Last night, grassroots opposition to backroom deals paid off.

Under pressure from local residents and Cambridge's New Blue Member of Provincial Parliament, Belinda Karahalios, Cambridge City Council surprisingly reversed course and voted (5-4) against fast-tracking and allowing steps in the planning process to be skipped for the construction of a 1-million square foot mega-warehouse in the village of Blair.

The facility was rumoured to be for Amazon.

In July of 2021, Amazon hired the lobbying firm owned by Ford PC campaign manager, Kory Teneycke.

One month later, the Ford PCs gave a special executive order approving accelerated construction of the mega warehouse project. This meant the project could skip steps in the municipal and provincial planning process that are required of all other construction projects in Ontario.

The Ford PCs never tried to explain or justify why this project was worthy of such special treatment.

Instead, they said the project could move ahead if it received approval from Cambridge City Council.

On April 6, 2021, Cambridge council held a private closed session to discuss the construction proposal and learn who the tenant was. They emerged from the meeting unanimously supporting construction of the facility and excusing it from the requirements of the provincial and municipal planning process.

Cambridge residents were outraged.

The Ford PCs and Cambridge City Council pressed on.

A Ford PC cabinet minister even mocked Belinda during Question Period when she asked about the matter.

But Belinda didn't shy away and she stepped forward to represent her constituents.

In November, she asked the Ford government why they approved the MZO before local consultation took place. What was the rush? Click here or on the image below to watch.

Two weeks ago - and again yesterday - Belinda read a petition on the matter into the record at Queen's Park. Click here to read about it.

Are there issues with the existing provincial planning process in Ontario?

If so, what are they?

And why won't the Ford PC government change the provincial planning laws so that all construction projects in Ontario are built under the same set of rules rather than giving special treatment to this facility?

The Ford PCs won't say.

For four years, the Ford PCs have shown us that rather than applying laws equally to all Ontarians, they prefer to break their own rules and make decisions based on backroom deals.

But with your support, the New Blue Party is forcing the establishment political parties in Ontario to follow their own rules - not just when it suits them.

Now, we will see whether the Ford PC government presses forward with the construction of the warehouse that they have been saying is up to Cambridge City Council to decide.

But last night's decision in Cambridge shows that grassroots voices with the help of one local leader like Belinda can change the course.

We will continue to fight for integrity and transparency in our politics.

And we hope we can earn your support!

The best is yet to come!

Jim Karahalios

Leader, New Blue Party of Ontario

P.S. Unlike the establishment political parties, we do not receive the per-vote taxpayer subsidy. Our marketing is entirely funded by voluntary contributions from our supporters.