Five municipalities that were promised reimbursement by Premier Doug Ford’s government for expenses related to the Greenbelt controversy have yet to receive the funds, according to recent reports. This delay has drawn criticism from opposition MPPs who accuse the Progressive Conservatives of shifting the financial burden onto local taxpayers. Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request reveal that as of September 2024, the cities and towns, including Durham Region, Pickering, Grimsby, Guelph, and Wellington County, claimed approximately $850,000 in costs, covering lost staff hours and legal fees incurred due to Ford’s initial decision to allow Greenbelt development in 2022 and subsequent reversal.
A briefing note addressed to senior civil servants and former Minister of Municipal Affairs Paul Calandra reiterated the government’s commitment to assist municipalities with planning and staffing costs related to the Greenbelt issue. However, the note highlighted that there had been no proactive efforts by the ministry to collect cost submissions from the affected communities, and no reimbursement decisions had been made.
Despite a public pledge by Calandra in October 2023 to review the municipalities’ submitted costs, the communities have not received any reimbursement to date. Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe had previously written to Calandra outlining the municipality’s financial strain due to the Greenbelt situation. While Pickering confirmed not receiving reimbursement, the city did acknowledge receiving funds for new housing projects.
Opposition leaders, including Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner and NDP municipal affairs critic Jeff Burch, criticized the government for failing to honor its promise to reimburse the municipalities. They argued that this lack of payment was akin to downloading costs onto local taxpayers, causing further strain on already tight municipal budgets. Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser emphasized that the amount owed to the communities was insignificant compared to the provincial budget and urged immediate repayment, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling commitments made by the government.
