Marit Stiles suggests Doug Ford could end up ‘in prison’ over Greenbelt public inquiry

Opposition Leader Marit Stiles recently took a dab a Premier Doug Ford, suggesting he could end up “in prison” if a public inquiry revealed his government’s “dirty deals,” citing concerns over the Billy Bishop airport expansion, a recent jet purchase, Freedom of Information (FOI) law changes, and the Greenbelt scandal. 

Stiles made the comments during a media scrum at Queen’s Park on Monday, while speaking on the recent FOI law changes, which could leave the public without access to documents regarding the Ford government’s recent purchase and sale of a private jet and Greenbelt development. 

“I know he doesn’t want to provide answers about the luxury jet and how much it really cost, and what happened there…” Stiles told reporters. “I was asking the questions about the Greenbelt, and he was willing to pass laws to make it impossible for journalists or the public, or ourselves in the opposition, to find out why decisions were made, or who’s influencing his decisions.”

“But listen, don’t worry about it, Doug. Because when I’m premier, I’m going to call a public inquiry into all of this, and we’re gonna get our hands on all of that. And you know what, maybe you won’t get another mandate because you will be in prison,” Stiles continued. 

The opposition leader emphasized her criticism of the provincial government passing a bill to change FOI laws, allowing Ford and his ministers to keep certain records, including office and phone records, from being revealed. She suggested that the provincial government would be “hiding all this information from the people of Ontario.” 

When asked whether she believed saying the premier could go to prison was crossing a line, Stiles said a potential investigation on the government could reveal “dirty deals” and doubled down, saying she believes the premier is corrupt. 

“I think that when we call a public inquiry…I think a lot of terrible stuff is going to come out. Why is the premier hiding all of this information from the people of Ontario?” she questioned. “Why doesn’t he want anybody to know what’s on his phone? Because there’s dirty dealings around the Greenbelt.”

“I feel like I’ve said before that I think the premier is corrupt. I think he’s made some dirty deals. I think it’s pretty clear.” 

Ford says the province unveiled documents to the RCMP

In 2022, the Ontario government announced it would remove Greenbelt environmental protections from a large portion of land to allow for development. 

After investigations by the integrity commissioner and auditor general found the decision had been influenced by developers, the premier apologized and passed legislation to restore the land. 

However, in 2023, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) launched a criminal investigation over the decision. The investigation is still ongoing, with Ford revealing on Monday that the province has now submitted records to the RCMP. 

“To every agency that’s ever asked, it’s all been transparent, we’ve given them everything they need,” Ford said to reporters.

Speaking about the investigation, Stiles also said she’d be “very surprised” if nothing comes from it, and hopes the RCMP “gets everything they need” to complete it. 

“There might very well be charges laid. Absolutely. Look, other governments have had people end up behind bars for less than this,” she added. 

Stiles raises concerns over Billy Bishop expansion, jet purchase

During the media scrum, Stiles also said she has heard from Toronto residents who are “appalled” by the Ford government’s push to take over the waterfront for an expansion of the Billy Bishop airport. 

Ontario’s Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria recently brought forward a plan for the province to take over the City of Toronto’s place in a Tripartite Agreement over the airport’s property. The proposal comes as Ford has revealed plans to expand the airport to accommodate jets. 

Stiles called the decision “out of touch” and said she has written to Prime Minister Mark Carney to step in and stop the plan. 

“He is obsessed with Toronto because he never got to be mayor, and he thinks he can make himself king now. It’s not acceptable. And I’ve asked the prime minister, actually, to step in because I think that this outrageous overage from the premier needs to stop,” she said. 

The opposition leader said she has yet to hear back from Carney about her inquiry. 

Now Toronto reached out to Ford’s office for a comment on Stiles’ remarks, but has not received a response in time for publication.