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The RCMP announced Tuesday it has launched a criminal investigation into Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s plan to open up Greenbelt land for development.
“Following a referral from the Ontario Provincial Police, the RCMP O Division’s Sensitive and International Investigations (SII) unit has now launched an investigation into allegations associated to the decision from the Province of Ontario to open parts of the Greenbelt for development,” RCMP Cpl. Christy Veenstra said in a statement Tuesday.
It added that no further updates will be provided at this time to ensure that the investigation process leads to a “fair and proper” outcome.
“While we recognize that this investigation is of significant interest to Canadians, the RCMP has a duty to protect the integrity of the investigations that it carries out.”
The criminal probe comes after the province removed land from the protected Greenbelt last year as part of its broader push to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.
Two legislative watchdogs found the process to select which lands were removed from the Greenbelt was flawed and favoured certain developers.
Last month, Ford walked back his plan to remove large swaths of land from the protected Greenbelt following weeks of public pressure and the resignation of two ministers. He apologized for the land swap and said the lands would all be returned to the Greenbelt.
Ford has also previously said he is confident nothing criminal took place.
The criminal probe comes after OPP said in August that the force had asked the Mounties to decide whether an investigation is warranted, in order to “avoid any potential perceived conflict of interest.”
On Tuesday, Ford’s office said it will cooperate fully with any investigation.
“We have zero tolerance for any wrongdoing and expect anyone involved in the decision-making about the Greenbelt lands to have followed the letter of the law,” a statement from his office reads.
“Out of respect for the police and their process, we will not be commenting further at this time.”
Probe ‘key’ to delivering justice, accountability
Meanwhile, Ontario Greens leader and Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner said the probe is “key to delivering the justice and accountability Ontarians deserve.
“I am pleased to hear that the RCMP is investigating the corrupt process that saw a few wealthy, well-connected land speculators cash in $8.3 billion on Ontario’s Greenbelt,” Scheiner said Tuesday.
“Ontario Greens have repeatedly called for a police investigation to repair the harm done by Ford’s Greenbelt giveaway and restore Ontarians’ trust. But there are still many unanswered questions that have significant implications on the way we govern in this province.”
Similarly, John Fraser, interim leader of the Ontario Liberals, called the move “good news.
”Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and we need to get to the bottom of why a handful of the Premier’s friends and fundraisers were given the inside track for an $8.3 billion windfall,” Fraser said.
”All roads lead to the Premier’s office. There is no way that in a scandal of this size, one rookie chief of staff was the mastermind behind it.”
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