Vaughan councillor tells MPP she ‘respectfully’ disagrees on ‘moving forward’ with Highway 413

Peel and York Region would 'save up to 30 mins each way and 5 hours per week,' says Tibollo

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 16, 2021
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Vaughan Coun. Marilyn Iafrate told Michael Tibollo, MPP for Vaughan-Woodbridge, that she “respectfully” disagrees with him in a tweet Nov. 11, a day after the provincial representative announced that, “We are moving forward with building Highway 413.”

Highway 413 has already created a divide between local and regional councillors. Both Vaughan and King municipalities have withdrawn their support for the highway while regional councillors bolstered their backing.

Proponents of the highway say it will cut time amid traffic gridlock complains and that traffic on the route is expected to exceed 300,000 vehicle trips per day by 2031. But opponents highlight how Highway 407 is underused, highways devastate natural habitats, and that a previous 2017 panel modelling showed that the 413 would save drivers a mere 30 to 60 seconds per vehicle trip.

“This is where we respectfully disagree Michael because Woodbridge drivers already have #407,” tweeted Iafrate, who is becoming increasingly vocal over the province’s emboldening clout over urban planning and usurping local voices.

“However those drivers would love to see provincial $ spent on improving Hwy 7, Weston, Rutherford, Islington or #27 etc, a better solution to dealing with gridlock,” she added.

In his Nov. 10 tweet, Tibollo described how the 413 would cut through Halton, Peel and York regions, and would “save up to 30 mins each way & 5 hours per week!”

However, critics say there is no proof that it would save up 30 minutes each way.

The highway had been cancelled by the previous Liberal government after a panel determined that there were better alternatives, including more superior use of technology to curb traffic jam and pollutants as Canada tries to reduce its greenhouse gases emissions.

Initially, the estimated cost for the highway was said to be $6 billion; however, it’s yet to be determined, with critics describing that it would be a lot heavier on taxpayers.

On Wednesday, Nov. 10, Premier Doug Ford confirmed the route will not be tolled. Ford didn't provide any details over the cost or schedule for completion.