'I'm very, very sorry': the story of Doug Ford's Greenbelt disaster

'I'm very, very sorry': the story of Doug Ford's Greenbelt disaster | About That

Рет қаралды 29,525

10 ай бұрын

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced he is reversing a contentious land swap for the province's protected Greenbelt. Andrew Chang breaks down the messy course of events that led to this decision.
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Пікірлер: 325

@tonfie 10 ай бұрын

I'm relieved that more permanent damages have not been done to the land, but this should never have happened in the first place. Ford should resign.

@AnnRaps-mn3qm 10 ай бұрын

All parties should resign!!!! The party is over!!!! We are awake to the lies!!!!!

@robertlee4172 9 ай бұрын

Drug Fraud's Highway #413 to nowhere was halted. He still thinks it's a great idea, ...for his developer buddies.

@TheOneManWhoBeatYou 7 ай бұрын

@@robertlee4172The 401 is the most congested highway in North America, more than the LAX, a city twice Toronto's size, keep lying to yourself

@robertlee4172 7 ай бұрын

@@TheOneManWhoBeatYou Do you even know where the #413 runs? Right through prime Green Belt farmland. Do you know why the project has been stalled for past 10 years? The same reason why Drug Fraud had to withdraw his sweetheart development deal with home builders. It runs right through prime Green Belt farmland.

@lilystonne4108 10 ай бұрын

He apologized and reversed course only when he was caught trying to break the law.

@lexluthor6422 10 ай бұрын

exactly, but people are sheep.

@damontsekos9406 9 ай бұрын

@lilystonne4108....Hopefully Ontarians and the rest of Canadians have taken lessons from all that and won't be repeating their mistake by voting for Poilievre who will only be a Federal version of him!...He's already hinting at starting a Greenbelt Scandal of his own on a Federal level by mentioning a "housing crisis" all the time and sounding more and more like a tape recording of Doug Ford every time he opens that hole on his face!

@TheOneManWhoBeatYou 7 ай бұрын

He didn't break any law, but keep guzzling down every drop of CBC propaganda

@Deexeh 10 ай бұрын

The whole thing was shady from get go. There's plenty of other places to build housing with infrastructure more easily available.

@georgedavidson1221 10 ай бұрын

Name. One.

@McGoogger 10 ай бұрын

@@georgedavidson1221 the entire gta

@jon4139 10 ай бұрын

@@McGoogger Agreed, let's tear down a few thousand single family homes to build condos

@donaldginettecrooks6323 10 ай бұрын

Like Golf courses would be good to use for housings.

@jeremyc6407 10 ай бұрын

@@georgedavidson1221 55 acres sitting in the middle of St. Catharines ,waiting to be cleaned up and turned into housing for years now

@craven5328 10 ай бұрын

I'm totally glad the press has kept pulling at threads, and doggedly kept this issue in the spotlight. This is a great example of how important and effective the 5th estate is.

@sharper68 10 ай бұрын

@@edpeesker5087 We know they are often complicit with government failures, but in this case the system worked.

@deepbrit 10 ай бұрын

Finally something valuable from press after Kardashians

@111Watersong 10 ай бұрын

@@edpeesker5087 uh….they have. Nothing there dude. Give it up

@ryuuguu01 10 ай бұрын

Definitely, a public inquiry is needed. Also, the giveaway of development rights has to be reversed and laws passed to stop them from being given away again. Yes, I know the land should never be taken out, but if we remove the ability to easily give billions to political friends it will be harder to justify trashing the Greenbelt. Need a law saying that any land removed from the Greenbelt has to have development rights paid to the government by whoever develops it. Yes again this law can be changed by future governments but they will have to rescind an existing law to do it and that will be more visible.

@rohankurian5641 10 ай бұрын

💪🇨🇦💪🇨🇦💪🇨🇦

@robertlee4172 9 ай бұрын

I'm still waiting for the RCMP announcement, that Drug Fraud is under investigation.

