The recent tabling of Bill…

The recent tabling of Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act by Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria is a troubling escalation in the Ontario government’s push for Highway 413.

This bill represents an alarming departure from transparency and environmental responsibility. It permits round-the-clock construction, fast-tracks land expropriation, and imposes harsh penalties on those who oppose the project. Even more concerning, it eliminates the need for further environmental assessments — except for Indigenous consultations — and keeps critical studies on natural and cultural heritage hidden from the public eye.

Building this toll-free mega-highway will destroy irreplaceable farmland, fragment our ecosystems, and carve through the Greenbelt, threatening the very fabric of our communities. Meanwhile, there are far more sustainable solutions to address Ontario’s growth, such as improving public transit, subsidizing truck tolls on Highway 407, and investing in green infrastructure.

Reverse Bike Lane Restrictions/Removals. The government of Ontario should demonstrate leadership that provides its residents with more – not fewer – opportunities for achieving a sustainable, safe, and prosperous future. According to research, a standard vehicle releases around five metric tons of carbon dioxide a year. Choosing a bike instead of a car just once a day cuts an average person’s transportation-related carbon emissions by 67%. Ontario contains the most densely populated areas in the country and is home to 40% of Canada’s population.

The provincial government should not spend taxpayer money on undoing municipal infrastructure projects and should instead focus on fixing the Gardiner, finishing the Eglinton LRT, and developing non-car-related methods for alleviating traffic in the city.

According to the Government of Canada, only 37.6% of children aged 5-17 are getting the minimum 60 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous activity recommended by Health Canada. Across Ontario, fewer kids are using active modes of transportation (e.g., walking, cycling, rollerblading, scootering and rolling for wheelchairs or other mobility devices) for their school journey: 22% of kids walk to school and 4% cycle, whereas 74% travel by motorized transport. Bicycle lanes are important for kids who currently ride their bicycles, but also for reversing these trends.

Driving kids to school has led to several serious impacts: More inactivity. Kids miss the opportunity for much-needed physical activity, fresh air, and quality interaction with parents, caregivers, and friends. Less focus. Students are less focused in class, contributing to poorer academic outcomes. Worse congestion. An estimated 25-40% of vehicle congestion during morning rush hour is related to school drop-off. Riskier roads. 78% of Ontario parents reported witnessing unsafe driving behaviours in school zones.

Building for the Future

The legislation will jeopardize most future developments of safe, protected bike lanes in Ontario, reducing transportation options for children and families and contributing to higher rates of collisions, physical inactivity, and pollution.

I strongly encourage the government to reverse course on this legislation and instead encourage municipalities to continue building networks of high-quality protected bike lanes on major streets. Our collective future depends on it. It goes further. Most suburban residents of the GTA have reason to oppose the construction of 413, even if they do not care about environmental sustainability. This is because it will make traffic worse in the GTA. Every local community along the proposed route of highway 413 opposes it.