunk of it up—and we're going to start building and making it more affordable and putting more houses out there.” -- Doug Ford, over a month before he's elected https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/doug-ford-pc-greenbelt-open-developers-mike-schreiner-1.4641575
May 1, 2018:
“The people have spoken — we won't touch the Greenbelt. Very simple ... They don't want me to touch the Greenbelt, we won't touch the Greenbelt” -- Doug Ford reverses course a day after pledging to open it. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-wynne-greenbelt-development-election-1.4643189
“The people have spoken — we won't touch the Greenbelt. Very simple ... They don't want me to touch the Greenbelt, we won't touch the Greenbelt” -- Doug Ford reverses course a day after pledging to open it. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-wynne-greenbelt-development-election-1.4643189
December 6, 2018:
The Ontario government unveils an omnibus bill (the “Open for Business” Act or Bill 66) that proposed to amend 30 regulations, including those impact land development. Critics worry this targets the Greenbelt. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/green-party-attacks-ford-omnibus-bill-1.4936797
The Ontario government unveils an omnibus bill (the “Open for Business” Act or Bill 66) that proposed to amend 30 regulations, including those impact land development. Critics worry this targets the Greenbelt. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/green-party-attacks-ford-omnibus-bill-1.4936797
January 23, 2019:
The Ontario government backs down from the land development clauses in Bill 66. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-government-backs-down-on-legislation-that-would-have-made-it-easier-to-build-in-the-greenbelt-1.4990274
The Ontario government backs down from the land development clauses in Bill 66. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ford-government-backs-down-on-legislation-that-would-have-made-it-easier-to-build-in-the-greenbelt-1.4990274
September 9, 2019:
@CBCQueensPark learns the Ontario government spent nearly a year in talks with a Vaughan developer/PC donor about a pitch to build housing in the Greenbelt despite Ford promising not to touch it. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-greenbelt-housing-vaughan-milani-rizmi-developer-1.5263980
@CBCQueensPark learns the Ontario government spent nearly a year in talks with a Vaughan developer/PC donor about a pitch to build housing in the Greenbelt despite Ford promising not to touch it. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-greenbelt-housing-vaughan-milani-rizmi-developer-1.5263980
November 4, 2020:
“I have simply had enough” -- Linda Pam, a member of the Ontario Greenbelt Council resigns in protest of the government’s move to fast-track a development that would destroy a protected wetland, @EmmaMci reports: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/11/04/news/doug-ford-greenbelt-council-resigns-wetland
“I have simply had enough” -- Linda Pam, a member of the Ontario Greenbelt Council resigns in protest of the government’s move to fast-track a development that would destroy a protected wetland, @EmmaMci reports: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/11/04/news/doug-ford-greenbelt-council-resigns-wetland
November 11, 2020:
The Ontario government proposes to limit the power of conservation authorities, which protect flood plains, They plan to shift their power of approval over development applications to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/11/11/news/ford-government-take-powers-away-conservation-authorities
The Ontario government proposes to limit the power of conservation authorities, which protect flood plains, They plan to shift their power of approval over development applications to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/11/11/news/ford-government-take-powers-away-conservation-authorities
December 5-6, 2020:
Seven members of the Ontario Greenbelt Council resign, including David Crombie, a former Tory MP & Toronto mayor. All cited the Ontario government’s changes to conservation regulations. @EmmaMci reports: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/12/06/news/seven-members-doug-fords-greenbelt-council-resign-conservation-authority-changes
Seven members of the Ontario Greenbelt Council resign, including David Crombie, a former Tory MP & Toronto mayor. All cited the Ontario government’s changes to conservation regulations. @EmmaMci reports: https://www.nationalobserver.com/2020/12/06/news/seven-members-doug-fords-greenbelt-council-resign-conservation-authority-changes
A quick (semi-related) sidenote:
The Ontario government's efforts to limit conservation authorities started in April 2019 when it cut flood management payments by 50%. In August 2019, they ordered them to "wind down" non-essential programs; this order was given again this year.
The Ontario government's efforts to limit conservation authorities started in April 2019 when it cut flood management payments by 50%. In August 2019, they ordered them to "wind down" non-essential programs; this order was given again this year.
Ontario's Greenbelt and conservation authorities are complicated stories to cover. I've been tracking this for a while now, trying to make a sense of it all in the bigger picture of climate and development.
If I missed anything/If you have tips: [email protected]
If I missed anything/If you have tips: [email protected]
As usual, I wrote this all before breakfast and I'm now finding all sorts of typos. Forgive me, Twitterverse
