Toronto | Traditional territories of the Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewas and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation – Phil Pothen, Environmental Defence’s Ontario Environment Program Manager, is available to provide insight following Housing Minister Clark’s announcement after a report from the province’s Integrity Commissioner found he broke ethics rules when the Ontario government removed land from the Greenbelt.
“Regardless of what personal consequences Minister Clark ultimately faces as a result of his integrity breaches, or the ongoing RCMP investigation, the most important findings are those of the Auditor General regarding the Greenbelt removals themselves. It remains clear that there is no path to restoring Ontario’s reputation that does not begin with reversing the $8.3 billion Greenbelt giveaways in their entirety.”
Who: Phil Pothen, Ontario Environment Program Manager
When: Today, following Minister Clark’s announcement at 12:30 p.m. ET
Where: Toronto, Ontario and available remotely
Background Information:
- The Integrity Commissioner’s investigation was limited to the personal conduct of Minister Clark and government officials. The Auditor General report had already revealed the incurable problems with the decision to remove Greenbelt land at all.
- There are 59,000 hectares of land designated for development in the GTHA alone, without including the 3,000 hectares removed from the Greenbelt. If some of the lands were developed at even the modest densities of Toronto’s Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood, only 15,000 hectares would be needed to house the population projected for the region by 2051. See more at: https://environmentaldefence.ca/the-big-sprawl-the-gtha-has-more-than-enough-land-designated-for-development/
- Ontarians know that we can build homes in cities and towns where we already have services and where public transit and walkability lead to lower costs and higher quality of life. In fact, a new public opinion poll conducted by Environics for the Alliance for a Livable Ontario shows that 83 per cent of Ontario residents want homes built within cities and towns where services exist – and not on the Greenbelt. They also do not find the Ontario government credible on the issue of land supply and housing.
- Read more in our statement: https://environmentaldefence.ca/2023/08/30/statement-on-the-integrity-commissioners-findings/
About ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (www.environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
-30-
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: Daniella Zanchi, dzanchi@environmentaldefence.ca
