Ontario integrity commissioner launches Greenbelt investigation

The Integrity Commissioner of Ontario will investigate a complaint against Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark and his decision to open the protected Greenbelt to build houses.

Incoming NDP leader Marit Stiles has asked the commissioner to look into what she calls “curious timing of recent purchases of Greenbelt land by powerful landowners with donor and political ties to the Ontario PC Party.”

Stiles pointed to media reports that some developers purchased that land over the past few years despite Clark and the premier previously publicly saying it wouldn’t be developed, two months before Clark announced he’d open the lands up.

READ MORE: City staff oppose Ford governments plan to build 1.5M homes on Greenbelt land

Clark announced in November that the Ontario government will take away land from 15 different areas of the protected Greenbelt. However, it will add acres elsewhere so that 50,000 homes can be built.

Stiles asked the integrity commissioner to investigate whether Clark violated ethics rules around making a public policy decision to further someone’s private interests.

Clark and Premier Doug Ford have both denied that before the public announcement.

WATCH MORE: Schreiner to discuss Greenbelt investigations at 1:30 p.m.