Five municipalities in Ontario, initially promised reimbursement by Premier Doug Ford’s government for expenses related to the Greenbelt controversy, are still awaiting fulfillment of that commitment years later. Critics are denouncing the Progressive Conservatives for reneging on their assurance, with opposition members accusing the province of shifting the financial burden onto local taxpayers in those areas.
Documents acquired through a Freedom of Information request by CBC News reveal that as of September 2024, the cities and towns, including Durham Region, Pickering, Grimsby, Guelph, and Wellington County, claimed approximately $850,000 in costs stemming from lost staff hours, and legal and consulting fees. These expenses were linked to Ford’s initial move to allow development in parts of the Greenbelt in 2022, followed by a subsequent reversal of the decision nearly a year later.
While a statement from then-Minister of Municipal Affairs Paul Calandra in October 2023 reiterated the government’s commitment to assisting impacted municipalities with planning and staffing costs, recent information indicates that little progress has been made towards reimbursement. Despite promises made publicly, the briefing note reveals that the ministry has not actively reached out to municipalities for cost submissions and no decisions have been reached on reimbursing these expenses.
Opposition leaders, including Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner and NDP municipal affairs critic Jeff Burch, have criticized the government for failing to honor its pledge to repay the communities, labeling the lack of reimbursement as a form of financial burden shifting onto local residents. Schreiner highlighted the unfairness of municipalities having to bear the costs of government scandals, while Burch emphasized the importance of fulfilling commitments to support local services without burdening taxpayers.
The communities affected, including Pickering, Durham Region, Grimsby, Guelph, and Wellington County, have confirmed that they have not received the promised reimbursements from the province. Despite the financial impact on these municipalities, Ontario’s budget size suggests that repaying these costs should be feasible and immediate, according to interim Liberal Leader John Fraser. He stressed the significance of upholding commitments made by the government to these communities.