Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark has resigned from cabinet after weeks of pushback from political opponents, First Nations leaders and residents following multiple investigations into his ministry’s handling of the Greenbelt land swaps.
His resignation comes after Ontario’s integrity commissioner investigated his conduct and recommended Clark be reprimanded, saying he failed to properly oversee the process that led to protected Greenbelt lands being selected for housing development.
In a letter posted Monday morning addressed to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Clark said he tried to “fulfil the 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 on X, 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 housing minister has resigned, but critics say Greenbelt controversy far from over
CBC Toronto’s Ali Chiasson unpacks the reaction to Steve Clark’s resignation, with opposition parties calling for a deeper probe into how the Greenbelt land swaps came to be.
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 about 2,995 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.
As someone who has given my life to serving the people through our democratic institutions, it is my responsibility to adhere to the principles of Ministerial accountability. I will continue to serve my constituents as the MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes <a href=”https://t.co/5VvUMB43gi”>pic.twitter.com/5VvUMB43gi</a>
Clark’s departure comes after his chief of staff, Ryan Amato, tendered his resignation. The province’s auditor general found the political staffer selected 14 of the 15 sites that were ultimately removed from the Greenbelt, and the majority were chosen after suggestions from developers who lobbied him personally.
“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.”
Trust in Ontario government ‘sorely lacking’ over Greenbelt land swap, opposition leader says
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 NDP Leader Marit Stiles said Clark “finally did the right thing” but added that there are still 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 told CBC 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,” Stiles said. “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 Ontario Liberals, and Green Party Leader 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.
Doug Ford ‘clearly implicated’ in Greenbelt controversy, Ontario opposition leader says
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.
Much of the land removed from the Greenbelt is covered by treaties with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and 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 include harvesting rights in certain areas, such as rights to hunt, fish, trap and gather.
Chief Laurie Carr of the Hiawatha First Nation, one of the signatories to 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 opposed the Greenbelt land swaps reiterated sentiments shared by opposition parties on Monday.
Phil Pothen, Ontario program manager with advocacy group Environmental Defence, said Clark’s resignation is just the first step.
“While the minister’s resignation 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,” Pothen told CBC Toronto.
He said for the next housing minister to prove they have integrity, the government needs to reverse the swaps.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, right, listens as Clark speaks during a media conference in Mississauga, Ont., on Aug. 11. Clark resigned his cabinet post on Monday following weeks of pressure from opposition parties and residents over his ministry’s handling of the Greenbelt land swaps. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press)
In August, Stop Sprawl Durham organized a protest where hundreds demanded protection for the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve, which was removed from the Greenbelt.
Abdullah Mir, Stop Sprawl’s co-chair, said the 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.”
OTTAWA – The pressing issues of climate change and food security join more familiar ones like violent extremism and espionage on a new list of Canada’s intelligence priorities.
The federal government says publishing the list of priorities for the first time is an important step toward greater transparency.
The government revises the priorities every two years, based on recommendations from the national security adviser and the intelligence community.
Once the priorities are reviewed and approved by the federal cabinet, key ministers issue directives to federal agencies that produce intelligence.
Among the priorities are the security of global health, food, water and biodiversity, as well as the issues of climate change and global sustainability.
The new list also includes foreign interference and malign influence, cyberthreats, infrastructure security, Arctic sovereignty, border integrity and transnational organized crime.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette returned to the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a right middle finger fracture.
The move, retroactive to Wednesday, essentially ends an injury-plagued season for Bichette.
He had two hits and one RBI in a 13-8 loss to Texas on Tuesday in his return from a 52-game stint on the IL with a right calf strain.
Bichette also missed nine games due to the calf issue in June.
His latest injury was suffered Wednesday during infield practice. Bichette was a late scratch in a 2-0 loss to the Rangers.
Bichette hit four homers with 31 RBIs in 81 games this season. He posted a .225 batting average and a .322 slugging percentage.
The Blue Jays also recalled outfielder Jonatan Clase from Triple-A Buffalo. He was active for the series finale against the Rangers on Thursday afternoon, the team said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
Falcons wide receiver Drake London was penalized after catching a touchdown pass in the final minute of Atlanta’s 22-21 victory in Philadelphia on Monday night for pretending to shoot in the air, a violation of a longstanding NFL rule that prohibits violent gestures.
London immediately apologized on the sideline, according to Falcons coach Raheem Morris, and did it publicly on Wednesday.
“There’s a lot of stuff going around in the world with gun violence that I don’t think I should have displayed there,” London told reporters. “So, I’m not too happy with it, and (you) probably won’t see that again from me.”
The NFL has strict rules for celebrations and players are reminded annually that violations will result in unsportsmanlike penalties.
London’s 7-yard TD catch on a pass from Kirk Cousins tied the score at 21-21. His penalty pushed the extra point back 15 yards but Younghoe Koo made it from 48 yards out to give Atlanta a lead and Jessie Bates intercepted Jalen Hurts’ pass on the ensuing drive to seal the victory.
“We approach player celebrations as expressions of exuberance that are part of the excitement of the game. Rules were modified in 2017 that permitted group celebrations, including choregraphed demonstrations. Offensive demonstrations, celebrations that are prolonged and delay the game, and those directed at an opponent are still penalized,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement. “Players are reminded annually and it’s part of the player manual that demonstrations that constitute taunting or unsportsmanlike conduct, or delays the game, will result in a foul against his team.
“Also prohibited acts that occur anywhere on the field or sideline include longtime prohibitions against throat slash; machine gun salute; sexually suggestive gestures; or stomping or demonstrations on a team logo.”
London’s celebration came 12 days after four people were killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School near Winder, Georgia. The Falcons hosted the school’s football team at their practice facility last week.
