Dear Editor:
A few weeks ago I wrote a letter (Parroting talking points, Aug. 24)in response to an Advertiser article quoting Perth–Wellington MPP Matthew Rae (MPP says government responding to issues raised by Greenbelt report, Aug. 17).
In my letter I took a shot at Wellington–Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott for his lack of a public statement regarding the ongoing scandal over the removal of land from Greenbelt protections. In hindsight I regret doing so and I would like to publicly apologize.
I am quite aware of the tradition in Westminster style parliaments of the neutrality of the House Speaker, which Mr. Arnott is at Queens Park. My remark was gratuitous and did nothing to enhance my argument.
However, the time is fast approaching for each of the PC members of the legislature to ask themselves, “Do I really want to continue to support a premier that puts the interests of a few select developers ahead of those of the majority of Ontarians?”
As to the primary subject of my previous letter, it appears that Doug Ford is now doubling down on his dismantling of the Greenbelt. His appointment of Paul Calandra to replace former minister Steve Clarke would appear to indicate that Mr. Ford has learned nothing from the auditor general’s and the ethic commissioner’s reports.
Although admitting that the process that removed the land was a flawed one, Mr. Calandra is emphatic that there will not be a reversal of that decision.
And Premier Ford just can’t seem to keep his foot out of his mouth. He seems to have absolutely no idea of the purpose behind the creation of the Greenbelt or the lengthy process of public consultations that was followed to arrive at its’ current state. Perhaps he believes that food is something you get from the drive-through window at the local fast food restaurant or that clean water comes out of a plastic bottle. His direction to Calandra to review the entire Greenbelt is nothing more than a backhanded way to further open up the Greenbelt to development.
Ministers of Environment, Parks and Conservation and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs should be aghast at what is taking place. Yet it appears they share Premier Ford’s desire to pave over the entire province with McMansions and four-lane highways.
From the backbench we get silence or rehearsed talking points. Perhaps they have not taken the time to read the AG’s report. Maybe they are unaware that there is already more than enough land outside of the Greenbelt, serviced or more easily serviced, to build the housing units needed to meet their goal of 1.5 million by 2032.
Michael Vasil,
Fergus