I am strongly against this…

I am strongly against this Act. It is embarrassingly lazy to think human convenience is of higher priority to the province than the lives of rare and vulnerable species at risk.

According to the COSEWIC assessment on the endangered Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus), "The greatest threats are natural system alterations that degrade habitat" (COSEWIC, 2017). The proposed route of the 413 highway would irrevocably degrade key habitat for this fish, as well as the critical habitat of 10 other species at risk (The Narwhale, 2024).

Overall, this act feels incredibly unnecessary and will likely be abhorrently expensive. The planned route crosses 85 waterways, all of which will need culvert infrastructure. The maintenance costs of a roadway on wetland combined with the eventual failure of culvert structures would likely mean endless construction which entirely defeats the purpose of this alternate route.

The aggressive tactics the Ford government is using to evade environmental legislature feels dishonest and borderline unlawful. If this bill is passed, I will mourn for these sensitive species as the construction of these highways would likely be the final nail in the coffin.