The 413 freeway polarization project promoted by Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford is facing new criticism following reports that the route connecting the York, Peel and Halton regions will harm the environment of several species of wildlife considered at risk.
In the new findings obtained by the Narwhal and the Toronto Star through a request for access to information, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation confirmed that there are 11 different species considered “at risk” along the project route. of highway and traffic of 52 kilometers.
The list includes seven species of birds and one species of frog, fish, insect and tree, respectively.
General Alert: Documents obtained by me and @njaved from @TorontoStar show that Ontario has silently confirmed that at least 11 endangered species live along the planned Route 413 route.
Including two power plants for a federal review of the project. #onpoli https://t.co/KiEy3d0pqW
– Emma McIntosh (@EmmaMci) June 29, 2022
Three of the endangered species (the western heart frog, the red-headed woodpecker and a dragonfly known as the club tail) are protected by federal law, and Ottawa has already set aside the project with an environmental review. subsequent after identifying “clear areas of federal concern”. “in 2021.
Collaborative reports from The Star and Narwhal suggest that Ottawa could be forced to intervene and take over the project. With construction already delayed for environmental review, additional federal scrutiny could push the project schedule back years.
When the federal government stopped Highway 413 last year for environmental monitoring, it expressed concern about how the western heart frog and club tail species of the rapids could be endangered. They both live near the proposed route, the documents say. pic.twitter.com/zAAopQcvOS
– Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) June 29, 2022
The Ontario PC government has promoted the project as part of a plan to fight congestion, seemingly unfamiliar with the concept of induced demand and fitting perfectly with the “just one more lane” memes that predominate on urban Twitter.
While the route would also feature low-carbon options such as a transit route for fast bus trips and electric vehicle charging stations, it has not achieved any traction with the other parts represented at Queen’s Park.
In response to the latest revelations, Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner issued a statement, duplicating his calls for the controversial highway project to be scrapped.
# Hwy413 will pave more than 400 acres in Greenbelt, 2,000 acres of premium farmland and threaten or destroy 75 wetlands.
Now add to Ford’s list of destructions: internal government documents say a minimum of 11 endangered species live along the route. # StopThe413 #onpoli pic.twitter.com/HqPjXFQt3S
– Ontario Green Party (@OntarioGreens) June 29, 2022
“Ontario Greens have called for the cancellation of Highway 413 since it was reintroduced by Ford because it will pave more than 400 acres of Greenbelt, 2,000 acres of top-tier farmland, threaten or destroy 75 wetlands, and add 17.4 million tons of emissions. 2050, ”Schreiner said.
“We now know that this unnecessary supersprawler highway will cause even more destruction. Internal government documents show that a minimum of 11 species at risk live along the proposed Highway 413 route, with the possibility of dozens more.”
Schreiner describes the decision to continue with the highway as “reckless” and “short-sighted,” adding that the Ford government’s contempt for environmental protection is bad for our climate, economy, communities and quality of life. “.