Statement by Mike Marcolongo, Associate Director, Environmental Defence

Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – This morning, Tuesday, June 2nd, Environmental Defence was joined by the Ontario New Democrats, the Ontario Liberals and the Ontario Greens in requesting that taxpayers not be left in the dark for what is expected to be the province’s costliest mega-highway.

Opposition parties, Environmental Defence and “Open The 407 Now” held a press conference at Queen’s Park to request that the costs for building Highway 413 be investigated by the Financial Accountability Office (FAO).

At this time, only a preliminary design for the Highway has been completed and construction is many years away. However, this request is particularly important given the Ministry of Transportation’s continued refusal to disclose the highway’s costs and the well-documented increases in construction and land acquisition costs for building infrastructure in Ontario.

A financial analysis will also enable Ontarians to better understand the alleged costs and benefits of the Highway 413 proposal as well as its alternatives which have not been examined since the Ontario government has exempted this project from an Environmental Assessment.

“The financial analysis will shine a spotlight on the costs for what is widely understood to be Ontario’s most expensive highway project – in a location that will benefit well-connected developers, not commuters or Ontarians more broadly. A financial investigation could highlight the alternatives to a highway that will increase risks of flooding downstream and result in the direct loss of 2,000 acres of prime agricultural land, park land and forests next to Canada’s biggest city.”, said Mike Marcolongo, Associate Director, Environmental Defence.

“If the people of Ontario knew the true cost of this highway and that one of the best alternatives is not being considered, they would be furious. If the current provincial government subsidized trucks on the 407 it would relieve traffic congestion immediately. The Progressive Conservatives do not want to subsidize trucks on Highway 407 as it will show voters what a bad idea Highway 413 is. This current project cost is estimated between $14 -18 Billion , to subsidize trucks per year would cost around $300 million. You can subsidize truck traffic for at least 45 years to equal the cost of this construction. In addition this highway won’t be finished until 2040.”, said Andre Willi, Chair of “Open the 407 Now!”.

Background Information:

  • Highway 413 is a 59 kilometre mega-highway proposed to connect the 401 near Milton to Highway 400 in Vaughan.
  • Independent and government studies show Highway 413 would not reduce congestion, but moving traffic to the 407 and building public transit will. In fact, in 2017 – an independent government panel recommended canceling Highway 413 because as they concluded: saving 30 seconds from a commuter driving between Milton and Vaughan just wasn’t worth it from a public investment perspective.
  • Highway 413 is estimated to cost between $14-18 billion and is expected to be Ontario’s costliest highway to date.
  • In 2024, the Ontario government exempted this mega-project from an environmental assessment – as a result transportation alternatives including opening up Highway 407 to trucks have not been examined. Highway 407 is an underused highway that is only 15 km south of the proposed route of Highway 413.
  • A report authored by Environmental Defence and Transport Action Ontario, Transit Over Traffic makes the case that putting $14-16 billion (estimated cost for Highway 413) towards public transit would move more than double the number of commuters per hour.
  • In addition to the financial costs, Highway 413’s infrastructure footprint would consume approximately 2,000 acres of prime agricultural land and 400 acres of the Greenbelt in the headwaters of the Credit and Humber River watersheds.

 

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Karishma Porwal, media@environmentaldefence.ca