Ontario integrity commissioner, auditor general to launch Greenbelt investigations

Ontario integrity commissioner, auditor general to launch Greenbelt investigationsTORONTO — Ontario's integrity commissioner and auditor general both announced Wednesday that they would conduct separate investigations into the government's decision to open protected Greenbelt lands up to housing development. The integrity commissioner is launching an investigation into Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark based on a complaint from incoming NDP leader Marit Stiles. She sought an investigation into what she calls "curious timing of recent purchases of Greenbelt land by powerful landowners with donor and political ties to the Ontario PC Party." Stiles asked the integrity commissioner to investigate whether Clark broke ethics rules around making a public policy decision to further someone's private interests. The integrity commissioner declined to investigate a similar complaint by Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, saying Stiles' request and "extensive affidavit and supporting material" did provide "reasonable and probable grounds" to start an investigation.