Doug Ford will open the Greenbelt to developers if elected

Video from February of PC leader Doug Ford has environmentalists up in arms. “We’re going to open the greenbelt up, not all of it, but a big chunk of it and start building..”

Today the provincial Liberals pointed it out and Ford responded, confirming that he would open parts of the protected 1.8 million acres of the greenbelt as a way to decrease housing prices.

“The demand for single dwelling homes is huge, but no one can afford them. So we need to start building affordable housing.” Doug Ford.

The video was taken over 3 months ago, but released today by Environment Minister Chris Ballard who says it’s proof that Ford has made secret promises to developers. When asked about his comments today, Ford says any land taken out of the greenbelt would be replaced, however he didn’t explain how that would happen.

The greenbelt extends from the Niagara River to Rice Lake near Peterborough. It was established in 2005 to protect environmentally sensitive land and farmlands from urban development.

Tim Gray, Executive Director of Environmental Defence, released a statement saying the greenbelt does not constrain housing supply or cause high house prices.

“Building monster homes far from cities on estate residential, which is what happens on the greenbelt, is not going to provide three bedrooms condos in Toronto or Hamilton.”

The Environment Minister says the greenbelt protects nearly 2 million acres of valuable land and water and that the Liberals moved to protect it forever.