Ontario Housing Minister Steve Clark resigns amid Greenbelt land swap controversy

OntarioMunicipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark hasresignedfrom cabinetafter weeks of pushback from political opponents, First Nations leadersand residents following multiple investigations into his ministry's handling of the Greenbelt land swaps.

His resignation comesafter Ontario's integrity commissioner investigated his conduct and recommended Clark be reprimanded, saying hefailed to properly oversee the process that led to protected Greenbelt lands being selected for housing development.

Weeks earlier, the province's auditor general found the process for choosing which parcels of land would be open for housing development was heavilyinfluenced by a small group of well-connected developerswho stand to make billions of dollars.

In a letter posted Monday morning addressed to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Clark said he tried to "fulfilthe mandate of getting more homes built" for the people of Ontario.

"Although my initial thought was that I could stay in this role and establish a proper process so that these mistakes don't happen again, I realize that my presence will only cause a further distraction from the important work that needs to be done and that I need to take accountability for what has transpired," Clark wrote in a post onX, formerly known as Twitter.

"As such, please accept my resignation as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. I will continue to serve my constituents as the MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes."

Ontario's Greenbelt was initially created in 2005 to permanently protect agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands from falling victim to urban sprawl.

The Ford government removed about2,995 hectares of land from the Greenbelt in December,while adding more land elsewhere,to build 50,000 homes.The Progressive Conservative government has said the land swaps were necessary to help them fulfil their promise of building 1.5 million homes in the next decade amid a housing crisis.

The move has been condemned by residents, environmental advocacy groups and First Nations leaders alike, saying there wasa lack of meaningful consultation and no need to open up Greenbelt land to meet the government's goal,as previously noted by the Ford government'shand-picked Housing Affordability Task Force.

Premier accepts, opposition supports resignation

Clark's departurecomes after his chief of staff, Ryan Amato,tendered his resignation. The province's auditor general found the politicalstaffer selected 14 ofthe 15 sites that were ultimately removed from the Greenbelt, and the majority were chosen after suggestions from developerswho lobbied him personally.

Ford, who initiallysaid Clark wouldkeep his job following both investigations,thanked him for his years of service in cabinet.

"As Ontario grows, our government is on a mission to build at least 1.5 million homes," Ford said in a post on X. He made no other mention of Clark's resignation.

"After decades of inaction, we're seeing real results: 2022 and 2021 had the most housing starts in 30 years. Our work won't stop."

WATCH | Greenbelt controversy not 'ending anytime soon,' says NDP Leader Marit Stiles:

Trust in Ontario government 'sorely lacking' over Greenbelt land swap, opposition leader says

11 months ago

Duration 5:17

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles reacts to the resignation of Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark from cabinet after weeks of pushback regarding multiple investigations into his ministry's handling of the Greenbelt land swaps.

Ontario NDPLeader Marit Stiles said Clark "finally did the right thing" but added that there arestill others who need to be held to account.

"We've been calling for this for weeks, and I'm glad to see that he's finally stepped down," Stiles toldCBC Toronto. "That's important. It's time now, though, that the premier took some responsibility."

Stiles is calling for the Ontario Legislature to be recalled to return the removed lands to the Greenbelt.

"This process was dirty," Stilessaid. "The only way they climb back from this is returning the land to the Greenbelt, and then we can talk about how we change governments."

John Fraser, interim leader of the OntarioLiberals, and Green PartyLeader Mike Schreiner echoed similar calls in public statements.

"What needs to happen next is the premier needs to open the books on the Greenbelt land swaps and waive cabinet privilege as it relates to this decision," Fraser said.

"The premier keeps assuring us the buck stops with him. It's time for him to step up and prove it," Schreiner said.

WATCH |Ford 'clearly implicated' in Greenbelt controversy, NDP leader says:

Doug Ford 'clearly implicated' in Greenbelt controversy, Ontario opposition leader says

11 months ago

Duration 2:47

Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles discusses the allegations of unregistered lobbying and other potential lobbying violations related to the Greenbelt land swap by 'Mr. X,' who sources identified to CBC News as former Clarington, Ont., mayor John Mutton. 'This deal is really very dirty,' Stiles said on Saturday.

Muchof the land removed from the Greenbelt is covered by treaties with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nationand the 1923 Williams Treaties, of which seven other First Nations are party, according to Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk's report into the land swaps. Those treaties includeharvesting rights in certain areas, such as rights to hunt, fish, trap and gather.

Chief Laurie Carr of the Hiawatha First Nation, one of the signatoriesto the Williams Treaties, was glad to see Clark resign but says the land needs to be returned to the Greenbelt.

"Then we can talk about a relationship and a partnership moving forward," Carr said.

Resignation just the beginning, advocates say

Advocates who vocally opposedthe Greenbelt land swaps reiteratedsentiments shared by opposition partieson Monday.

Phil Pothen, Ontario program manager with advocacy group Environmental Defence, said Clark's resignation isjust the first step.

"While the minister'sresignation and the premier's decision to accept it is entirely predictable as an attempt at damage control, there's no substitute for actually reversing the Greenbelt removals themselves," PothentoldCBC Toronto.

He said for the next housing minister to prove they have integrity, the governmentneeds to reverse the swaps.

In August,Stop Sprawl Durham organized a protest where hundreds demandedprotection for the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve, which was removed from the Greenbelt.

Abdullah Mir, Stop Sprawl's co-chair, saidthe issue won't go away until all Greenbelt lands are returned.

"The dominoes will keep falling and we're not going to stop," he said. "People are not forgetting about it. We will not forget about it."