Five municipalities in Ontario, which Premier Doug Ford’s administration pledged to reimburse for expenses linked to the Greenbelt controversy, are still awaiting fulfillment of the commitment several years later. Opposition Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) are criticizing the Progressive Conservatives for not honoring their promise, accusing them of shifting the financial burden onto local taxpayers. Documents obtained via a Freedom of Information request by CBC News reveal that the cities and towns claimed approximately $850,000 in costs, including lost staff hours and legal and consulting fees by September 2024.
Durham Region, Pickering, Grimsby, Guelph, and Wellington County incurred these expenses due to Ford’s initial decision to allow development in parts of the Greenbelt in 2022, followed by a subsequent reversal of that decision nearly a year later. The briefing note, intended for senior civil servants and the then-Minister of Municipal Affairs Paul Calandra, summarizes the municipalities’ requests and reaffirms the minister’s commitment made a year earlier.
Despite Calandra’s statement in October 2023 about assisting impacted municipalities with planning and staffing costs, the document indicates that proactive outreach to solicit cost submissions had not been conducted by the ministry. The province has not made a decision on reimbursing these municipal costs yet. The government did not respond to inquiries regarding the reimbursement status or the specifics of the minister’s directive to civil servants.
The Greenbelt scandal, which began in 2022 with a plan to open 15 pieces of land for development, was heavily criticized for its rushed process and favoritism towards specific developers. The auditor general estimated that property owners stood to gain $8.3 billion due to the land value increase. Following public backlash, Ford reversed his decision in September 2023, prompting ongoing investigations by the RCMP.
In response to the lack of reimbursement, opposition leaders have condemned the government for publicly committing to repay municipalities but failing to follow through. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner characterized the failure to reimburse as a burden shifting tactic onto local taxpayers, further straining municipalities already facing financial challenges due to provincial downloads. NDP municipal affairs critic Jeff Burch criticized the government’s insincerity in fulfilling its commitment, stressing the importance of supporting municipalities in rectifying the government’s errors.
The communities, including Durham Region, Pickering, Grimsby, Guelph, and Wellington County, detailed their incurred costs in legal fees, staff time, and consulting expenses. Despite promises of compensation, the municipalities confirmed they had not received reimbursements. The discrepancies between the pledged financial support and the lack of action have drawn criticism from various political figures, urging the government to fulfill its promise without further delay.