What kind of deal did the Ford government cut to add land to Greenbelt?
On its own, adding land to Ontarios treasured Greenbelt is a good thing. But adding hundreds of acres of wetlands that were already protected from development does not, as the Ford government seems to think, absolve it from its many ministerial zoning order sins. Not those of the past  last year alone Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark issued 33 MZOs, more than twice as many as previous governments did in 15 years. And not those of the future, which Clark is forecasting by saying he will add two acres to the Greenbelt for every acre of land that I have MZOd or that I will MZO.  Ministerial zoning orders  normally a rarely used tool, and for good reason  authorize development regardless of local planning rules or even environmental concerns and they strip citizens of their right to consultation, transparency and accountability. Since its earliest days of governing, Premier Doug Fords government has shown nothing but disdain for planning rules, environmental protections and due process and it has made unprecedented use of this political tool to toss those aside. Its an abuse of power, much like Fords use of the notwithstanding clause to curb his critics. Beyond all that, we now wait for the other shoe to drop with last weeks announcement that Ontario is adding 890 acres of privately owned lands in the North Gwillimbury Forest to the protected Greenbelt. Ontarians deserve to know. But, as usual, the government isnt saying. Those kinds of details will be shared at a further date.  Secret when it matters and public once its too late to do anything about it  thats the Ford governments understanding of how public transparency works. Clark says hes currently looking at other opportunities to expand and enhance Greenbelt lands. In fact, hes committed Ontario to bringing 6,000 acres under its protection, just to make up for the 45 MZOs hes already issued, let alone the ones that are still to come. Whats Clark is not saying  and he should be upfront with Ontarians about it  is what hes prepared to trade for those opportunities. Theres undoubtedly a long list of Greater Toronto Area developers sitting on land near the Greenbelt thats hard to develop who would be happy to trade up for a provincially owned parcel somewhere else, especially if it comes with an MZO guaranteeing a lucrative development opportunity. Its possible such deals or other tradeoffs would find support among Ontarians. But not when they are conducted behind closed doors. The reason to follow planning rules rather than rush to an MZO is so Ontarians know decisions are grounded in policy and evidence and not political favouritism. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The reason to follow an open, fair and competitive process in selling or trading public assets is to avoid the appearance of back-room deals where political and monied interests, rather than the public interest, holds sway. On that account, this government has not earned any benefit of the doubt. It has used its powers to run roughshod over municipal councils and the desires of local citizens far too often for that. And rather than learn from the pushback it has received on sites (the historic Foundry buildings in Toronto, Duffins Creek Wetland in Pickering and the glass factory in Stratford, for example) the government is picking up the pace and becoming more brazen. Increasingly, the MZOs are clearly benefiting developers who have strong ties to Fords Progressive Conservatives. The government must have cut some kind of deal for these new acres of Greenbelt land. Ford and Clark need to tell Ontarians what it is  and before they make any more deals. Read more about: