Environmental Defence Canada has requested the federal government to immediately designate all new major highways in Ontario for federal Impact Assessments
Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – The Ontario government’s omnibus highways bill, which it has labeled the ‘Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024’, would bulldoze ahead with destructive new highways that make traffic worse. The bill ignores environmental values, hinders affordable solutions to traffic congestion, undermines efforts to deliver affordable infill housing and puts the province on a collision course with the federal government.
The proposed ‘Building Highways Faster Act, 2024’ and ‘Highway 413 Act, 2024’ would prioritize costly and complicated new highway projects over faster, more affordable alternatives that would provide real relief for commuters without destroying farms, species and rivers. Ontario could and should be tackling gridlock right now by making better use of existing infrastructure, such as moving commercial truck traffic from the 401 onto the underutilized Highway 407. This shift alone could ease congestion on major routes without further damage to ecosystems or the climate.
Additionally, the bill ignores the urgent need for better transit service and long-term investments in well-connected, efficient public transit infrastructure. Improving and expanding transit service would provide affordable, reliable alternatives to driving, reduce traffic, and help meet Ontario’s climate goals. Expert modelling shows that the right investments in improved transit service and densifying existing neighbourhoods would wipe out motor vehicle congestion in the GTA by 2035 by significantly reducing within-region motor vehicle trips. Yet, this legislation undermines the potential for sustainable transportation solutions like transit and cycling infrastructure, both of which are proven to reduce congestion and lower emissions.
“More highways mean more gridlock, more wasted time, more destroyed natural areas and more pollution,” said Tim Gray, Executive Director at Environmental Defence. “Shifting truck traffic from the 401 to the 407 now and investing in modern, well-connected public transit would relieve congestion more effectively and sustainably—without destroying natural areas and farms or increasing carbon pollution.”
By short-circuiting environmental reviews Ontario is proposing to ignore the fate of dozens of federally protected endangered species, the Humber, Credit and Holland Rivers and irreplaceable Indigenous archeological sites. All of these values are the responsibility of the federal government and cannot be destroyed at the stroke of the pen by the Ontario government.
“Premier Ford’s callous and contemptuous disregard for wildlife, rivers, clean water and culture, cannot be legally ignored by the federal government,” added Gray. “This bill should be a bright waving red flag for the federal government to immediately designate all new major highways in Ontario for federal Impact Assessments as we have requested.”
If passed, the Bill’s presumptive ban on most new bicycle lanes would also be another blow to hopes of solving Ontario housing shortage.
“Municipal governments like Toronto’s have identified the inclusion of parking as one of the major obstacles to building more homes faster, and at lower cost,” said Phil Pothen, Land Use and Land Development Program Manager. “While governments are removing the legal obligation to include parking spaces, “last mile” solutions like bicycles and e-bikes are vital to unlocking the interiors of many post-WWII neighborhoods for residents who don’t own cars. Blocking the expansion of protected bicycle lanes would sterilize many parts of our cities and suburbs for the lowest-cost, most labour-efficient forms of family housing.”
Environmental Defence calls on the provincial government to reconsider this bill and focus on solutions that protect both the environment and the quality of life for Ontarians. Bulldozing new highways through farms, forests and rivers is an expensive, destructive action that will only worsen traffic in the long run, while ignoring the well documented facts that better public transit and smarter use of existing roadways represent a more effective and affordable way forward.
A full backgrounder on Highway 413 can be found here.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Carolyn Townend, Environmental Defence
media@environmentaldefence.ca
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