Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
MoreBack to News Headlines
2nd developer goes to court to avoid questions from Ontario auditor general in Greenbelt probe

2nd developer goes to court to avoid questions from Ontario auditor general in Greenbelt probe

CBC
Thursday, July 13, 2023 8:23 AM GMT

A second prominent Toronto-area developer who owns land that was removed from southern Ontario's protected Greenbelt last year is going to court to avoid answering questions from the province's auditor general.

Michael Rice, CEO of Rice Group, filed a notice of application with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on July 5 seeking to block or delay a summons from Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk that he be interviewed and provide records related to land he owns in the area that is now cleared for development.

Lysyk has been looking at the provincial government's removal of environmental protections from more than 2,995 hectares of land — while adding other land elsewhere — so that 50,000 homes can be built. 

The Greenbelt was created in 2005 to permanently protect agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands from development and covers some 810,000 hectares area of farmland, forest and wetland from Niagara Falls to Peterborough. 

In the court filing that was first reported by The Toronto Star, Rice argues the summons oversteps the auditor general's authority to scrutinize provincial government finances.

"The auditor general's role is not to investigate, audit, and/or examine private citizens under oath, or go on fishing expeditions with respect to their private corporate affairs," the filing says.

Rice's filing came just a week after another developer who benefited from the Greenbelt decision — Silvio De Gasperis — made a similar application. De Gasperis is president of the Vaughan, Ont.-based Tacc Group of companies.

Lysyk's office agreed in January to conduct "certain audit work" related to the so-called Greenbelt land swap in response to a joint call from all three opposition parties.

Opposition politicians and other critics have raised concerns about what developers might have known in advance of the government announcing the policy. Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Housing Minister Steve Clark have denied tipping off developers.

As CBC Toronto first reported, property ownership and corporate records showed several developers bought land in recent years that was either wholly or partly in the Greenbelt — meaning they were fully or partially off limits to development at the time of purchase.

A company controlled by Rice paid $80 million for five parcels of land in the Township of King, located about 50 kilometres north of Toronto, on Sept. 15 last year — less than two months before the Ford government announced sections of that land, which were protected, would be opened for housing and other development. 

At the time, the local council said Rice was willing to provide some of the land for an expansion of a nearby hospital at a "nominal fee."

The auditor general's office requested an interview with Rice in April. Possible topics of discussion, according to the filing, included:

Lawyers for Rice responded in May, saying he would not be able to provide any meaningful information. But the auditor general disagreed, stating Rice could provide "insight that is material to our audit," according to the filing.

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Beauval, Sask., nearly surrounded as massive wildfire grows

The mayor of Beauval, Sask., says the village is nearly surrounded by wildfire, as the massive Muskeg fire continues to burn out of control on three sides of the northern community.

Prince County Hospital's intensive-care unit to reopen in August, administrator confirms

Prince County Hospital in Summerside is preparing to restore two crucial health services next month, reopening its intensive-care unit and resuming in-person oncologist appointments.

Special air quality statement in effect alongside heat warning

Londoners are urged to limit time outdoors on Monday as a special air quality statement is issued on top of an ongoing heat warning.

Trump sets 50-day tariff deadline for Russia to end war in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States will impose "very severe tariffs" on Russia in 50 days if there is no deal to stop the war in Ukraine.

Air quality in Toronto among worst in the world Monday, as Environment Canada issues heat warning

Parts of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are under an air quality warning on Monday alongside an ongoing heat warning in the region, Environment Canada says. 

Hailstorm hits Calgary, residents share photos of the aftermath

A thunderstorm hit Alberta Sunday evening, pelting Calgary and the surrounding area with hail.

Mom credits speech language pathologist for son's recovery from traumatic brain injury

Tonya Ruby credits her 27-year-old son's speech language pathologist for the progress he's made in his recovery from a traumatic brain injury. 

