Ford would allow some Greenbelt development

is to increase the supply.

“You build more and hopefully it will level off,” he said.

“But it’s a tough situation right now.”

In the 40-second video clip, which was posted Monday on YouTube, Ford suggests the idea of opening the Greenbelt for construction came from developers.

“I’ve already talked to some of the biggest developers in this country, and I wish I could say it was my idea, but it was their idea as well,” he said. “Give us property and we’ll build and we’ll drive the cost down.”

Environment Minister Chris Ballard, who represents a riding that is home to part of the protected area, accused Ford of quietly planning to pave over it.

“(It’s) a plan he has kept from the public but shares privately ... with developers who stand to make big money if Ford wins,” he said.

Ballard said the Greenbelt, a 7,200-square-kilometre area that borders the Greater Golden Horseshoe area that surrounds Lake Ontario, must continue to be preserved.

“(Ford) will bulldoze a great swath of the Greenbelt and turn it into the largest condo farm this province has ever seen,” he said.

The Greenbelt, established in 2005, protects environmentally sensitive land and farmlands from urban development.

“We moved to protect it forever so that our kids and grandkids would never have to worry about having access to nature and that we would have productive farm lands well into the future,” Ballard said. “So, it’s essential this area stay protected.”

NDP environment critic Peter Tabuns said Ford’s plan will plow over farms, forests and green spaces. An NDP government would protect the Greenbelt from land speculators, he said in a statement.

“When it comes to creating a livable, affordable province, Doug Ford is saying one thing publicly and another in private to his big, rich developer friends,” Tabuns said. “New Democrats support Greenbelt policies that protect natural heritage while encouraging affordable, transit-friendly ‘complete communities.’ ”

Joe Vaccaro, president of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, said there is a government process that developers respect and follow when it comes to the Greenbelt, and changes to the legislation do not happen in secret.

“(The government has) made some adjustments to the Greenbelt boundary based on scientific information and infrastructure information,” he said. “Adjustments do happen. It’s part of the process. More importantly, this all happens through a public, transparent, accountable structure.” A bicyclist in the Greenbelt in Ajax, Ont. Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford says he would ease development restrictions to help Toronto’s housing woes.