@martinowen9185 10 ай бұрын

You are sorry about the greenbelt "mistake" the only mistake you did was getting caught you knew what you were doing. You can never convince us you knew nothing and most of these owners of greenbelt lands some just purchased were your "friends' what you actually did was try to reward your friends. Maybe they will flip on you now they lost all that money.

@vincentrimmer5844 10 ай бұрын

"I'm very, very sorry"... I didn't get away with it this time.

@gerrym274 10 ай бұрын

Ford should be held accountable & resign.. not the first time he does shady deals & lies .enough is enough

@Alexis-ey4kp 3 ай бұрын

Sounds like someone else we know.

@petergiaschi35 10 ай бұрын

Boy, I really hope people don't fall for the "apology"....he'll just find another way to get it done. "best of intentions." NOT.

@shahporeazizi8167 10 ай бұрын

Sorry doesn’t pay the bill

@Braktooth 10 ай бұрын

Another great job of getting down to the nuts and bolts of the story. Kudos.

@Sarcasticron 10 ай бұрын

Wow, Doug Ford has gotten a long way with that "I'm so sorry I stole the cookie from the cookie jar" face. That's definitely a skill.

@alanmacification 10 ай бұрын

Of course, you broke the promise. You are a businessman, and a promise from a businessman is worthless.

@quixomega 10 ай бұрын

What I hear is "I'm sorry I got caught trying to illegally enrich my friends."

@Liendoelcm 10 ай бұрын

Caught with his fingers in the pie I think! Much more to be discovered on who did what and quite a bit of dirty money exchanged hands from the top down.

@reny9405 10 ай бұрын

Sorry is not enough. Investigate and if evidence is warranted prosecute and jail the criminal. Ontario deserves no less for justice.

@richardharris8538 10 ай бұрын

Doug Frord has always struck me as most likely being a con man. How is it that this isn't more obvious to most people? (I don't believe that I have a special ability as a judge of character.) For instance, the allegation by a senior police officer that Doug Frord tried to get the OPP to personalize his RV and lose the cost in the books went mysteriously quiet. I wonder what powerful interests are behind Doug Frord, seeking to subvert our democracy for their own ends?

@pontifixmax 10 ай бұрын

6 out of 10 Ontarians didn't vote in the last provincial election, so this is the democracy we get.

@richardharris8538 10 ай бұрын

@@pontifixmax Only 17% of the electorate voted Tory. Most voters wanted a more progressive government, but got Tories, because of our 'first past the post' system.

@robertlee4172 9 ай бұрын

The Canadian Trump crime family. Remember those $500-dollar invoices his campaign committee sent out? It's a doozie of a story.

@aidankidd6947 10 ай бұрын

I commend Ford's ability to see the future possibility of handcuffs

@ClarityDetermination 10 ай бұрын

Cheers!

@stephenpaquet 10 ай бұрын

Great comment that made me chuckle. 😂😂😂

@lestrouble 10 ай бұрын

Glad the green belt decision has been reversed, but there are still many questions that need to be answered. In my opinion, one of the reasons for the reversal was to avoid a public inquiry into corruption. This inquiry is still needed.

@GadsdenGal 10 ай бұрын

It never ceases to amaze me how these politicians can make knowingly, bad decisions with our tax dollars, and think that giving a public apology fixes the problem. Must be nice! If I get a speeding ticket, can I just apologize and not pay the fine? Funny, how politicians can get away with the things that the taxpayer cannot.

@LMM7880 10 ай бұрын

Democracy at work. Thank you all those that contacted his office, organized and went to demonstrations and made sure this guy and his government knew we were not happy.

@chriscampbell8074 10 ай бұрын

Doug is not sorry, he is just sorry he didn't get away with it.

@kathleenclarke1823 10 ай бұрын

Ontarions think you should resign. If Ford was in opposition he would be screaming for his opponent 's resignation from the CN Tower!

