While the intent of removing…

While the intent of removing gridlock is laudable, the mechanism for doing so by requiring provincial approval for bike lanes that remove a traffic lane is misguided and will be counter-productive in several ways.
Encouraging car drivers to switch to riding bicycles removes cars from the road. This in itself reduces gridlock. In addition, bicycle riders and others who are physically active are healthier and this reduce costs for our health care system.
On the flip side - removing bicycle lanes discourages physical activity and causes more bicycle-car accidents, which results in more hospitalizations and costs for our health care system.
It is a well-established fact that having separated bicycle lanes (which often requires removal or narrowing of existing car lanes) encourages people to ride bicycles. People ride when they feel safe and don't ride when they don't feel safe.
Requiring a provincial review of each municipal decision for a bicycle lane increases government red tape and will result in cumbersome, time-consuming processes. This goes against a stated goal of the Provincial Government of reducing red-tape and improving government efficiency.
Removing bicycle lanes also hinders local businesses. Bicycle riders and pedestrians are much more likely to frequent and support local businesses than cut-through automobile traffic. Support for local small businesses is a stated goal of the Provincial Government and it is difficult to reconcile this with the removal of bicycle lanes.
Air quality will also suffer in cities. Every new car added to the roads increases the air quality problem. Every car removed from the road and every bicycle added decreases the air quality problem.
Heavy vehicles, including cars, cause more wear and tear on roads than bicycles. Shifting road usage toward cycling can significantly reduce the need for expensive road maintenance over time. Bike lanes typically require less maintenance, which can help cities allocate funds more effectively.
Finally, the removal of bicycle lanes will not solve the gridlock problem. There was gridlock before bicycle lanes were introduced. Going back to an old problem without any attempt at addressing the traffic problems with new ideas and new solutions is not really doing anything at all. It will just emphasize that the Provincial Government is bereft of ideas and solutions.