I strongly oppose the…

I strongly oppose the issuance of the proposed permit.

The proposed Yonge Street subway extension is highly contentious and formally opposed by both the City of Markham and the City of Vaughan. The “significant social or economic benefit” of the proposed activities a have not been clearly established. In fact, there is significant local and regional opposition to the proposed subway alignment, which was substantively altered in Dec 2021, illustrating the insufficient planning to date.

This permit application should not be approved because the latest proposed alignment deviates significantly from the original route proposed and approved under the Environmental Assessment Act. The currently planned alignment is unnecessarily and unjustifiably damaging to the natural environment. Rather than maintain the route up the already intensively modified Yonge Street corridor, it veers sharply east to cross an ecologically valuable green space associated with Royal Orchard Park. This route was not considered under the original Environmental Assessment Act, thus the rationale for not consulting the public on this permit proposal is invalid.

Moreover, this permit application should not be approved because it fails to meet the requirement that “reasonable alternatives have been considered, including alternatives that would not adversely affect the species, and the best alternative that would allow the projects to continue has been adopted”. From an environmental conservation perspective, the original route up Yonge Street is unequivocally better, so more study is clearly needed to establish whether “the best alternative…has been adopted”. The only rationale offered by Metrolinx for the modified route through Royal Orchard Park is cost savings. But even that argument is lacking independent verification.

There is no reasonable justification for fast-tracking this construction, given the widespread local and municipal opposition. Further study is required on the environmental impacts and socioeconomic benefits of the proposed activities. The proposal from Metrolinx for this permit must therefore be rejected.