Vaughan councillors 'flip-flop', axe support for $6B GTA West highway after public ‘squeals’

Coun. Linda Jackson rejects sentiment developers are behind Hwy. 413, saying they are, in fact, against it

Yorkregion.com
March 4, 2021
Dina Al-Shibeeb

The term “flip-flop” flooded Vaughan council’s meeting Tuesday, March 2.

During the meeting, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua cautioned councillors not to “flip-flop” and to stay consistent in their endorsement for the proposed Highway 413 -- worth $6 billion in taxpayer money.

His cautionary remark, however, fell shy after Coun. Tony Carella’s motion to withdraw City of Vaughan’s support for the highway, passed amid an outcry from many of the public who opposed the proposed freeway.

While the motion carried, it showed a divide between Vaughan’s five ward councillors, who lent their full support to axe their endorsement, and the city’s three regional councillors and its mayor, who rejected it.

“This is an interesting debate,” said Bevilacqua. “It’s interesting because we as a council do have a position.”

The mayor went on to say he’d like to hear what has changed from the time of their approval in 2015 -- and also June 2020, when councillors reaffirmed their commitment.

“Flip-flopping is not something I really enjoy doing,” he added. “I also don’t feel the pressure that a lot of other people feel right now because I think the truth sets you free.”

Some vociferous Vaughan and King residents see the proposed highway as not only an attack on the democratic process for planning, but also a driver to climate change, forcing land expropriation. For them, there is no proof even that it would reduce traffic gridlock.

“I am not going to waver and flip-flop,” regional Coun. Linda Jackson said, rejecting Coun. Marilyn Iafrate’s claim that in 2015 councillors didn’t have all the up-to-date details.

“I believe that it is a flip-flop because the community comes out and squeals (and) we put our tails between our legs to turn and run.”

“We all have the information in front of us,” she continued.

Jackson expected to discuss “tougher environmental rules and regulations if this highway was to go forward.”

After all, Jackson had already moved two motions in endorsing the highway: to have Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) have its say through a voluntary project review, as well as calling for a federal environmental assessment “because we feel that the environmental safeguards are not in place today.”

“But if we blindly say no ... they may not go through with environmental assessments; they may not go and look at a higher level for the environment,” Jackson added.

She also said that developers are against this highway since it will eat up more development land.

'OUR JOB TO LISTEN TO RESIDENTS'

The local councillors, meanwhile, defended their new position.

Coun. Sandra Racco explained that “it’s our job to listen to our residents” and to other municipalities who didn’t endorse the highway.

In addition to Racco, Iafrate and Rosanna DeFrancesca felt the $6 billion could go somewhere to improve public transportation, by building new GO Stations already proposed, for example.

Iafrate said other York Region municipalities aren’t affected by this new highway nor are they accountable to Vaughan’s residents. “Only we are,” she said.

“Last year, the province proposed to streamline their EA process. According to the posting of the environmental registry, the regulation changes would permit construction to start earlier and allow the building of new bridges, bridge expansion, and transit weigh station construction, all before the completion of the EA, which is expected next year.”

“So what’s the point of the EA if you already build the bridge over a watercourse?” she questioned.

Also, to her defence, Iafrate said the council made the decision based on information dating back six years ago.

“So, yes, we have continued to theoretically support 413 unanimously based on the information that was given to us in 2015.”