Political Missteps, and Broken Promises: How Ontario’s Greenbelt is Safe Again

In 2018 Ontario's Premier Doug Ford promised unequivocally that he would never touch Ontario’s Greenbelt. In a shocking reversal, he declared in November 2022 he would be opening up 3,000 hectares of the protected land to development calling it “a failed policy”. 

The Greenbelt currently protects two million acres of land, with 721,000 of that being wetlands, grasslands, and forests. The protected lands serve many functions from protecting at least 79 species at risk and providing everything from ecosystem services, drinking water, and highly productive farmland. With around 3.2 billion dollars in ecosystem services being supplied by the greenbelt each year, a reversal of Ford's promise would result in extreme and costly consequences for both the surrounding environment and communities. Had the premiers plans gone ahead, around 400 hectares of wetlands and woodlots would have been destroyed and 29 already at-risk species would have been threatened. 

So how did Doug Ford's plans get stopped in their tracks?  It started when the process of choosing what sections of the Greenbelt would be developed was shrouded in secrecy and disarray. After inquiries from Ontario's auditor general and integrity commissioner, it was revealed the entire process was being headed by a single one of the administration's members. The political staffer Ryan Amato was found to have been favouring a small group of developers and operating with other public servants under non-disclosure agreements to keep the arrangements secret. When the news broke about these dealings Amato along with four other members of the premiers administration stepped down, including the minister of public and business service delivery and the minister of municipal affairs and housing. This was the beginning of the end for the Greenbelt development plans. 

Once news of the controversy broke everyone from the public, opposition politicians, farmers, and environmental groups protested the development heavily. The fallout from the original decision was limited by numerous resignations and reports. However, there were still reports to be made and investigations to be carried out, namely one by the RCMP to assess the Greenbelt changes. The Progressive Conservative government reversed course under immense pressure from all sides and reversed their decision to allow development of the Greenbelt on September 21st 2023. Although the long-term future of the Greenbelt may be uncertain, it remains protected for now.

The backpedalling of the Greenbelt decision shows the power the public can have when it comes together to advocate for issues in society. Without the immense pressure from all sides the development could have continued on, this is why it's important to be involved in movements you’re passionate or care about. If everyone contributes a small amount to making environmental change it can result in huge outcomes - in this case the reversal of critical policy that would’ve had severe effects on the environment and communities.

SOURCES:

The Narwhal. https://thenarwhal.ca/ford-reverses-greenbelt-decision/

Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/9694836/ontario-greenbelt-promise-timeline/

Greenbelt.ca. https://www.greenbelt.ca/learn