Bill 212 as proposed to…

Bill 212 as proposed to Reduce Gridlock, Saving You Time, Building Highways Faster- fails to commit to critical environmental protection to natural habitat, species at risk, migratory birds and prime agricultural land in the GreenBelt. Specifically, MTO's own assessment identified 11 species at risk along the planned route for the 413 Highway. Bill 212 says goodbye to the Butternut tree, western chorus frog, resided dace, rapids club tail, bobolink, chimney swift, barn swallow, wood thrush, eastern meadowlark, olive-sided flycatcher.It is not logical to "expedite" building bridges and pavement for projects that will take years to complete and will minimally relieve current gridlock in the GTA. Bill 212 seems to be a knee-jerk reaction by the Government of Ontario leaders being overwhelmed by current traffic management in the GTA- density being complicated by many major construction projects in downtown Toronto.These projects will be completed. It has been suggested that paying truck tolls now for travel on the 407 highway will relieve current congestion. This proposed bill only inflates property values for select developers, not building more affordable housing communities.
Bill 212 also removes legal rights of landowners facing expropriation for government priorized projects.It removes rights of citizens objecting to these questionable expedited projects and effectively squashes the protective mandates of the Conservation agencies like the TRCA whose lands will be compromised by the projects.
Unfortunately, the taxpayers will pay the costs and the environment will pay the cost with less ability to store carbon and mitigate flooding as we face increasing hazards from climate change. Bill 212 is ill-considered and harmful.