March 12, 2010

McGuinty dismisses NDP land deal allegations

TORONTO

Ontario’s New Democrats say land developers who allegedly paid $5,000 each to attend a dinner with Premier Dalton McGuinty will make huge profits as a result of legislative changes made by the government.

The NDP says members of the East Moratorium Land Owners, a registered lobby group, met with McGuinty and several cabinet ministers at a private home in May 2008.

The group had bought nearly 1,000 acres in north Innisfil, just south of Barrie, for $25,000 to $66,000 an acre, but it was off limits to development.

Last December, the Liberal government passed legislation to transfer the land from Innisfil to Barrie, ending the development freeze.

NDP critic Peter Kormos says the government’s bill immediately increased the value of the lands by about $30 million, even before they are developed.

Kormos demanded at Queen’s Park to know if McGuinty discussed the changes with the developers over dinner.

McGuinty bristled at the allegations, which he rejected, before lashing out at Kormos for conduct unbecoming of a veteran member of the legislature.

Canadian Press

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