By Pepper Parr
October 31st, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
Relentless describes the manner NDP Leader of the Opposition Marit Stiles is taking to the Greenbelt scandal and the Doug Ford government.
In the most recent NDP media rlease they open with the line: Come for the Ford Wedding and Stay for the MZOs and then add that Ford’s Conservatives issued as many Minister’s Zoning Orders (MZOs) to benefit just the guests at a single Ford family wedding reception as the previous government issued during its entire 15 years in power
“From the Greenbelt grab to forced urban boundary expansions to MZOs, Ford has a deeply troubling pattern of putting his friends ahead of everyone else,” said Stiles. “The Ford Conservatives are already under RCMP criminal investigation for the Greenbelt.
That does not look like a friendly glance from the Premier to Minister Calandra. Is the Premier feeling challenged?
“This is yet more evidence of sketchy land deals that show just how deep this corruption goes. ”
“The former Liberal government issued 18 MZOs between 2003 and 2018.
The Ford government issued 18 MZOs benefiting just the guests at Ford’s daughter’s wedding reception, which took place on September 25, 2022.
“How many times does this government have to get caught before Ontarians see some accountability?” asked Jeff Burch, NDP critic for Municipal Affairs. “With rumours of a further MZO review on the table, we have to wonder – what is Ford afraid of? What else is he trying to get ahead of?”
MZOs are a favourite tool in Ford’s preferential treatment system. They can dramatically increase the value of land with the stroke of a pen, and they often seem to be given out to Conservative Party donors, Ford friends…and Ford family wedding guests.
Who invites wealthy business people to a wedding reception for their daughter?
Apparently these developers got invited – they certainly didn’t crash the event.
They did show up with detailed information packages setting out which of their properties they would like to see being taken out of the Greenbelt where they were protected.
Financial donations to the couple are reported to have been part of their being invited to a Stag and Doe event; something to help them cover the cost of the wedding. What – Dad didn’t have the wherewithal to pick up the tab?.
Mobsters do stuff like that
Premier Doug Ford with his daughter on her wedding day.
There is a photograph of the Premier dancing with his daughter who had just married a police office.
The scene of the crime happened to be the Pearle Spa that is located in the Bridgewater development in Burlington.
Very swish, very well run and very expensive.
The location is superb – you walk out into the court yard area and you have a great view of the Pier, the Skyway and everything in between. Sunsets at this location are beautiful.
A bit of background for those who haven’t been following the hottest news story of the year
On Oct. 6, the Auditor General confirmed it is investigating the government’s use of MZOs, which have disproportionately benefited developers with personal, political or donor ties to Doug Ford and the Conservative Party.
The Provincial Integrity Commissioner and the Auditor General, at the request of the Ontario NDP launched investigations that have have already forced the Ford government to backtrack on its Greenbelt and Urban Boundary plans. Housing Minister Paul Calandra has hinted that a review of MZOs might be next.