@johnathonkelly5117 10 ай бұрын

Can't ignore the housing crisis tho.. what was he supposed to do? Watch rent cost and homelessness keeping rising? No one wants that either

@carlogervasi5393 10 ай бұрын

@@johnathonkelly5117 Agree!At least he's man enough to admit a possible mistake but also a potential solution to the housing crisis unlike Trudeau who never admits ANYTHING!!!

@craven5328 10 ай бұрын

@johnathonkelly5117 this wouldn't have solved the housing crisis. We need affordable homes - they would have paved paradise and put up McMansions. And, to accept corruption because the ends are beneficial is how societies eventually find themselves in very, very dark places.

@davidwilkinson9950 10 ай бұрын

They made this "crisis" to begin with, what a con man.

@Olscotia1 10 ай бұрын

Housing minister resign with top benefits, pension big home 🏡 and lots of money. While Canadians that actually deserve a home are set out in the cold.

@JustDisc 10 ай бұрын

That’s what happens when you don’t finish post secondary. You don’t really learn to think/plan ahead 👍

@johndunbar7504 10 ай бұрын

Sorry won't cut it for him. His natural corruption has been exposed and he can't go back. /Get rid of him !

@Riddler_von 10 ай бұрын

I think they thought they were dealing with Americans instead of Canadians. 😂 Any of the outrageous politicians in the states would never be allowed to stay in office here. That’s the big difference. We are leaning more righ/left than we used to because of social media influence from them. We are still a more rational educated society.

@jennibartlett2029 10 ай бұрын

Really, no politician in USA would be allowed to stay in office….. really, smoke another , boebert, mtg ,gaetz, gossar, etc…

@stephenpaquet 10 ай бұрын

@@jennibartlett2029 please reread the original post. Your reading comprehension seems to be lacking.

@Corbots80 10 ай бұрын

Lol you don't know much about American politics then

@user-cz1uo8um7f 10 ай бұрын

It's too bad that the media is not disclosing that the developers already owned the land, in many cases purchased .many years ago for a small price. Meanwhile there is talk of compensation for the money they might lose? Not true. Please cover this aspect of the story so tax payers don't get ripped off to ensure that Ford can maintain his 'friendships'

@toxicmegacolon8122 10 ай бұрын

The big developers are sooo powerful in this country omg...

@jennibartlett2029 10 ай бұрын

Soooo, if I kick you in the head and then say yes I kicked you in the head does that mean I can just say, I accept all responsibility and then walk away without consequence…… wow !

@mellie9633 10 ай бұрын

Yep and leave you with a permanent concussion.

@j-h-123 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for the excellent reporting as usual, Andrew. 👍

@lelandlewis7207 10 ай бұрын

The issue I see is that what is needed is affordable housing, and the Greenbelt project is not going to create affordable housing, it is going to create more expensive housing with great profits for developers. Also, there is land available and land already owned by developers to build on. If you want affordable housing quickly, there are only a couple of ways to do it. You either have to have the government build the housing and recoup the money on sales or subsidize the building by developers and control the pricing of those units. If left to the market, it will be a slow process as housing is added. I did a quick calculation on a 25-year mortgage for an average semi-detached house in today's market, given a minimum downpayment. The monthly payment was about $4000. How can any normal family afford that kind of commitment when even paying the $2500+ rent of an apartment is almost impossible? Not to mention trying to save the downpayment. The debt that must be incurred by families that have a house with 2 fairly new vehicles in the yard and living expenses is mind-boggling. It is no wonder that credit card debt and bankruptcies are high.

@frankstared 10 ай бұрын

Deconstruct the suburbs and the cottages in once natural lands and fully renaturalize those spaces and build vertically in cities where people want to live. We need to limit our footprints, not pave over earth.

