“People power, investigative journalism and a strong and relentless Opposition helped save the Greenbelt – but the people of Ontario are still waiting for the truth.” – Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles
A News Release from Ontario’s NDP Leader Marit Styies
Posted October 9th, 2024 on Niagara At Large
QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, Ontario NDP leader, remains focused on holding Ford and his government to account for their corrupt Greenbelt scheme one year into the RCMP’s criminal investigation. Stiles is raising new questions following the Toronto Star’s report (https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/heres-who-rcmps-greenbelt-investigators-are-interviewing-and-the-one-question-theyre-asking-everyone/article_ca253e66-826b-11ef-9a9c-03229f619fd1.html) on the investigation.
“People power, investigative journalism and a strong and relentless Opposition helped save the Greenbelt – but the people of Ontario are still waiting for the truth,” said Stiles. “There is still so much we don’t know about this mess. Reports that the RCMP is investigating potential bank accounts in Europe show that the extent of this corruption may be bigger than anyone thought.
An apology is not enough, Doug Ford needs to come clean about his role in this scheme to rob Ontarians of the Greenbelt to enrich a wealthy few.”
Background:
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* In November 2022, Ontario NDP and Marit Stiles asked the Auditor General’s office to investigate (https://www.ontariondp.ca/news/stiles-asks-auditor-general-investigate-ford-s-greenbelt-carve) the proposed removal of land from the Greenbelt, as well as the 4,500 acres of the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve (DRAP) Lands

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles
- * On December 9, 2022 (https://www.ontariondp.ca/news/ndp-ramps-fight-hold-ford-accountable-greenbelt-carve) , Stiles filed a complaint with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner to offer an opinion on whether the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing or his Chief of Staff violated the Members’ Integrity Act or regulations on ongoing lobbying efforts
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* On January 11 2023, Stiles and fellow Opposition leaders requested an investigation from the Auditor General’s office (https://www.ontariondp.ca/news/stiles-and-fellow-opposition-leaders-ask-auditor-assess-financial-and-environmental-impacts) on the environmental impact of removing the Greenbelt lands and renewed Stiles’ call for a value-for-money audit

Pushing to pave pave more of our paradise, even at a time of climate crisis
- * On January 18, 2023, Stiles filed a complaint with the Office of the Integrity Commissioner (https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-integrity-commissioner-investigation1.6718018) to offer an opinion on whether the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing or his Chief of Staff violated the Members’ Integrity Act or regulations on ongoing lobbying efforts
- * On August 9, 2023, Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk released her special report on the Greenbelt
- * On August 16, 2023, Stiles asked the Integrity Commissioner to consider the findings in the Auditor General’s report, specifically regarding the use of personal emails by political staff

Ford Government and its friends in development industry have partnered in paving over what Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called “chunks” our world-renown Greenbelt, The Greenbelt, shown here in darker and lighter shades of green, runs from the GTA, around Lake Ontario, and through norht Niagara to the Niagara River
NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.
“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders
Even Geoffrey Hinton, U of T prof, who won the Nobel Prize for AI this week slams Doug Ford for his lack of scientific data —- which included the in the dark of night, destroying hundreds of trees at the once beloved Ontario Place. – Gail Benjafield
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