Ontario housing minister apologizes but refuses to step down after Greenbelt report

It was another day of tough questions for Premier Doug Ford and Housing Minister Steve Clark. But in the end, Ford is standing by his minister, and Clark is refusing to step down.

The opposition is calling for Clark to be fired, or step down, while Premier Ford is sticking to his guns and saying more houses need to be built.

“I’m here to accept responsibility for the lack of oversight I had in the process, I want to make it clear to Ontarians that I’m sorry we didn’t do a better job in terms of the oversight,” said Clark.

CHCH Queen’s Park Producer Randy Rath asked the premier about accountability.

“The integrity commissioner found minister Clark buried his head in the sand while his rookie chief of staff led a chaotic and almost reckless process, do you not believe in ministerial accountability?” said Rath.

“I have confidence in Minister Clark. He has a big file. I take full responsibility. The buck stops with me,” said Ford.

And despite the controversy, Premier Ford said the most important thing is to build homes.

“We understand the process could be better but our goal at the end of the day is to build 1.5 million homes at minimum. We’re going to build them, we’re going to do everything we can, we’re going to use every single tool we can,” said Ford.

But the opposition continued to call for Clark’s resignation.

“The premier has failed the accountability test, the minister has failed the accountability test. And that is why we are calling on the minister to be removed from cabinet, and why we’re calling on this government to reverse the corrupt process that led to the Greenbelt scandal and return all Greenbelt lands to full protected status,” said Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner.

WATCH MORE: Doug Ford, labour and education ministers, to hold press conference at 9 a.m.