Bill 212 is overbroad, and…

Bill 212 is overbroad, and reactive policy that risks serious harm to the environment, the rights of property owners facing expropriation, and the safety of cyclists.
The intent of the 'Building Highways Faster’ and ‘Highway 413 Act’ is to accelerate construction of Highway 413. The Provincial government has not provided any explanation as to why it is in the public interest to exempt the project from provincial environmental assessment and restrict the rights of landowners facing expropriation simply to speed construction. The Provincial Government spent ample time and public funds to challenge the Federal Government’s jurisdiction to complete an environmental impact assessment for Highway 413. The Province is now proposing to exempt the project from any provincial environmental assessments beyond the significantly diminished Impact Assessment process it agreed to with the Federal government in the wake of its constitutional claim. The Federal Government has recently put forward a new framework for Federal Impact Assessments as a result of the Province’s challenge. From the perspective of Ontarians and all Canadians, Bill 212 is a transparent attempt to rush construction of Highway 413 before the Federal Government has opportunity to require a complete Impact Assessment under the new framework.

The Minister of Transportation and Premiere have made clear through public comments that the amendments to the Highway Traffic Act are intended to facilitate the Province’s plan to remove bike lanes on Bloor and Yonge streets, and University Ave in Toronto. However, the Proposed amendment would affect all Municipal Jurisdictions, and give the Province veto power over new bike lanes.

Decisions about bike lanes should be made by Municipal planners who have an in-depth understanding of the needs and activities of their residents. The City of Toronto is a world leader when it comes to research regarding the interactions of cycling and vehicle traffic. These studies and others worldwide consistently demonstrate that bike lanes actually reduce congestion, as well as traffic accidents involving cyclists, and overall emissions. It is also a well known phenomenon that adding more space for vehicle traffic does not actually reduce congestion. In fact, it can increase the overall reliance on vehicular travel thereby worsening congestion.

The Ministry of Transportation has failed to explain how this abundant research has informed its decision-making in proposing this amendment. In appearances, the amendments read as an over-broad and forceful attempt by the Province to target a well documented pet peeve of the Premiere and his primary support base in his own riding.