What to know
- Marit Stiles marked the 1,000th day of the RCMP’s Greenbelt investigation with a cake criticizing Premier Doug Ford.
- The RCMP launched its investigation in October 2023 into allegations surrounding the Ford government’s Greenbelt land swap.
- Stiles said the investigation has become part of Ford’s political legacy and accused him of undermining government transparency.
- The Ontario premier reversed the Greenbelt land removals after widespread public backlash and scrutiny.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles is marking the 1,000th day of the RCMP’s ongoing Greenbelt investigation by taking aim at Premier Doug Ford with a cake and criticism of his government.
In a social media post Wednesday, Stiles shared a photo of a cake decorated with the message: “Doug, Happy 1000th day under criminal investigation.”
She captioned the post: “When it comes to corruption, Doug Ford takes the cake.”
The RCMP launched its investigation in October 2023 into allegations surrounding the Ford government’s decision to remove portions of Ontario’s Greenbelt from protected status as part of its plan to build 1.5 million homes by 2031.
The government later reversed course, restoring protections to the roughly 7,400 acres of Greenbelt land that had been slated for development.
Stiles says investigation is part of Ford’s legacy
In a media release issued Wednesday, Stiles said the prolonged RCMP investigation has become a defining part of Ford’s time in office.
“Not making groceries cheaper, not fixing our health care; but scandals, corruption, and criminal investigations. The worst part is he’s learned nothing,” Stiles said.
She also criticized the Ford government’s recent changes to Ontario’s Freedom of Information (FOI) rules, arguing they reduce transparency by allowing the premier and cabinet ministers to withhold certain office records, including phone records.
“Doug Ford’s fear of transparency is so deep that he changed Freedom of Information laws, the same ones that helped unearth the Greenbelt scandal, to cover up his phone records, and whatever else he’s hiding,” Stiles said.
Stiles said she remains confident in the RCMP’s investigation and questioned why the premier continues to resist transparency.
“Ontarians need to know if they can trust him. If there’s nothing to hide, why does Doug Ford keep jumping through hoops to hide things?” she said.