@basiah2395 10 ай бұрын

Sorry he got caught…

@codyeasonBGR 10 ай бұрын

Thank you cbc for bring this great news covrage to the world.

@DjWellDressedMan 10 ай бұрын

Another U turn for Ford Nation, how many more?

@13coyote13 10 ай бұрын

He's just sorry he got caught, nothing else, he should resign immediately.

@Tim-57 10 ай бұрын

So full of it.

@martymoose8304 10 ай бұрын

Maybe someone should try to rob a bank and if they get caught, just say sorry. There is no rule of law in Canada!!

@ianmaidment2258 10 ай бұрын

For the rich and powerful

@quepasa2781 10 ай бұрын

Build on a place that can't be used for agriculture, the shield is the only right place for new development.

@LisaKras 10 ай бұрын

There had better be a thorough investigation AND charges for EVERYONE whose pockets were lined

@user-gm2ih8ro8e 10 ай бұрын

Ford will be investigated and you will find out what a crook he is.

@janetteellingham4982 10 ай бұрын

Somethings up for sure. I don’t trust him

@orioninvesting4299 10 ай бұрын

Whole government is shady. Look into Ontario place and other developer deals

@llamamama75 10 ай бұрын

The Ontario Place deal is so upsetting. I like using that space for nice bike rides. Just turn it into a big, lovely park for everyone to use, not just rich spa patrons.

@ianmaidment2258 10 ай бұрын

The last four years my life has gotten worse... the government is not doing it's job

@elizabethellis9062 10 ай бұрын

So is his daughter gonna give the money back?

@stephenpaquet 10 ай бұрын

I said about six months ago to a friend of mine, that Doug Ford hasn’t done anything to not be reelected. Well, that changed!😂😂😂

@YYC403NOYP 10 ай бұрын

If criminal investigation is warranted, it should be done ASAP

@ryuuguu01 10 ай бұрын

This was a good summary of what has happened so far.

@ianmaidment2258 10 ай бұрын

Another crook that got caught is sorry

@nuxkamina 10 ай бұрын

I've enjoyed watching About That cover the Green belt. This wouldn't have happened without the journalism, activists, land defenders and investigators. We are a much healthier better country by having checks and balances. We undermine our journalists, we undermine democracy and these checks.

@ClarityDetermination 10 ай бұрын

Can we still charge Doug Ford?! Huh, can we??😅

@BuddhaAfterDark 10 ай бұрын

love this kind of content CBC, way to catch up with the people :D

@levon9999 10 ай бұрын

Mr Ford should step down along with the apology. And further be investigated for criminal conspiracy to ruin the green belt, under false pretence.

@ClarityDetermination 10 ай бұрын

Why couldn't you do journalism like this before this? Everybody has known about this criminal, Ford, for six years.

@Corbots80 10 ай бұрын

Sounds like some of the scams related to this have been unearthed. And now he's in damage control

@Bryan-dn1nx 10 ай бұрын

Great report Andrew , I believe he still cannot be trusted , and should still be investigated by the RCMP

@frankybats9999 10 ай бұрын

was he wearing a green belt while delivering the speech?

@McGoogger 10 ай бұрын

I like him more now but I still don’t like him

@Prindad 10 ай бұрын

Wait a minute. He's taking responsibility and not throwing someone else under the bus? How unusual.

@itsnotu-its-me 10 ай бұрын

He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Ah, shucks you caught me and I'm sorry now, doesn't cut it.

@mellie9633 10 ай бұрын

He wanted to make money just like his buddies...what's wrong with that? Everything! When you're a lying, greedy premier.

@niemi5858 10 ай бұрын

I voted PC the last 2 elections because of the Wynn Liberal government's complacency and expensive movement too far to the left. I am voting Liberal in the next election because of the Ford government's arrogance and corruption. I experienced what happened when we elected an NDP government and that was a big mistake. Remember "Ray days"? So, what are we left with? At 73 years old, my skepticism about the ethics of politicians and politics has morphed into cynicism and contempt.

