Make sure Highway 413 gets a FULL federal assessment
Highway 413 will impact species-at-risk, climate change and increase sprawl
From Wilderness Committee
By Katie Krelove, Ontario Campaigner
During the provincial election Premier Doug Ford doubled down on promises to build the new mega-highway 413 — but we know it’s nowhere near a done deal. Last year thousands of us spoke up for a federal impact assessment of this destructive project and got one.
Now it’s crucial we make sure the feds perform the highest level of environmental review, not just a rubber stamp.
Demand a FULL federal assessment of Highway 413
We know Highway 413, if built, will have serious and irreversible environmental impacts. It will pave over 2,000 acres of Ontario’s most productive farmland, destroy 400 acres of Greenbelt and wetlands, cut through the largest protected forest conservation area in the region and threaten the habitat of at least 11 species at risk. It will increase greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate sprawl.
Meanwhile, there are other much cheaper options to alleviate traffic congestion, such as removing tolls from highway 407 and connecting communities with public transportation.
We also know the Ford government will try to push this project through no matter what, but the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault can — and must — stand up for the public and stand in the way.
Tell the minister to do a full and complete review of 413 with public input. Together let’s put the brakes on this mega highway.
We all talk about doing our part to reverse Climate Change. This is one example of where we can all put our words into action and start to make a difference for the positive rather than simply concede and thereby exacerbate the problems that create Carbon Emissions.