Reversal follows climbdown on Greenbelt changes that are subject to RCMP probe
Paul Calandra, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing prepares to take questions from journalists at Queen's Park in Toronto on Oct. 16, 2023.The Ontario government is reversing its contentious move to force a long list of municipalities to extend their urban boundaries and earmark thousands of hectares of farmland for potential development – the latest climbdown since the province rescinded its carveouts of protected Greenbelt land for housing amid a police probe.
He told reporters he would introduce legislation as soon has he can to reverse the decisions the government imposed on official plans submitted by Barrie, Belleville, Guelph, Hamilton, Ottawa and Peterborough, as well as the regions of Halton, Niagara, Peel Waterloo, York and Wellington County. Anywhere construction has already started would be exempt, he said. Municipalities will have 45 days to submit any further amendments they would like to make to their own plans.
“In some instances I just think there was too much involvement from the minister’s office, individuals working in the minister’s office,” Mr. Calandra told reporters of the official plan changes. Mr. Calandra’s predecessor, Mr. Clark, resigned after the Integrity Commissioner ruled he had violated ethics rules for failing to supervise his chief-of-staff, Ryan Amato, who put forward almost all of the Greenbelt land selected after meeting with prominent developers in what the commissioner called a “chaotic” process. Mr. Amato, who also oversaw the official plan process, has also resigned.
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