Ontario’s Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark announced he is resigning today, Monday, September 4, 2023.
Clark has been embroiled in controversy over his handling of lands comprising part of Ontario’s Greenbelt and questions about how the lands were selected for housing developments, and the relationship between the provincial government and benefitting developers.
Clark posted a letter of his resignation addressed to Ontario Premier Doug Ford on his X (formerly Twitter) account. In the letter, Clark says he needs to take responsibility for what has transpired during his watch as Housing Minister and said he’s become a distraction from the important work that needs to be done to build more housing.
“In a parliamentary democracy, the Parliament is supreme, and the legislature will determine my ultimate reprimand, he wrote.” Clark also stated he will continue to serve as the MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.
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He’s come a long way since the buck a beer promise.
Looks like we’re getting closer to needing another “in defense of” commentary. It’s beginning to look like Canadian forests aren’t the only thing burning. “Liar, liar……”
For our premier to expect us to believe that this debacle with the greenbelt happened in the vacuum of the housing minister’s office, is wrong. And wrong-headed. A person as in-charge as Premier Ford knew from the get-go what was going on.
The following scenario is laughable.
Everyone sitting around the big table. Ford queries: “So Mr. Clark. Where are we to put these (affordable) homes we need to build?”
“Well sir, on the greenbelt of course.”
“But I promised Ontario that I wouldn’t allow development on that land.”
“We’ll just have to tell Ontario that you lied.”
Doesn’t seem plausible does it?
Then Mr. Clark shows up to work and finds a shiny, new sword propped against the doorjamb. He couldn’t really have believed that the premier would back him up. Not after the underwear was feeling the heat. Some become believers “when they see the light and some when they feel that heat”. In this case, I think premier Ford is seeing and beginning to believe. It will be a struggle for the big guy to take the hit.
Now Paul Calandra will assume the job vacated by Mr. Clark. This is the guy (Calandra) who got his first assignment by misrepresenting himself. Had to go back to school for a bit. To learn, what he said he knew. Should fit right in. But he better be ready to duck, since he will be expected to stand between Doug and an increasingly agitated populace.
So we wait for another episode in the continuing saga of Premier Ford and the greenbelt. And how Ontarians get gouged for an estimated 8 billion dollars.
It is a great country folks. It’s just some of the people that are giving us fits.
Anne -Lise: Well said. I believe an affordable social housing plan is doable.
Now, rescind the Greenbelt give-away. And come up with an affordable social housing plan.