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By Fred Alvarado
Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE.

RPTV reporters Jabin Haque and Victoria Nanneti interviewed Regent Park streeters to learn their opinion and thoughts on the recent news in relation to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) launching an investigation into Ford government’s plan to open the Greenbelt land for developments.

Two recent reports by the Auditor General and Integrity Commissioner found that a lack of supervision and leadership led to certain developers with ties to the housing ministry gaining an advantage when the province decided to open up 15 sites of the Greenbelt for development.

Prior to these reports, allegations were made that some developers were tipped off ahead of time and benefited financially from their relationship with the Progressive Conservative government.

The owners of the 15 land sites chosen through this process could see more than an $8.3 billion increase to the values of their properties.

Premier Ford recently reversed his decision to develop the Greenbelt, calling it a “mistake” and promising to bring forth legislation that would codify its boundaries. A number of ministers, as well as staff involved in the decision-making process, have also resigned.’

Ford is already seeing historic low approval ratings following the release of the Greenbelt reports.

The Greenbelt in Toronto refers to a protected area of green space and farmland that surrounds the city, aimed at conserving natural landscapes, supporting agriculture, and providing recreational opportunities. It acts as a green buffer to prevent urban sprawl and protect the environment and biodiversity while offering residents and visitors access to outdoor activities and fresh, local food.

The Premier’s Office has said it will fully cooperate with the investigation. Ford has not yet been approached by the RCMP for an interview.

The timeline for the investigation is unclear as it depends on what is uncovered.