Ontario Housing Minister Resigns Over Controversial Greenbelt Project: Premier Appoints New Minister

 

Following charges of improper influence with the Greenbelt project, Ontario Housing Minister Steve Clark resigned. The resignation of the minister comes after controversy over the Green Belt project, which was made in favor of select developers in an opaque manner. Clark stated in a statement that the Greenbelt decision and following investigations had diverted attention away from the ministry's efforts to solve the affordable housing problem. Earlier, the minister's chief of staff quit as well. 

The Greenbelt report found that the government and the Chief of Staff had favored some developers for construction activities on protected land, ignoring the economic and environmental impacts. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has reshuffled the cabinet following the resignation of Steve Clark. Paul Calandra, the long-term care minister, has been appointed as the new housing minister. Stan Cho will be the long-term care minister. Prabmeet Sarkaria is the new Transportation Minister.