Activists look for answers as government pushes Highway 413 in Fall Economic Statement

By Rob Paul

As part of Ontario's Fall Economic Statement, the Province has reiterated its plans to expand, repair, and build highways in the “Building Ontario” section of the statement.

The government has invested approximately $2.6 billion in funding for 2021–22 in support of the Ontario Highways Program, which features more than 580 construction, expansion and rehabilitation projects. As part of the Highways Program, the government has committed funding to build and advance the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413 (GTA West Corridor).

Both the Bradford Bypass and Highway 413 plans have come under fire from environmental groups and residents in the areas that the proposed highways will impact for the long-term effects it will have on the environment and farmlands. Protests have been held for months across Caledon, King, Vaughan, Simcoe, Brampton, Mississauga, and Oakville by residents and environmental groups and have spread through social media with the hashtags #NoMoreHighways, #Stopthe413, and #StoptheBradfordBypass.

One of the leaders in the fight against these highways has been Environmental Defence—a Canadian environmental advocacy organization—who have built ties with passionate residents throughout the regions where the highways are proposed.

Their concerns are that, if built, the highways would pave over farms, forests, wetlands, and a portion of the Greenbelt and cost taxpayers between $6 and $10 billion while adding over 17 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

The main argument for the highways is to relieve congestion as the population grows, but Environmental Defence points to an expert panel study that found Highway 413 would only save drivers 30 to 60 second per trip.

Environmental Defence has been asking the government to look at alternative ways to address the growing transportation needs in the region before investing billions of dollars into the highways.

They've also asked the government to look at the past history of investing in major highways to address commute times and analyze how much difference they've made vs. how much they've cost both financially and environmentally. 

Caledon resident and 2021 Federal Green Party candidate for Dufferin-Caledon Jenni Le Forestier has been a leading activist in the community against the highway and was not shocked to see it being made a point of emphasis in the Fall Economic Statement. 

“I'm not surprised, I was waiting for it to be presented and there was a statement made to the media about two weeks ago that the 413 would be happening and that they were the government who would get it done,” she said. “I knew this would be the follow up to that, so I'm not surprised. But what I am surprised about [Premier Ford] making it an election issue. It's interesting that they've declared it so early that the 413 and Bradford Bypass are what they'll be championing. It's really damaging right now with the world's eyes on Glasgow and COP 26 (Climate Change Conference) our government is pushing these highways that are in exact opposition to what we should be doing with the climate emergency.”

Though the government continues to push the highways forward, Le Forestier, along with fellow Caledon environmental activist Dan O'Reilly and Environmental Defence, organized a day to bring attention to choices being made by both the provincial and municipal government. 

“We have a day of action planned on November 13 in Bolton at King Street and Queen Street and we're inviting all in the community who oppose the 413 to come out and support that—the environmental community and residents across all of Caledon,” she said. “We want to invite residents in Bolton in particular who are opposed to the highway and MZO that Caledon pushed through—the Amazon warehouse that is in direct alignment with the route of the 413. That project is premised on the 413 and that was passed undemocratically through our Caledon Council and a lot of people are very opposed to that. We want to invite everyone who is concerned about the highway and the development that is being backtracked. We'll have signs to raise awareness and show we do not support this.”

Le Forestier has heard from residents across Caledon who worry about a “lack of transparency from Council” with decisions that will impact the environment long-term. 

“I've heard there's a lot of concern about how Council meetings are still continuing to be virtual, and that people aren't able to speak in person and it's too easy for the Town to mute delegates and members of the community who want to speak,” she said. “I was on a public meeting recently for the Region of Peel and most of the presentations were from developers. There were oral submissions from residents, but there were very few presentations from the public. 

“One of the presenters talked about the silent majority and a lot of these meetings are held in the middle of the day and people are very busy and it's difficult to know what's going on. I've heard a lot of concern about the MZO and how it's unappealable and how there's no recourse for the public to address the concerns that they have. There's no transparency on how that was fast tracked. Now there's a lot of concerns about the early work that we're seeing on the land of the route before the environmental assessment is even finished.”

Despite the implementation of a climate action plan by Caledon, Le Forestier says she believes Caledon Council must come out strongly against the 413 to help stop it from moving forward.  

“You cannot have a climate emergency plan and promote a 400 series highway through the Greenbelt,” she said. “The Region of Peel has a climate action plan as well and they came out in opposition to the highway, so why is Caledon Council not coming out and openly opposing the highway when they say they have a climate action plan? My question during the MZO delegation was, ‘when are you going to start acting like you have a climate action plan?' It's the epitome of greenwashing, it's not a real action plan if you're not taking any action.”

As for what residents who are concerned with the highway can do, Le Forestier urges them to write to their local official to have their voices heard on top of participating in the day of action.

“They need to write to their MPP and tell Sylvia Jones that they oppose the 413,” she said. “They need to let her know that if she's going to make this an election issue then she does not have their vote. Also, write to your MP, write to Kyle Seeback and let him know you support the federal environmental impact assessment...and tell him that this is a project he needs to come out as opposition on.”

The Stop the 413 event in Bolton on November 13 will begin at 1 p.m. To join the event or for more information, contact danoreilly@sympatico.ca.