Ontario’s opposition leaders are intensifying their attacks on Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford following a $2.2-million lawsuit alleging two of his former staffers were involved in a real-estate rezoning scheme. The lawsuit, filed by Oakville property owner Amanpreet Jakhar and two numbered companies, accuses former government staffers Ryan Amato and Shiv Raj, along with developer Frontier Group, of using political connections to secure rezoning permits for three properties.
The allegations have drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who are drawing parallels to the Ford government’s controversial Greenbelt development plan, now under RCMP investigation. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie accused Ford of calling a snap election for February 27 to outrun the fallout from the Greenbelt probe. “The buck stops with Doug Ford,” Crombie said. “He’s responsible for the behaviour of his team and his staff.”
NDP Leader Marit Stiles echoed the sentiment, stating, “The rot starts at the top. Doug Ford has shown us who he is—someone who enables corruption and enriches insiders.”
The lawsuit alleges that Jakhar and the numbered companies paid $1.5 million to Frontier Group for rezoning services, but little progress was made. The properties in Oakville, London, and Grimsby remain unrezoned, with Jakhar claiming the defendants failed to deliver on their promises.
Amato, former chief of staff to ex-housing minister Steve Clark, and Raj, who previously worked in the premier’s office and is now volunteering on Ford’s campaign, have denied the allegations through their lawyer, calling them “false and baseless.” Frontier Group has yet to comment.
The controversy comes as Ford faces mounting scrutiny over his government’s handling of the Greenbelt scandal, which saw 15 parcels of protected land opened for development before being reversed amid public outcry. The auditor general and integrity commissioner found that Amato played a key role in selecting the lands, benefiting a small group of developers by $8.3 billion.
Ford denied any knowledge of the rezoning allegations, stating, “I didn’t know anything about this, and I don’t get involved in stuff like that.” He also confirmed he has not been interviewed by the RCMP in the Greenbelt probe but pledged full cooperation.
With the election just weeks away, the lawsuit has reignited criticism of Ford’s leadership and raised questions about transparency and accountability in his government.