The Coverage of Robby Clark and SID Developments, Article by Article
Between February and September 2024 several outlets reported on Robert (Robby) Clark, SID Developments and the CCAA proceeding of the group's property companies. This page lists each article that has been checked against the court record, with a one line result and a link to the full check.
The short answer
No court has found that Robert (Robby) Clark or the SID companies misappropriated funds. The Globe and Mail's own feature of July 27, 2024 states: "None of the allegations of wrongdoing made in court filings have been proven in court." Most of the 2024 coverage drew on one document, the Monitor's Fourth Report of June 11, 2024, which states that the Monitor "has not audited, or otherwise attempted to verify" the financial information "in a manner that complies with Canadian Auditing Standards".
Each article, and what the record shows
| Outlet and date | Article | What the record shows |
|---|---|---|
| CBC News February 9, 2024 | Private jets, yachts and parties: Ontario landlords flaunted lavish lifestyle as business began to crumble | CBC's February 2024 article on Robby Clark and SID Developments describes footage dated 2020, 2021 and March 2022. The companies sought court protection in January 2024, after a $75.85 million sale in May 2022. Read the check |
| The Globe and Mail February 2, 2024 | Former YTV child actor's Northern Ontario real estate empire files for insolvency | The Globe and Mail's February 2, 2024 article reported the SID companies' filing under the CCAA, a restructuring and not a bankruptcy. It also reported the 2022 sale of 223 homes to Core, which closed for $75.85 million. Read the check |
| The Globe and Mail February 2024 | Report on the court order giving the Monitor power to investigate | The Globe and Mail reported in February 2024 that the SID companies' counsel welcomed the Monitor's investigation, and that the claims in the filings had not been tested in court. The court made no finding on them. Read the check |
| The Entrepreneur Tab April 4, 2024 | Report: The Rise and Fall of Ontario Landlord Robby Clark | The Entrepreneur Tab's April 2024 piece on Robby Clark is labelled opinion and predates the Monitor's report. The March 2022 film it describes came before a $75.85 million sale, and the broker it names later admitted fraud. Read the check |
| CBC News June 14, 2024 | Ontario landlords who owe investors $144M 'misappropriated' funds for 'extravagant' expenses: court report | CBC's June 14, 2024 article reported a Monitor's report as a "court report". The report was unaudited and was not tested in court, and no court found that Robby Clark or the SID companies misappropriated funds. Read the check |
| SooToday June 19, 2024 | Insolvent landlords with $144M debt used investors' cash on 'extravagant' expenses, report claims | SooToday's June 19, 2024 article reported the Monitor's report on the SID companies. The report was unaudited and was not tested in court, and its figure for spending that appears personal is in excess of $1 million out of $69.7 million reviewed. Read the check |
| CTV News June 19, 2024 | Insolvent northern Ont. real estate group accused of misusing tens of millions of dollars | CTV's June 19, 2024 article reported the Monitor's report on the SID companies. The report was unaudited and was not tested in court; its table shows $13.4 million net to related parties and over $1 million of spending that appears personal. Read the check |
| CBC News July 3, 2024 | Ontario landlords hand over control of real estate empire after allegation of 'misappropriated' investor funds | CBC reported on July 3, 2024 that the landlords behind SID Developments handed over control after an allegation of misappropriated funds. The June 25, 2024 order was made on consent, and no approval of the Monitor's report was sought. Read the check |
| SooToday July 4, 2024 | Insolvent out-of-town landlords ordered to give up control of real estate business | SooToday reported on July 4, 2024 that the landlords behind SID Developments were ordered to give up control. The order of June 25, 2024 was made on consent, a day after the court held the companies could test the Monitor's report. Read the check |
| The Globe and Mail July 27, 2024 | How former child TV star Robby Clark's crumbling real estate empire has left hundreds of private lenders on the hook | The Globe and Mail's July 27, 2024 feature on Robby Clark states that none of the allegations had been proven in court. Its main statements, set beside the court record. Read the check |
| The Globe and Mail September 25, 2024 | Lenders scramble to find way out of property empire collapse | The Globe and Mail's September 25, 2024 article reported $144 million of debt. The Monitor's pre-filing report put the homes at about $173 million, and 82 per cent of the portfolio passed to the mortgage lenders by credit bid. Read the check |
Checks that cover more than one outlet
- What the Globe, CBC and CTV reported, and what the record shows
- Six published claims, quoted word for word and checked
- The $144 million figure
- The $1 million "personal expenses" figure
- Where the money went, on the Monitor's table
- No court finding: the direct answer
How the checks are done
Each check quotes the article's own words, then sets beside them the court endorsement, Monitor's report, regulator's decision or sworn evidence that bears on the statement, with the paragraph cited. Where an article accurately reports what the Monitor's report said, the check says so. Each page ends with what cuts the other way.
What cuts the other way
- Much of the coverage accurately reported what the Monitor's Fourth Report alleged. The report alleges that significant funds were regularly diverted to the principals and their corporations. Fourth Report of the Monitor, redacted (Jun 11, 2024), s.7.0 para 2
- The Monitor said the companies' response letter and motion record "do not change the principal conclusions reached in the Monitor's Fourth Report". Supplement to the Fifth Report (Jun 23, 2024), s.2.0 para 2
- The court referred to "the very serious nature of the allegations". Endorsement of Justice Osborne (Jun 24, 2024), para 14