This morning I was going to drive to my breakfast meeting because it was early and it was cold. But I was running behind, and Waze was telling me it was going to take 27 minutes. So I hopped on my bike instead and got there in 14 minutes (with very cold hands, I might add). This myth that cyclists are cycling because they have no other options has to be put to rest. I'll let you in on the secret - cycling is a first choice, because it's much faster, easier to park, and super enjoyable to be out and about in the city, as part of a commute. Many of us, when we get on our bikes, are leaving our cars at home.

Minister Kaleed Rasheed and Amin Massoudi got the “Good Luck Ritual” massage and developer Shakir Rehmatullah got a custom massage. On the one hand this is much more detail than any of us need to know. On the other hand this information confirms Minister Kaleed Rasheed lied to the Integrity Commissioner about his role in the #GreenbeltScandal and his relationship with developers. Again, we are still just at the tip of the iceberg with respect to the #GreenbeltGrab. And these dudes only seem to resign if they get caught. So the investigative reporting must continue. toronto.ctvnews.ca/minister-…

They had a playbook. It goes back to 2019. Susan McGovern’s brother and husband operate The Rice Group. They are one of a handful of conservative donors whose land Mr. Ford’s government removed during the #GreenbeltGrab last year, following the slipping of brown envelopes across a table at an industry event. Premier Doug Ford appointed McGovern to the board of the Greenbelt Foundation in 2019. The Greenbelt Foundation is described as “the only organization solely dedicated to ensuring the Greenbelt remains permanent, protected and prosperous.” Talk about a fox in the hen house. What a feast for McGovern and her husband! This is a playbook for dismantling public assets. And it started in 2019 - with action from the Premier. The fall guy Ryan Amato? He was only in the role since 2022. He came in to execute a strategy put in place by the Premier, make no mistake. #GreenbeltScandal theglobeandmail.com/canada/a…

Yes, it’s true that a review of the Greenbelt is required in legislation every 10 years. And it is true that the new Housing Minister announced this week that they are going to advance this review earlier than required, as a result of the #GreenbeltScandal, and party friends & donors asking for more land to be removed from Greenbelt protections. This is the problem: we already know this isn’t necessary. We are building out existing land approved for new housing at lower densities than expected, and at a slower pace than expected. Land isn’t the issue. The total unbuilt land available for development is now roughly 59,000 ha (590 km2). Even if residents assigned by the Ontario government to the GTHA's future suburbs were housed at the modest densities of successful low-rise GTHA neighborhoods, like Trinity Bellwoods or Junction-Wallace Emerson, they would only consume approximately 15,000 ha (150km2) of land through 2051. Removing land from the Greenbelt today is simply a long-term land speculation play. We have land adjacent to serviced areas where we can build new suburbs, if so desired. This review is politically motivated, and ought to be stopped. This government lacks the credibility to touch the Greenbelt, and should first make amends by returning land wrongly removed.

Heads should roll. I say this as someone who was entrusted with the public interest and pressured by developers again and again and again to abdicate that interest in favour of theirs. I said, ‘get out out of my office.’ I said, ‘no way.’ I said, ‘under no circumstance.’ It’s not that hard if you understand your role and your obligations to the public. It‘s not that hard if you took your oath of office with integrity (for me, it is the oath of my profession, which I have taken, to serve the public interest.) If you do not have the fortitude to stand up to this pressure, you are not fit for the job. And heads should roll. thestar.com/opinion/editoria… via @torontostar