In late 2022, the Ontario government faced public scrutiny after it was revealed that staff used a code word, “G*,” in internal communications to refer to the Greenbelt—a protected area of green space, farmland, forests, wetlands, and watersheds in Southern Ontario. This practice came to light through documents obtained via a freedom of information request by the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP).
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The documents included emails forwarded by Ryan Amato, who was the chief of staff to then-Housing Minister Steve Clark. The NDP discovered that terms like “G*” and “Special Project” were used multiple times in correspondence between the ministry and the Premier’s Office. For instance, a subject line reading “Special Project – GB” was sent to the personal email address of Patrick Sackville, the principal secretary to Premier Doug Ford, who is now Ford’s chief of staff.
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NDP Leader Marit Stiles criticized the use of these code words, suggesting that it was an attempt to conceal discussions about removing land from the Greenbelt. She argued that replacing “Greenbelt” with “G*” was a deliberate measure to evade detection in email searches, indicating an intent to cover up the government’s actions.
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In response to the controversy, Premier Doug Ford’s office did not provide immediate clarification on why these code words were used or whether they were directed by government officials. However, the use of such terminology has raised questions about transparency and accountability in governmental decision-making processes.
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The Greenbelt issue itself centers on the government’s decision to remove 15 sites from the protected area to facilitate housing development. This move has been criticized for potentially benefiting well-connected developers and for undermining environmental protections. In the face of public backlash and reports from the province’s auditor general and integrity commissioner, Premier Ford reversed the decision, restoring the Greenbelt protections.
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The “G*” code word controversy underscores ongoing concerns about the transparency of government actions, especially concerning significant policy changes that affect environmental conservation and urban development. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen whether further revelations will emerge regarding the government’s internal communications and decision-making processes
