Councillor’s motion on $6B GTA highway doesn’t address ‘any of the major concerns raised’

Motion on GTA highway doesn’t address ‘any of the major concerns raised’

Yorkreigon.com
Feb.25, 2021
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Like Brampton, York Region “can find alternatives which are less destructive and (more) forward-thinking,” Vaughan citizen Alexandra Ney told York Region councillors on Feb. 11.

“(If we) develop mindfully, we can move people and goods without carbon emissions -- stop ignoring better options,” Ney added.

An uptick in York Region's CO2 footprint, not providing a decisive traffic gridlock, expropriating homes and farms and the usurpation of the democratic process of planning are some of the main concerns revolving around the proposed West GTA highway, worth $6 billion.

With five residents from Vaughan and one from King urging York Region councillors to rescind their endorsement of Highway 413 on Feb. 11, a motion was passed to bring some environmental insight into the proposed corridor.

The motion was brought by Vaughan Regional Coun. Linda Jackson, who has a seat at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). The motion sees York Region endorsing TRCA’s request for the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to “commit to receiving the conservation authorities’ Voluntary Project Review (VPR) sign-off at the detailed design stage,” York Region said.

The VPR will “use the TRCA’s Guideline for Determining Ecosystem Compensation where avoidance and mitigation is not possible,” it added.

Sarah Buchanan, Ontario climate program manager from Environmental Defence, who tuned in during the Feb. 11 public hearing, said, “Councillor Jackson's motion could help mitigate some minor design impacts.”

However, Buchanan said, her motion “does not address any of the major concerns raised.”

Environmental Defence urged the federal government on Feb. 1 to have a say on Ontario’s proposed new highway, which is deemed contrary to Ottawa’s plan on curbing carbon emissions.

“We have received confirmation that our request has been received, and that we should receive a response within 90 days,” Buchanan told the Vaughan Citizen.

“Informally, we have notified federal MPs in the GTA West corridor and have heard back from several of these MPs expressing their support for this request and sharing many of our concerns about the highway.”

The highway is also causing a divide within the Conservative party as well.

“Conservative MP Michael Chong (Wellington--Halton Hills), for example, has already sent a letter to provincial Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney expressing his opposition to the highway,” said Buchanan.

While York Region has pushed for the highway, outside its borders there is no agreement among officials in the GTA West region on whether to go forward with the highway.

“Halton Region has opposed, Brampton has proposed a boulevard instead and Orangeville has opposed,” Buchanan said.

“Provincial MPPs are not completely aligned -- PC MPP Ted Arnott has expressed concerns and Brampton's NDP MPPs have opposed, while (Amarjot) Sandhu, (Stephen) Lecce and other PC MPPs have supported.”

‘MASSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RAMIFICATIONS’

Ney told the councillors about the highway’s “massive environmental ramifications” to her home life.

“It is proposed 500 metres from my front door,” Ney said. “It will rip through actively farmed prime agricultural land, all along the proposed route and surrounding my home.”

“My family had farmed lands here, always respecting the natural heritage by preserving wetlands and woodlots,” she said. “I’m saddened and outraged.”

In June and July 2019, both Vaughan and King joined a growing list of cities across the world in declaring a global climate emergency, leaving some of the residents puzzled over their local councillors’ endorsement for this new corridor or highway.

“Remember the climate emergency declaration before the GTA West Highway revival?” Ney asked.

“Please review what you thought was great for the area. Rescind your endorsement,” she urged them alongside the five deputants. “Join Halton Hills and Orangeville, who have passed resolutions opposing the highway. The City of Brampton has unanimously endorsed a local boulevard as an alternative.”