What are your thoughts on…

What are your thoughts on the fact that this bill makes it easier for the Ontario government to take my property and the property of Ontarians all across the province? Quoting from the bill:

"3 (1) Despite subsection 39 (3) of the Expropriations Act, a registered owner may not apply under that provision for an adjustment of the date of possession specified in a notice of possession if the Minister expropriated the land under the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act for the purposes of a priority highway project."

So is Ontario moving to a system where people who live near highways have fewer tools to push back against government expropriation of their homes? As long as it's for a highway that won't actually cut commute times, we're fine with the Conservative government dictating when people have to move out?

Next, from the bill:

(2) Every person is guilty of an offence who hinders, obstructs or interferes with the Minister, any employee in the Ministry or a person acting on behalf of any of them in taking possession of land that is vested in the Crown and which the Minister has the right to possess for the purposes of a priority highway project."

So if the Minister gives someone a date to move, and they need more time to get their possessions and finances in order, too bad, it's a criminal offence and the homeowner has no legal right to appeal the expropriation date?

After that:

"13 (1) A justice of the peace may issue an order authorizing a person named in the order to enter property specified in the order to do anything authorized under subsection 9 (1) or to take possession of land that is vested in the Crown and that the Minister has the right to possess for the purposes of a priority highway project if the justice is satisfied, on information under oath, that there are reasonable grounds to believe that..."

Centralizing the power of expropriation of Ontario's homes under the Minister, all to build highways that won't solve anything, do I have that right?

On a similar topic,

"4 (1) The Minister may by notice require a utility company to take up, remove or change the location of utility infrastructure if, in the opinion of the Minister, the taking up, removing or changing in location is for the purposes of a priority highway project."

So we're putting the contractors and utility companies in the backseat in favour of what? The opinion of the Minister? Years of experience in infrastructure building vs. one man's opinion, and the one man's opinion wins out?

Finally:

"(9) An application for an order under this section authorizing the use of force shall specify the nature of the force that may be needed to be used to do the things authorized under subsection 9 (1) or to take possession of the land, as the case may be, and the order may authorize such use of force."

So in summary, people near highways are more vulnerable to expropriation, will have fewer rights when it comes to fighting expropriation, and they have to move out before some arbitrary date decided by the Minister, under the threat of violence? Cool.

Even putting aside the clear land grab and overreach by the big government Conservatives, what will this bill do? Throw people out of their homes to build and expand highways, forcing them to move farther away from work and school, and so now they have to get on the highway to get there, increasing traffic congestion. Again, we see this government deciding the best way to reduce traffic is to put more cars on the road. This bill is terrible for Ontario and it needs to be withdrawn or voted down.