I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my concerns about Bill 212 and request that you vote against it, 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. An Advisory Panel convened by MTO reviewed the corridor and concluded that it will save drivers only 30 seconds per trip, and that there are more effective and cost effective ways to reduce gridlock.

2) Highway projects in Bill 212 will have wide-reaching and long-lasting environmental effects that will increase financial risks to residents, municipalities, and Ontario. 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.

I expect my government - particularly one that claims to be 'For the People' - to be more responsible with my taxes and put them towards strategies that are strategically, fiscally, and ethically sound. Bill 212 is none of these.