@BogusBambini 10 ай бұрын

At least this government hasn't wasted $2 billion in one feel swoop and doubled hydro prices, pushing manufacturers across the border and Ontarians into the poorhouse!

@craven5328 10 ай бұрын

Coming from QC, but now living in Toronto, I simply cannot understand the continued level of vitriol / disparagement of the NDP over Rae Days. My understanding is that the NDP was in-between a rock and a hard place, coming out of a recession: either lay off public servants completely, or have everyone keep their jobs and their ability to make ends meet, and share the burden through unpaid days off. Or, do nothing and increase provincial debt (something the Conservatives consistently say they hate the prospect of). The people most affected were teachers and subsequently it seems like they ended up supporting the PC party and Mike Harris in the next election (which feels like a pig voting for a butcher because the vegetarian farmer gave him less slop). This all occurred during the ascendancy of the Reform Party and conservative economic theory, ie Milton Friedman, that has become dogma for all shades of Conservative politics.

@titusmccarthy 10 ай бұрын

@@BogusBambini Hydro bills are still sky high, Cletus. Ford fixed NOTHING.

@llamamama75 10 ай бұрын

Consider not voting for either of the two neoliberal parties. The Libs are not so different from the Cons, as you have already noticed for yourself. Why forgive the Liberals and not the NDP? We know the Liberals will also steal from us. We can't hold the neoliberals, in general, to account if we keep electing both their parties in turn.

@Gokash4672 10 ай бұрын

Bravo Andrew!! Thank you for shedding light on this issue! 👍

@living1108 10 ай бұрын

Dougie is a scoundrel?

@Jhossack 10 ай бұрын

Conservatives mind your money. Very closely. and everything else you cherish.

@jamleb1192 10 ай бұрын

Sorry don't mean a thing unless you get the land back

@cherylsibson2529 10 ай бұрын

it's just sad.

@liveandletlive7628 10 ай бұрын

Great reporting, thank you!

@titusmccarthy 10 ай бұрын

@@edpeesker5087 More funding for CBC. Nationalize Globe & Mail and CTV and make it CBC2

@DF-hu1jx 10 ай бұрын

These lands should never have been included in the Greenbelt to begin with. The boundaries were politically motivated at that time. Homes just got more expensive in the GTA.

@rynbrtn 10 ай бұрын

I enjoyed, what appeared to be, a refreshing lack of bias in this short but concise report. Well done.

@franhenderson9176 10 ай бұрын

Yeah I bet he is upset. He got caught and if you look quick you'll see the money slip out of his pocket. If you want to affect the housing crisis build apartments in city center on empty lots

@GenerationJonesi 10 ай бұрын

Yes we have a housing crisis, but, I'm sure there are alternatives to destroying our greenbelt. Wth was Ford thinking?

@mikeb5664 10 ай бұрын

Very, very sorry they got caught.

@benala5135 10 ай бұрын

being sorry is not enough resign and let people decide.

@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork 10 ай бұрын

I'm not for developing the Greenbelt and truly believe it should be left alone. That said, somebody has to do something about the housing crisis. And with almost another half million immigrants coming into Canada next year, it seems the only solution is to tear down existing old homes in Toronto to build more high-rises and convert all the abandoned government buildings into homes. Should this become the solution, in a matter of 10- 20 years, and if we're all still alive, Toronto will look and feel like most major congested cities in China with nothing but buses, subways, bike paths, foot paths and high-rises. Of course if inflation and interest rates continues to rise, or worse - if everything begins to deflate in value, many more people will lose their homes and Toronto will become one massive Tent City.

@carisaunders2346 10 ай бұрын

Do you think the homes that were to be built on the greenbelt would have actually helped solve the housing crisis? These houses would have sold for millions. Millionaires are not the most suffering majority. It's middle class and less affluent. It's students, families with both parents working. It's small towns and big cities. The problem is not even buying a house. It's renting an apartment or a house. A room in a home is over $900 a month.

