Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare Issues Statement Regarding Auditor General of Ontario Bonnie Lysyk’s Special Report on Changes to the Greenbelt

Press Release

(Toronto, ON – August 10, 2023) Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare issued the following statement regarding the newly announced Auditor General of Ontario’s Special Report surrounding the investigation into Ontario’s Greenbelt development plan:

“Yesterday, Auditor General of Ontario Bonnie Lysyk released a 95-page report indicating that Ontario’s processes for opening Greenbelt protected lands development were done in a way that was heavily influenced by well-connected developers to the current Ontario government,” said Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare. “We are closely monitoring this issue as it progresses and are keeping in consideration all possible outcomes that may occur as a result of this report.”

In December 2022, the Ford government removed an abundance of land from the Greenbelt as a means to achieve its commitment to build 1.5 million new homes over the next ten years. Following this announcement, First Nations raised concerns, alongside Ontario Opposition Party leaders and the general public, due to the lack of consultation regarding these changes and the lack of consideration of environmental impacts and potential infringements on First Nations rights.

“The Chiefs of Ontario are concerned with the revelation of this report and have already voiced similar concerns regarding the use of Greenbelt land to build homes, as relating to Bill 23, More Homes Built Faster Act. It is imperative that consultation with First Nations, consideration of the impacts on First Nations rights and Ancestral and Treaty territories, and full transparency in these processes are held to the utmost and highest degree.

The Chiefs of Ontario will continue to monitor this issue internally as it evolves and will continue to navigate the situation as we await further information.”

Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare (Gwiingos)

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The Chiefs of Ontario support all First Nations in Ontario as they assert their sovereignty, jurisdiction and their chosen expression of nationhood. Follow Chiefs of Ontario on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @ChiefsOfOntario.

Media Contact:

Christopher Hoyos
Director of Policy and Communications
Policy and Communications Sector
Chiefs of Ontario
Telephone: (416) 579 4998
Email: Chris.Hoyos@coo.org

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