Queen’s Park – Dalton McGuinty should stop avoiding questions about a $5,000-a-plate fundraiser held in Barrie, says NDP MPP Peter Kormos.
“Well-heeled developers paid $5,000 for the privilege of having a private chat with the Premier. Within a year, laws were changed to make their land much more valuable,” said Kormos. “Most people can’t afford $5,000 to wine and dine the Premier. They deserve some answers. Who was at the table and what was discussed?”
Ontario Liberal Party filings with Elections Ontario show the dinner, which took place in a private residence in May 2008, was stacked with members of the East Moratorium Land Owners Group.
These developers own nearly 1,000 acres of land in an area that was off-limits to development – until the Liberals passed legislation in December 2009 that annexed the land to Barrie.
Today in Question Period, Kormos asked what the developers asked for behind closed doors.
“Somehow, the Premier couldn’t remember that night in Barrie,” said Kormos, noting the event raised $100,000 for the Liberals. “Either the food wasn’t remarkable or he’s avoiding the facts.”
Property records show the members of the East Moratorium Land Owners Group purchased at least 12 properties between 2003 and 2008 for as little as $26,000 an acre. One large parcel of land in the annexation area – near these properties – is now being sold for $75,000 an acre. If that value holds, the developers would make $30 million on the land alone.
Environmental groups have criticized the Liberals for allowing “leap frog” development that violate their own development principles by escalating sprawl.
“Thousands of people can’t get a hearing from this government – but it seems there’s an exception if you make a donation to the Liberal Party,” said Kormos. “It’s time for the Premier to provide some answers.”
