Ontario’s Housing Minister has resigned.
Steve Clark handed in his resignation to Premier Doug Ford Monday morning, almost a week after an Integrity Commissioner’s report determined
Clark violated two sections of the Integrity Act related to the removal of Greenbelt lands in southern Ontario for development.
The Integrity Commissioner cited Clark for failing to have proper oversight in the process that saw his Chief of Staff make most of the recommendations eventually approved by Cabinet.
Premier Ford had resisted opposition calls last week for Clark to resign or be removed.
In his resignation to the Premier, Clark says his presence would only cause a further distraction.
“Although my initial thought was that I could stay in this role and establish a proper process so that these mistakes don’t happen again, I realize that my presence will only cause a further distraction from the important work that needs to be done and that I need to take accountability for what has transpired,” states Clark in the letter.
“This crisis demands someone who is not a distraction from the important work that needs to be done,” adds Clark.
Clark intends to remain MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.”
The opposition quickly weighed in with their responses.
“Steve Clark is finally taking some responsibility for his role in the government’s Greenbelt scandal. But the Auditor General’s report, the Integrity Commissioner’s report, and now a potential criminal investigation clearly show that this corruption reaches far beyond Clark’s office. Now it’s time for Doug Ford to face the music,” states Stiles in a media release.
“Minister Clark’s resignation today is the first step in what needs to happen to get to the bottom of this $8.3 Billion scandal. The Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy needs to meet next week to begin that process,’ says Interim Liberal leader John Fraser on X, formerly Twitter.
“Minister Clark’s departure was inevitable, but Ford’s Greenbelt scandal is far from over,” states Green Party leader Mike Schreiner, also on X.
The Premier has not yet named Clark’s replacement.
