18 MZOs given to developers who were guests at Premier Ford's family wedding: NDP

Ontario has given out 18 Minister's Zoning Orders for developer projects to guests who attended a wedding of Premier Doug Ford's daughter last summer, the New Democrats said Monday. The land-planning tool can be used to fast-track development in a given area and the Progressive Conservative government has been criticized in the past for how often it uses the mechanism also known as an MZO. NDP Leader Marit Stiles said being friends with Ford has its benefits. "We've uncovered that Mr. Ford's Conservatives have issued as many MZOs to benefit attendees of a single Ford family wedding reception as the previous Liberal government handed out in 15 years," Stiles said. Nine of those 18 MZOs were given out to Flato Developments, which is owned by Shakir Rehmatullah, a longtime Ford friend, the NDP said.  Former minister Kaleed Rasheed resigned along with Ford's former housing policy director, Jay Trusdell, after revelations they went to Las Vegas with Rehmatullah and the premier's former pri