Ontario Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake recently issued an inquiry report against Ontario Housing Minister Steve Clark concerning alleged violations of his integrity tied to the ongoing Ontario Greenbelt scandal.
Clark found himself in a position of conflict of interest, using insider information to favor certain developers concerning the coveted Greenbelt land. The wake concluded with a recommendation for the Ontario Legislative Assembly to impose a reprimand and initiate a review of the established procedures in the Greenbelt Act.
The investigation also highlighted Clark’s appointed chief of staff, Ryan Amato, for his role in the release of privileged information to developers. He was notably proactive in obtaining information from particular developers and was a leading figure in choosing properties for removal from the Greenbelt. Amato’s actions, coupled with Clark’s lack of oversight, contributed primarily to the inappropriate advancement of developers’ private interests.
Clark was found to have violated the conflict of interest provision by adopting a hasty and reckless process, which was a misinterpretation of some mandate letters from a policy team within the Premier’s office. The goal was to increase the housing supply, but Clark neglected to supervise this essential initiative adequately. Moreover, he failed to question Amato or the deputy minister before taking the proposal to the cabinet. These shortcomings led to a breach of the conflict of interest provision.
The office of the Integrity Commissioner launched the investigation into the Greenbelt scandal in March and finalized it in five months. There were 61 witnesses, including Premier Doug Ford. Despite Clark’s claim of being unaware of the process, the investigation revealed that his negligence played a significant role in the unfortunate outcomes. Considering Clark had never previously been the subject of an inquiry under the Members’ Integrity Act, Wake concluded a reprimand, along with the political repercussions, would suffice as a penalty.
The Greenbelt Act’s implementation in 2005 had established the Ontario Greenbelt, covering approximately 2 million acres of private and public lands around the Greater Toronto Area. The Act’s primary objective is to prevent urban sprawl by preserving farmland and the region’s natural heritage.