Human Rights Tribunal dismisses complaint over public washroom access in Sudbury, Ont.

A Sudbury, Ont., man says he's disappointed that the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario won't hold a hearing on his complaint regarding the need for 24-hour public access to washrooms for people living on the street.

Halifax tenants in 'precarious housing situations' band together to fight renovictions

Late last year, multiple tenants in small apartment buildings around Halifax got similar letters from their new landlord, stating their leases would soon be terminated. But no reasons were given. 

Moncton man still waiting for a refund 6 months after meter mix-up discovered

After paying the wrong power bill for more than four years and six months after discovering the unusual error, a Moncton man is still waiting for his refund.

Most Quebecers get power back after strong storm rips through many parts of province

The majority of Quebec residents had their power back Monday morning after a strong storm swept across the province Sunday, knocking down power lines and flooding major intersections and buildings.

Revamp of Manitoba's air quality monitoring infrastructure needed for 'smokier future,' says expert

Manitoba is looking to expand the infrastructure it has to monitor air quality, a step experts say is important to better map pollution and its long-term health effects worsened by smoke billowing from wildfires.

'Keep the doors open': As ERs close, doctor speaks out on the challenges of practising in rural Sask.

The senior lead physician of a Saskatchewan Medical Association program that provides help for rural doctors is speaking out on the challenges they face, after a number of temporary rural emergency room closures forced by a shortage of medical professionals in the province. 

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
Alberta Next panel set to begin hearings on public concerns with federal government

Premier Danielle Smith's handpicked panel hearing how to fix relations with the federal government will begin work this week with back-to-back town halls.

Baseball-bat killer who successfully challenged murder parole provision in B.C. court gets life

The B.C. Supreme Court has sentenced a man to life in prison with no parole or 25 years for beating his ex-girlfriend to death with a baseball bat as she slept beside her young daughter in 2021. 

Police in Kensington, P.E.I., shut down municipal building over 'potentially hazardous object'

The municipal building in the central P.E.I. town of Kensington was shut as a precaution on Monday night after someone brought a "potentially hazardous object" to the police force headquartered there. 

N.W.T. gov't slow to act on school lead situation, independent investigation finds

The N.W.T. government was slow to act when it detected lead in school drinking water because two of its departments failed to understand the health implications of the situation, an independent investigation has found. 

Poilievre slams Carney over investment disclosure, says PM needs to sell assets

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is pointing to a list of assets that Prime Minister Mark Carney transferred to a blind trust as evidence that the Liberal leader wasn't being honest with Canadians on the campaign trail. 

Wildfire-related power outages have now hit 6 First Nations in northwestern Ontario

People in Pikangikum First Nation are using the little fuel they have left to shine headlights into their homes as a way to escape the darkness as wildfires continue to damage hydro poles in the region.

'It's terrible': Some Montague business owners feeling the pain from 2nd summer of roadwork

Some businesses in Montague have been seeing fewer customers recently, blaming a second straight summer of roadwork for the loss of shoppers in the eastern P.E.I. community.

Two people behind bogus temp agencies that exploited asylum seekers sentenced to house arrest

Two people accused of running fraudulent temp agencies that exploited asylum seekers in Montreal have been sentenced to house arrest for 10 and 18 months. 

City installing AC units for seniors as Toronto sizzles under another heat warning

As Toronto deals with another heat warning this summer, the city is installing air conditioner units for seniors as part of a new pilot program.

Nunavut coroner investigating after 2 deaths in Igloolik

The Nunavut coroner's office says it's investigating the deaths of two people in Igloolik. 

U.S. helicopter maker settles with families of 6 Canadian military members killed in crash

An American helicopter manufacturer has reached a confidential settlement with the families of six Canadian military members killed in a helicopter crash off the coast of Greece five years ago.

Alberta's measles outbreaks surpass case counts reported for entire U.S.

Alberta has now confirmed more measles cases than the entire United States has reported this year.

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us