Canadians are reacting after the federal and provincial governments announced they’re moving forward with a new highway that will run between Milton and Vaughan.
On Monday, officials said both levels of government have agreed to a “collaborative process to assess and manage the issues around federal species at risk throughout Ontario’s planning of the project.”
“…The two levels of government have established a joint working group in which provincial and federal officials will recommend appropriate measures to minimize environmental impacts in areas of federal environmental jurisdiction,” the statement continued.
The Highway 413 project is part of Premier Doug Ford’s campaign promise. It is a proposed 52-kilometre highway and transitway connecting the regions of York, Peel, and Halton in Ontario.
In May 2021, the project was put on hold under the Impact Assessment Act over concerns that it would cause adverse effects on the critical habitat of federally listed species.
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Later in Oct. 2023, the Supreme Court of Canada said that the Impact Assessment Act is partially unconstitutional and must focus on areas of federal jurisdiction. The court encouraged the two levels of government to work together, in order for the project to go ahead.
The announcement of this partnership means the highway project has received the green light to proceed.
According to a release by the provincial government, the joint working group will “leverage collective expertise to protect the environment and ensure impacts to species at risk, like the Western chorus frog and the red-headed woodpecker, and their critical habitats are considered before the project moves into the detailed design stage.”
Despite this, the government emphasizes that the project is still subject to Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act and other provincial and federal protections, including the Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, and the Species at Risk Act.
In response to the highway’s approval, some Canadians are not impressed with the decision.
“Highway 413 is a $10 billion mistake. If this government really wants to make life easier for drivers on the congested 401 they can do it tomorrow — just pay the tolls for truckers to take the underused 407. Residents along the proposed 413 route know the damage it will cause to farmland, wildlife, and waterways and are standing up to say no to this destructive project,” one X user wrote.
“…This doesn’t help alleviate congestion. It will just put more cars on the other highways and clog them up. There is no benefit while the 407 remains underutilized,” another user said.
“It will destroy the environment, including native plants and animals, grade A farmland, and the lives of people living there. It will produce urban sprawl and long commutes. It will cost us billions, even those who don’t drive,” another user commented.
Meanwhile, some approve of the new highway.
“Very needed! Let’s get this done asap,” one X user wrote.
“Good. Get it built,” another user said.
The construction date for Highway 413 has yet to be announced.