I am gravely concerned about…

I am gravely concerned about Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act for a long list of reasons.

- Lack of a provincial environmental assessment. Why skip this? What is the government afraid of? This is just wrong and if it was proposed by any other party, the conservatives would be raising the alarm. This highway will absolutely impact our natural environment and presumably the government understands the significance of these impacts and the probable extirpation of sensitive species, including the endangered redside dace, which is exactly why this government doesn’t want the impacts looked at. Nature deserves a voice in this province – please restore a fully transparent environmental assessment by an independent organization.

- Another broken Greenbelt promise. Premier Ford flips flops on the Greenbelt to suit the political will of the day, and I am relieved that the Durham-Rouge Agricultural Preserve is protected, at least for now, but if this highway is built, it will be yet another broken promise by this government. Ford said he would save the Greenbelt – then do it.

- The alignment of the highway goes against even your own Transportation Ministry’s recommendations intentionally bisecting protected conservation lands. We all know Premier Ford loathes conservation authorities, with a particular hatred for TRCA, so I guess this is a win-win for him: he continues to undermine TRCA by expropriating and developing sensitive CA lands, and the Friends of Ford developers who “coincidentally” purchased property along the “preferred” alignment reap the rewards. At the very least the highway should follow the path of least impact, regardless of where Friends of Ford own property.

- This bill removes fundamental tenants of democracy. Citizens of this province will be legally forbidden from opposing this very controversial highway. Worse, people living in the highway’s path will have their fundamental property and privacy rights completely removed. Has this province been suddenly transformed into a tyrannical government where the voices of its citizens no longer matter? This bill makes it very clear that if you do not support this highway, the province doesn’t care what you think and will silence you. Unbelievable.

- Lack of transparency – just because most Ontarians decided not to vote in the last election and you have a majority government does not give you the right to hide facts from Ontario citizens. What could possibly be so sensitive in natural or cultural heritage matters that it should be kept secret? Oh, probably the extirpation of local species and the blatant disregard for species at risk.

- You do not understand the plight of regular people. Our health care system is in shambles, but instead of directing funding here, this government would rather pave the way for developers and Friends of Ford to become even richer, while people die waiting for tests and surgeries. Our education system is failing students, especially those with special needs. Ignoring the problem now just kicks it into the future when these children become adults who cannot care for themselves – again the taxpayer will pay these consequences, not rich politicians and Friends of Ford.

- We are living in a climate change crisis and a biodiversity crisis. This is real and very serious. The construction and operation of this highway contributes to these crises – it enables GHG emissions and destroys habitat that can never be reclaimed.

- I read with sadness and horror about the elderly couple living in the highway’s path in Caledon. This is what you are doing to the people of Ontario – shame on you! This highway is not needed and not wanted.

I implore this government to grow a conscious and consider the REAL needs of Ontarians. Our priorities are health care, education, and environmental protection NOT ANOTHER HIGHWAY! Ford will tell us that it’s going to save us travel time, and lower costs since goods will not be sitting in traffic, but this is at best not a significant difference and at worst, not any benefit at all. We all know that this government is pandering to Friends of Ford developers so their multi-millionaire club can become even wealthier. Please do not build this highway. Please give future generations of Ontarians and the wildlife that currently live on the highway’s path a chance at success by protecting the Greenbelt, natural and cultural heritage and food production. STOP HIGHWAY 413.