{"id":24615,"date":"2021-02-03T12:00:36","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T12:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/environmentaldefence.ca\/?p=28740"},"modified":"2021-02-03T12:00:36","modified_gmt":"2021-02-03T12:00:36","slug":"the-federal-government-needs-to-stop-ontario-from-fast-tracking-two-gta-mega-highways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/02\/03\/the-federal-government-needs-to-stop-ontario-from-fast-tracking-two-gta-mega-highways\/","title":{"rendered":"The federal government needs to stop Ontario from fast-tracking two GTA mega-highways"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Ontario government is trying to bring two massive 400-series highway projects back from the dead in the GTA. To add insult to injury, they plan to exempt both projects from proper environmental approvals, jeopardizing farmland, forests, species-at-risk, water and air quality, a safe climate, and people\u2019s homes.<\/p>\n
Take Action: Tell the federal government to\u00a0step in and conduct\u00a0proper environmental assessments for two Ontario mega-highways<\/a><\/p>\n Highway 413 and the Holland Marsh Highway are proposed for locations west and north of Toronto. Both projects will have devastating impacts on the environment, and will increase greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by putting more cars on the road. Both were previously shelved after significant opposition, and because they wouldn\u2019t be needed if Ontario followed its own plans for sustainable growth.<\/span><\/p>\n Shortly after the last provincial election, the government revived these projects. And then, the Province quietly proposed weakening environmental assessments (EAs) for both projects in August, while Ontarians were fixated on the pandemic. This would be a reckless and irresponsible move. Projects of this scale need a thorough EA to catch threats to our drinking water, species-at-risk, watersheds, and to properly consult First Nations on impacts to their territories and cultural heritage.<\/span><\/p>\n If the Province isn\u2019t going to take these impacts seriously, we need the federal government to step in. Many of these impacts fall under federal jurisdiction, and building massive highways will also make it harder for Canada to meet its targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That\u2019s why we\u2019re asking the federal government to intervene with more thorough environmental assessment.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nHighway 413<\/b><\/h3>\n