As thousands of pages of internal government documents related to the scandal were released by environmental groups who’d sought them through freedom of information, came word that RCMP investigators would reportedly begin interviews this week.

The Mounties unit, that examines corruption and political crime, is said to have started making appointments to talk with past and current officials involved with the government’s decision on the protected area.

Former Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark and his ex-chief of staff Ryan Amato are likely to be among those who’ll be questioned.

Amato reportedly sent an e-mail to bureaucrats October 31, 2022, in which he appeared to have some say in which properties would be added to Hamilton’s official plan, basically rezoning them for development.

A document also suggests Clark was looking at the changes six months before the Conservatives re-election win last year.

Fast forward to last month, following damning reports from the auditor-general and integrity commissioner, Premier Doug Ford announced he’d cancel the land swap.

And last week Clark’s successor, Paul Calandra said he was cancelling the municipal boundary changes and reviewing all of them.