RCMP launches investigation into Ontario’s controversial Greenbelt land swap deal

The RCMP says it has launched an investigation into the cancelled Greenbelt land swap in Ontario by Doug Ford’s Conservatives.

The Mounties says it “sensitive and international investigations” unit is leading the probe into the controversial and now-scrapped land deal that saw a handful of landowners stand to gain some $8.3 billion in profits.

The province removed land from the protected Greenbelt last year as part of its broader push to build 1.5 million homes by 2031, with Premier Doug Ford citing the housing crisis and rising immigration numbers as justification for the move.

Two legislative watchdogs found the process to select which lands were removed from the Greenbelt was flawed and favoured certain developers.

The controversial plan came under fire from environmentalists, politicians and Ontario residents, and scathing reports from the auditor general and integrity commissioner said the housing minister’s chief of staff favoured certain developers over others when selecting which lands would come out of the Greenbelt.

Premier Doug Ford has apologized for the land swap and said in September the lands would all be returned to the Greenbelt, and has repeatedly said he is confident nothing criminal took place.

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The scandal led to the resignation of Housing Minister Steve Clark, who has been replaced by Markham—Stouffville MP Paul Calandra, as well as Clark’s chief of staff Ryan Amato, director of the premier’s housing policy office Jae Truesdell, and Mississauga East-Cooksville MPP Kaleed Rasheed.