Ford Aims to Bounce Back from Greenbelt Deal Fallout as Fall Session Commences
Controversy surrounding Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government’s Greenbelt development plan has been a major issue throughout the summer months. Despite the challenges, Mr. Ford is now back at Queen’s Park for the legislature’s fall session, and he is focusing on the positive aspects of his five-year tenure.
The Greenbelt development plan faced significant backlash, and Mr. Ford initially stood by the plan despite the uproar. However, he ultimately decided to cancel the plan last week. This controversy led to the resignations of three cabinet ministers and two senior staffers, and Mr. Ford had to reshuffle his cabinet twice.
The support for Mr. Ford’s Progressive Conservatives has been declining in the polls. Their approval rating fell from 41% in July to 38% in August and dropped further to 34% in early September, according to Abacus Data. Additionally, Olivia Chow was elected as Toronto mayor, even though she was not Mr. Ford’s preferred candidate.
Despite his previous negative statements about Ms. Chow, Mr. Ford has expressed a desire to find common ground with her. They recently announced a joint task force to address housing challenges and financial issues in the city.
Mr. Ford has three years until the next provincial election to regain momentum. Currently, his party maintains a six-point lead over the Liberals. The next few months will be crucial to see how his new cabinet performs and whether he can move past the Greenbelt controversy. It will also reveal how he collaborates with Ms. Chow and who his next Liberal competitor will be, as a new Liberal party leader will be announced on December 2.
The Liberals have been gaining ground in the polls this year, surpassing the NDP’s popularity after years of minimal support. During the fall session, opposition leader Marit Stiles of the NDP criticized Mr. Ford, highlighting the scandals and crises his government has faced. She questioned whether the premier can be trusted to prioritize the needs of the people considering his track record of putting friends and insiders first.
In response, Mr. Ford defended his government’s accomplishments, citing job creation and infrastructure investments. He emphasized that his administration has plans to invest $184 billion in infrastructure and $70.5 billion in transit over the next decade. He also mentioned the government’s work on 50 hospital projects.
Ms. Stiles argued that the province has regressed under Mr. Ford’s leadership. She pointed out issues such as closed emergency rooms, inadequacies in the autism program, and worsening housing crises. She likened the government’s disarray to the Liberal gas plant scandal that led to the resignation of former premier Dalton McGuinty.
Although the integrity commissioner has not found reasons to investigate Mr. Ford personally regarding the Greenbelt deal, Ms. Stiles alleged that phone records and emails have been deleted to hide his involvement. Mr. Ford acknowledged the government’s mistake in the Greenbelt deal and stated that moving forward demonstrates his leadership. His housing minister, Paul Calandra, announced that legislation would be introduced to reverse the Greenbelt land swap and strengthen protection for the Greenbelt.
The Greenbelt controversy also resulted in several resignations and cabinet shuffles. Former housing minister Steve Clark resigned after the integrity commissioner’s report criticized his handling of the deal. Minister of public and business service delivery Kaleed Rasheed resigned amid questions about his contact with a developer involved in the Greenbelt deal. Mr. Ford’s principal secretary and housing policy director Jae Truesdell also resigned. Labor minister Monte McNaughton tendered his resignation, but he stated it was unrelated to the Greenbelt issue.
Mr. Ford admitted that opening the Greenbelt was a mistake that raised doubts about the government’s motives. The government will need to reverse the deal through legislation, and there may be limits on compensation for the developers. Investigative efforts are ongoing, with the integrity commissioner probing a lobbyist involved in the deal. The RCMP is also reviewing information to determine if an investigation into the land swap is warranted.
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