Environmentalists, MP advocate for federal impact assessment for Bradford Bypass

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 14, 2022

Environmental advocates in the Lake Simcoe Watershed have still not given up hope for a federal government to provide an impact assessment on the Bradford Bypass. While the federal government announced last year it would conduct an environmental assessment for the proposed Highway 13, it did not grant similar request for the bypass

Aurora--Oak Ridges--Richmond Hill Liberal MP Leah Taylor Roy is the latest to sponsor a petition to have the government designate the Bradford Bypass for an assessment. The petition outlines several concerns about the highway, including the known impacts stated in the 1997 environmental assessment for the project, such as groundwater contamination and loss of significant habitat for species at risk -- of which there are 11 along the route. The petition also outlines concerns that haven’t been addressed by past or current studies, including climate impacts, impacts to Lake Simcoe and the Greenbelt, and the destruction of one of Canada’s most significant historical sites, the Lower Landing.

On Dec. 3, Roy outlined that the highway projects planned by the provincial government, including the Bradford Bypass, come with profoundly negative environmental consequences, such as running through the Greenbelt and farmlands, raising emission levels, degrading the water quality in Lake Simcoe, and leading to increased development in the green spaces surrounding them.

Local advocates for Lake Simcoe and the Greenbelt applauded Roy for taking a principled stand, and for supporting the residents and municipalities in the region concerned about the project.

Claire Malcolmson, executive director of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition, said there are too many questions and concerns being raised that the province isn’t addressing.

“Seven municipalities in the surrounding region are asking for more in-depth studies to ensure that Lake Simcoe is protected, including Barrie and Newmarket,” she said. “The province is ignoring those concerns and instead is doing all it can to start early construction on the project. It is clear that the province is not standing up for Lake Simcoe.”

Malcomson said the public has been misled about the bypass and the impact it will have.

“The wetlands will get sick, these habitats will be lost and as a result we will see more flooding, poorer water and air quality and more carbon emissions. This isn’t doomsday, this is what science is telling us,” she said. “There are lots of federal MPs around the lake that say they are champions for Lake Simcoe. If that is true, we would like them to support this petition.”

“It’s a sad day when people have to fight their government to protect their water, air and health, but that is where we are,” said Margaret Prophet, executive director of Lake Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition. “The province has demonstrated that Lake Simcoe and the Greenbelt are not priorities for them and instead are places to raze and pave. It’s now up to the people who care about those places to not let that stand.”

The petition will be open until Feb. 6, after which it is hoped to be presented to the House of Commons. You can find the petition by visiting https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-3766.