The shadow of Ontario’s Greenbelt controversy has grown longer this week as opposition New Democrats demand criminal investigation into what they describe as a “coordinated effort” to delete crucial government communications about the contentious land development plan.
NDP ethics critic Catherine Fife sent a formal letter Tuesday to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, requesting immediate investigation into potential violations of federal laws regarding the systematic deletion of emails and other electronic records related to the Ford government’s Greenbelt land swap decision.
“When multiple senior staffers and political appointees delete electronic records discussing government business to avoid scrutiny, this isn’t just concerning—it represents a fundamental breach of public trust,” Fife said during a press conference at Queen’s Park.
The request comes after Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner, Patricia Kosseim, released a scathing report last August that found senior staff in Housing Minister Steve Clark’s office had “illegally deleted” records about the controversial decision to remove land from the protected Greenbelt for development. Clark eventually resigned following the revelations.
According to Kosseim’s findings, staff had intentionally circumvented record-keeping requirements through various tactics, including manual deletion of emails, use of code names, and communicating through encrypted messaging platforms—all apparent attempts to evade public oversight mechanisms.
Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly maintained that no criminal activity occurred, characterizing the issue as one of “process failures” rather than intentional wrongdoing. The Premier’s Office released a statement responding to the NDP’s request, saying: “This matter has been thoroughly investigated by the appropriate provincial authorities, who have jurisdiction in these matters.”
However, legal experts suggest the systematic deletion could potentially violate federal statutes. Criminal lawyer Michael Spratt notes that “if there was coordinated destruction of records to obstruct justice or public accountability processes, that could indeed cross into territory covered by the Criminal Code of Canada.”
The Ford government faced intense criticism after announcing plans in 2022 to remove approximately 7,400 acres from the protected Greenbelt for housing development. The decision sparked public outrage that intensified after investigations revealed that certain well-connected developers had purchased Greenbelt land shortly before the government’s announcement, raising questions about potential insider information.
After months of sustained pressure, Premier Ford reversed course in September 2023, announcing all land would be returned to the Greenbelt. Despite this reversal, opposition parties and environmental watchdogs continue to press for accountability regarding the decision-making process and subsequent handling of records.
Constitutional lawyer Emmett Macfarlane from the University of Waterloo observed that “record-keeping requirements exist precisely to ensure transparency in government decision-making. When those requirements are systematically circumvented, it raises serious questions about whether officials were attempting to hide improper conduct.”
As pressure mounts for federal involvement, the controversy raises fundamental questions about government transparency and accountability. At what point does administrative misconduct cross the threshold into potentially criminal behavior, and who ultimately bears responsibility when systems designed to ensure public oversight appear to have been deliberately undermined?
