I have several major…

I have several major concerns with Bill 212 and associated acts and request that you reject this bill or amend it to address my concerns. I have attached a document summarising my concerns and proposing solutions. Briefly:

1) Highway 413 will not reduce gridlock and is only predicted to save drivers ~ 30 seconds per trip. An Advisory Panel that reviewed the corridor for MTO concluded that there are more effective ways to reduce gridlock. Highway 413 should be stopped

2) Highway projects in Bill 212 will have wide-reaching and long-lasting environmental effects that will increase risk to residents, municipalities, and Ontario. For example, the 2013 Toronto flood cost an estimated $1 billion and the 2024 flood cost an estimated $940 million. Removing green space in major watersheds will increase these costs by increasing the probability and severity of flooding events at a time when climate change is increasing the frequency of severe precipitation events. Ignoring these, and other effects by exempting projects from the EAA is bad business. The assessment and construction of priority Highway projects must be subject to the Environmental Assessment Act.

3) Bill 212 undermines the public trust by disenfranchising Ontarians of their property rights without an option for independent appeal or legal remedy, and puts the Minister in direct conflict of interest.