RCMP interviewing witnesses in Ontario Greenbelt land swap scandal: premier's office
CTV
The RCMP is interviewing witnesses connected to Ontario’s Greenbelt scandal, Premier Doug Ford’s office confirmed to CTV News Toronto on Friday.
The RCMP is interviewing witnesses connected to Ontario’s Greenbelt scandal, Premier Doug Ford’s office confirmed to CTV News Toronto on Friday.
In an email, a spokesperson affirmed that the Ford government has “always said” it would cooperate with the police investigation into the province’s now-scrapped plan to develop parts of the environmentally-sensitive area.
“That cooperation would include the premier and current or former staff conducting interviews as witnesses, which are currently underway. Any further questions should be directed to the RCMP,” the spokesperson said.
At an unrelated news conference on Friday in Thunder Bay, Ont., Ford said his government has “nothing to hide.”
“Come in, do whatever you have to do. Actually, we’re moving on. But I want full cooperation, they know that. Because there’s nothing to hide there. Let’s get going on it.”
Ontario announced its plans to build at least 50,000 new homes on the protected Greenbelt back in November 2022. Then municipal affairs and housing minister Steve Clark said at the time that the government would need to remove 7,400 acres to do so, but that 9,400 acres would be added elsewhere.
Ford had previously said he would leave the land untouched.