@TimothyCHenderson 10 ай бұрын

@@carisaunders2346Agreed. There needs to be a comprehensive plan going into the housing crisis solution that doesn't cater to the rich or even the wealthy upper middle class. They can afford to buy existing properties. It's everyone else that needs good policies and planning to get the types of housing built that we actually need.

@AlbertMark-nb9zo 10 ай бұрын

In Toronto infill condos are going up like wildfire. Old beerstore lots are being torn down, replaced with condos.

@ClarityDetermination 10 ай бұрын

Increase the income for ODSP and Ontario Works.

@BogusBambini 10 ай бұрын

Agree - once the criteria for eligibility is re-evaluated and recipients are reassessed every 2 years as with many other social programs/benefits, there are many collecting cheques who shouldn't be....Our provincial computer systems haven't been cross referencing within or between departments - people have been caught accessing welfare from several jurisdictions - this oversight requires expansion.

@titusmccarthy 10 ай бұрын

Good idea but will never happen under the sociopathic CONS>

@patricktruelove464 10 ай бұрын

I’m very sorry too, Doug. You’re fired.

@jtanagho 10 ай бұрын

Why does not he resign.?? Doug Ford resign PLEASE.

@teaburg 10 ай бұрын

So he has figured out another way to generate money to his pals and is now apologizing? Or he has new pals he can benefit? He already stashed the money he got from this and he is happy with that? Leopards don't change their spots.

@LordNelson_369 10 ай бұрын

How many residential units can the CBC building converted into!?

@humnpwr 10 ай бұрын

I am so sorry I got caught 😂😂😂

@rohankurian5641 10 ай бұрын

🤔👊😂🔥✌

@shirleygallant1782 10 ай бұрын

Put Doug in prison now😅

@ianpatrick3589 10 ай бұрын

Parties become old and the people tire of them. That opens doors. Problem: who is on the other side waiting to come in?

@ClarityDetermination 10 ай бұрын

What an effing ACT! 😅

@GreaterTorontoTV 10 ай бұрын

What about all the land that Amazon bought along the proposed 413??

@patrckdinn7265 10 ай бұрын

Im very very sorry i got caught

@danielcalcutt7215 10 ай бұрын

Anyone involved in this deal should be expelled from office . Your heart is for your own pockets doug, your not trustworthy. Who are these homes your building for when interest rates are high , rents are threw the roof , the cost is living is atrocious. What kind of game are you people playing with us. Nothing good will come from oppressing the people of Canada. I think you personally have taken your share of wealth, now move on.

@diycarhome9151 10 ай бұрын

Time to give Doug Ford the Boot. Just way he went about craving up the Green Belt.

@at_brunch3852 10 ай бұрын

Too late. Houses NEED to be built AFFORDABLE for the ppl who can’t pay a mortgage unless JOBS help PAY for that costly home!! Good Grief. Not Rocket Science!!

@vanhoot2234 10 ай бұрын

the road to hell is paved with good intentions

@rl307 10 ай бұрын

I never trust promises from politicians.

@lizliz4186 10 ай бұрын

We had a housing crisis 4 years ago. Now we have an emergency.

@Astr0b0y8 10 ай бұрын

Just an honest mistake folks. Honest

@frankstared 10 ай бұрын

Ah, the slime of the shellfish.

@kimanseth8988 10 ай бұрын

Ford should be out of a job

@InsertFloppy 10 ай бұрын

Andrew Chang is really good, he should start his own KZfaq Channel. He’s like the Canadian Jonny Harris.

@Olscotia1 10 ай бұрын

Still he won't do anything about this issue. House don't mean building apartments for big landlords whom charge 2300 a month. Making millions of the backs of Canadians, Canadians want their own affordable home. Not all hurded together in commercial buildings.