The Ford government is being called out for proposed legislation that would remove a previously mandated environmental assessment to reopen a dormant landfill in Dresden.
On Friday, Liberal MPP and Critic for Rural and Agricultural Affairs, Ted Hsu sent a letter to Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner, requesting an investigation to connections between Premier Doug Ford, three Ministers, and developers of the Irish School Road site.
In April, the province announced legislation that would remove environmental assessment (EA) requirements for the property at 29831 Irish School Rd. through the “Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025,” also known as Bill 5.
In the proposed legislation, the government cites the need to provide additional waste capacity in Ontario due to the threat of US tariffs impacting the province’s waste sector.
Hsu claims Ford; Former Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks Andrea Khanjin; current Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks Todd McCarthy; and Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce may have contravened the Members’ Integrity Act or breached parliamentary convention in their decisions surrounding the landfill site.
The Kingston-area MPP accuses Ford and his ministers of playing a role in a series of events that appear to favour a politically connected group of developers and PC party donors.
Hsu says developers Andrew and Daniel Guizzetti, who acquired the Dresden property in 2022, along with their family members and business partners have donated over $200,000 to the Progressive Conservative Party since 2018, including numerous contributions clustered around key regulatory decisions affecting the landfill site.
Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner is being asked to investigate whether the Premier and any current or former public office holders have used their position to further the private interest of political donors, provided preferential treatment or access to individuals or entities based on political fundraising; or contravened select sections of the Members’ Integrity Act or breached parliament convention relating to conflict of interest, influence, or the use of insider information.
Public comment on Bill 5 is being accepted through May 17.