I am writing to express my…

I am writing to express my opposition to Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024. This bill prioritizes infrastructure projects dictated by the Transport Minister, disregarding the needs of our communities, while undermining environmental protections and local autonomy.

Key Concerns

Schedule 3: Highway 413 and Environmental Impacts:
Exempting Highway 413 from the Environmental Assessment Act undermines transparent and thorough review processes. The highway will destroy critical Greenbelt ecosystems, disrupt farmland, and harm local communities, all for a project that primarily benefits suburban sprawl rather than solving gridlock.

Schedules 1 and 2: Overreach on Property Rights:
Schedule 2 grants sweeping powers to the Minister to expropriate land, relocate utilities, and enforce possession with minimal recourse for property owners. This disregards the rights of residents and communities directly affected by these projects.

Schedule 4: Blocking Safe and Sustainable Transportation:
Schedule 4 limits municipalities' ability to build bike lanes by requiring Ministry approval if they impact car lanes. This overreach actively discourages the development of safe, sustainable transportation options that reduce congestion and benefit everyone, including non-drivers.

In Toronto alone, 39 people have died as a result of traffic collisions this year. 25 of them were pedestrians or cyclists.

Calling for Sustainable Alternatives

Instead of doubling down on car-centric infrastructure like Highway 413, I urge the government to focus on projects that benefit all Ontarians:

Support active transportation by empowering municipalities to build bike lanes and improve mass public transit.

Prioritize public transit expansion to address congestion and connectivity without harming communities or the environment.

Respect municipal decision-making and ensure infrastructure projects enhance, rather than disrupt, the communities they serve.

Bill 212, as it stands, prioritizes short-term expediency on projects driven by government discretion, often favoring connected interests, over long-term sustainability and equity. I urge you to reconsider this approach and focus on infrastructure that genuinely benefits all Ontarians.