Ontario is reversing its decision to open the Greenbelt to developers after two cabinet ministers resigned amid controversy over the land.
“I made a promise to you that I wouldn’t touch the Greenbelt. I broke that promise and for that I’m very, very sorry,” Ford said in a press conference Thursday afternoon.
“It was a mistake to open the Greenbelt, it was a mistake to establish a process that moved too fast. This process, it left too much room for some people to benefit over others. It caused people to question our motives,” he added.
“As a first step to earn back your trust, I’ll be reversing the changes we made and won’t make any changes to the Greenbelt in the future because even if you do something for the right reasons with the best of intentions it can still be wrong.”
In 2005, the Greenbelt was established to protect farmland, the environment, and limit urban sprawl. It encircles the Greater Golden Horseshoe region and constitutes about two million acres.
The news comes after MPP Kaleed Rasheed, Ontario’s minister of public and business service delivery, resigned from his position and the PC caucus on Wednesday after documents showed contradicting accounts of a Las Vegas trip that was investigated as part of the integrity commissioner’s investigation into the Greenbelt land deals.
Rasheed has said that he resigned to avoid being a distraction and said that he is looking forward to “taking the steps required” to clear his name, according to CP24.
The premier’s office has said that if the integrity commissioner clears Rasheed, he will be “provided an opportunity to return to caucus,” CP24 said. Until then, he will sit as an independent.
Ontario Housing Minister Steve Clark also stepped down earlier this month after the integrity commissioner found he violated ethics rules while overseeing the Greenbelt land removals.
READ MORE: ‘I’m here to accept responsibility,’ Steve Clark apologizes for greenbelt misconduct
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said “today is a real victory for Ontarians,” but that Ford isn’t off the hook yet.
“This whole scandal has pulled back the curtain on a government all too comfortable making backroom deals. Ford has a lot more questions to answer. But for now, today is a real victory for Ontarians who demanded better and held their government to account,” she tweeted.
Toronto’s former chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat also reacted to the news on Twitter saying Ford’s apology has been accepted.
“We have been heard. Apology accepted. Let’s go back to creating a dense, transit-oriented region and Province where everyone has access to housing,” she tweeted.
