Housing Minister Steve Clark has resigned after Ontario’s integrity commissioner found he broke ethics rules for his role in the Ford government’s Greenbelt land swap scandal.
In a letter published on Monday morning, Clark said he felt his role in the Greenbelt decision and subsequent investigations were “a distraction” from the ministry’s work to solve the housing affordability crisis.
“As someone who has given my life to serving the people through our democratic institutions, it is my responsibility to adhere to the principles of Ministerial accountability,” Clark said in a post on social media.
In his letter, Clark said he has been reflecting since a damning integrity commissioner report into the Greenbelt land swap decision was released. The report blamed Clark for a lack of oversight over his chief of staff, who both the integrity commissioner and Ontario’s auditor general said spearheaded the removal of 7,400 acres of land from the Greenbelt.
Clark said his “first instinct” after reading the integrity commissioner’s report was to stay in post to create a new process that ensured the issues outlined would never be repeated. He said he had now decided he couldn’t continue.
“This crisis demands someone who is not a distraction from the important work that needs to be done,” Clark wrote. He said that remaining in his role as minister would “only cause further distraction” from the government’s work.
“I need to take accountability for what has transpired,” the letter continued. “In a parliamentary democracy, the Parliament is supreme, and the legislature will determine my ultimate reprimand.”
In a post on social media, Ontario Premier Doug Ford thanked Clark for his years of service. “Our work won’t stop,” Ford said.
Clark called his role as housing minister “the greater honour of my career.” He thanked Ford for the confidence he showed in him, including during the scandal.
— More to come…
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