Doug Ford is trying to play us for fools

Doug Ford is trying to play us for fools.

Last week, he released ads doubling down on his plan to pave through our Greenbelt to build mega-Highway 413. [1]

But Highway 413 would cause significant environmental damage, degrade the water source of millions of animals and people and cost Ontarians billions of dollars – all to save drivers a mere 30-60 seconds of time per trip. [2,3]

We know what Ford’s up to – he’s gearing up for next year’s election and he’s using the environment to pit us against one another. [4] He thinks he can bulldoze over the widespread opposition to Highway 413 with a flashy ad campaign.

Less than a year away from the ballot box, Ford is testing the waters to see what he can get away with. If we flood Ford’s inbox right now, voicing our opposition to Highway 413, it could convince him that the public is paying attention — and we won’t let him get away with this. Will you send a message to Doug Ford right now and demand he cancel Highway 413 and invest in clean, green and public transportation instead?

The opposition to the mega-Highway has been loud – cities like Vaughan and Mississauga have voted against it, lawn signs with the message “Stop Highway 413” can be spotted on yards across the GTA and over 25,916 people have signed Leadnow’s petition so far. [5,6]

Still, Doug Ford is ignoring the people of Ontario and it couldn’t be clearer why. An investigation from earlier this year exposed that ​​eight of Ontario’s most powerful land developers own prime real estate near the proposed highway route, many of whom are closely tied to Ford’s Conservative party. [7] With an election on the horizon, he’s putting rich developers’ demands first in the hope they’ll support his campaign.

But what is good for Ford’s friends’ wallets, is not good for the land, animals or people around Ontario’s Greenbelt. Highway 413 will add over 17 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in the next 30 years. It’ll destroy some of Ontario’s most productive farmland and harm federally protected at-risk species, and degrade water sources for millions of Ontarians. So, will you send a message now, calling on Ford to cancel this dirty and destructive project once and for all?

This is not just about a highway – this is about the fight against climate change and prioritizing liveable cities and clean, green and public transportation. This is about the future of Ontario and beyond. We need to show Doug Ford we won’t just stand idly by and let him pave over our Greenbelt. Send a message now.

With determination,
Jesse and Simran for Leadnow

Sources
[1] https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-pcs-launch-pre-election-advertising-blitz-promoting-premier-doug-ford-as-a-big-spender-1.5611377
[2] https://environmentaldefence.ca/stop-the-413/
[3] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-ontarios-proposed-highway-413-is-a-6-billion-sprawl-accelerator/
[4] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-highway-413-ontario-election-905-1.6207970
[5] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-highway-413-if-doug-ford-paves-paradise-hell-wind-up-with-a-rush-hour/
[6] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/plan-for-new-400-series-highway-draws-growing-pressure-from-across-the-gta-to-hit-the-brakes-1.5927202
[7] https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2021/04/03/ford-friends-with-benefits-an-inside-look-at-the-money-power-and-influence-behind-the-push-to-build-highway-413.html