Premier Doug Ford's office says the RCMP has started interviewing witnesses in its investigation into the government's decision to open up parts of the protected Greenbelt for housing development.
Ford has previously said he is confident nothing criminal took place, but following a significant public outcry, the premier reversed course and returned all parcels of land in question to the Greenbelt and promised not to touch it again.
The RCMP's "sensitive and internal investigations" unit began a Greenbelt probe in October, and the premier's office now says interviews are underway.
Ford has said he and his government will co-operate with the investigation.
Reports from both the auditor general and the integrity commissioner found that the government's process to remove 15 parcels of land from the Greenbelt to build 50,000 homes favoured certain developers.
Ontario created the Greenbelt in 2005 to protect agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area from development.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published August 9, 2024.
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