TI Canada responds to the Ontario Auditor General's special report on the Greenbelt

TI Canada concerned with lack of transparency in proposed changes to the Greenbelt uncovered in Ontario AG Report  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Toronto, August 16, 2023 - Transparency International Canada (TI Canada) is concerned with the findings in the Ontario Auditor General’s special report on changes to the Greenbelt. TI Canada is a staunch proponent of the need for transparency in government processes and that matters such as these should be conducted in a consultative manner.  

The OAG’s report raises specific concerns about the zoning decisions and the undisclosed beneficiaries of these decisions. It concluded that “that the lands removed from the Greenbelt in December 2022 were not chosen using an objective and transparent selection process.” In addition, the report states that “at least 92% of the acreage removed from the Greenbelt was from five land sites passed on from two developers (which included a land site associated with a third developer) who had direct access to the Housing Minister’s Chief of Staff.” 

The OAG identified the failure to use codified criteria to select the sites for removal from the Greenbelt as a serious flaw in the process. The OAG’s report notes that the criteria were amended as the process went on, and that assessments did not consider financial impacts such as serviceability costs, taxation implications, or land value impacts. Environmental and agricultural impacts were not effectively considered either.  

TI Canada recognises the importance of addressing the housing crisis, but this should be done in a transparent, consultative manner. When decisions of this magnitude are made in an opaque fashion, it undermines trust in the democratic process and can lead to sub-optimal decisions.  

TI Canada welcomes the Premier’s decision to call on the Ontario Integrity Commissioner to investigate the Greenbelt process and to obtain more facts about it. While we await the findings of the Ontario Integrity Commissioner, we urge the government to ensure that decision making processes are transparent and do not compromise on principles of integrity. 

For media inquiries or further information, please contact: 

Noah Arshinoff 

Interim Executive Director 
Transparency International Canada 
+1 416 488 3939 
noah.arshinoff@transparencycanada.ca  

About Transparency International Canada: 
Transparency International Canada is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in Canada and around the world. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, Transparency International Canada works towards a more transparent and corruption-free society.