Five municipalities in Ontario, which were promised reimbursement by Premier Doug Ford’s government for expenses related to the Greenbelt controversy, have expressed disappointment over the delayed fulfillment of the commitment. Opposition Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) have criticized the Progressive Conservatives for shifting the financial burden onto local taxpayers in these communities.
According to documents acquired through a Freedom of Information request by CBC News, as of September 2024, the cities and towns, including Durham Region, Pickering, Grimsby, Guelph, and Wellington County, reported approximately $850,000 in expenses due to lost staff time, and legal and consulting fees. These costs were attributed to Ford’s initial decision to allow development in parts of the Greenbelt in 2022, followed by the subsequent reversal of this decision nearly a year later.
A briefing note prepared for senior civil servants and the then Minister of Municipal Affairs, Paul Calandra, reiterated the government’s commitment made a year prior to assist impacted municipalities with planning and staffing costs incurred as a result of the Greenbelt issue. However, there has been no proactive outreach by the ministry to solicit cost submissions from the municipalities, and no decision has been reached regarding reimbursement.
The Greenbelt scandal, which began in 2022 with the announcement of land swaps within the protected area for development purposes, led to increased land values for property owners. The auditor general’s report highlighted rushed decision-making processes that favored specific developers. Following public outcry, Ford reversed the decision in September 2023, with ongoing investigations by the RCMP.
Despite promises from the government to compensate the municipalities for expenses related to the Greenbelt reversal, communities such as Durham Region, Pickering, Grimsby, Guelph, and Wellington County have confirmed that they are yet to receive any reimbursements. The municipalities have emphasized the financial strain caused by their expenditures in anticipation of housing development.
Opposition leaders, including Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner and NDP municipal affairs critic Jeff Burch, have criticized the government for failing to fulfill its commitment to repay the municipalities. They argue that the delay in reimbursement is unjust to local taxpayers and undermines the government’s credibility. Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser has called on the province to honor its pledge and promptly reimburse the communities, emphasizing the importance of trust and accountability in government actions.
Overall, the affected municipalities continue to await the promised reimbursements, while opposition voices urge the government to uphold its commitment and alleviate the financial burden placed on local taxpayers.