Ontarians are rallying to say #HandsOffTheHumber and fight the provincial government's attacks on our beloved rivers!
The Humber River and the cool, clear streams that feed it are under threat! As an urban river, the Humber is already burdened with road run-off and pollution. Highway 413 will contaminate the headwaters of the Humber River and threaten 29 federally-identified species at risk including the Redside Dace.
Tell your MP that you need them to stand up for the Humber River. They must conduct a full federal Impact Assessment of Hwy 413 and use the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act and other federal legislation to protect the river.
![Aerial,View,Of,The,Humber,River,Area,Of,Etobicoke,(toronto) Drone image of the humber river with the city of Toronto on the horizon.](https://b2399578.smushcdn.com/2399578/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock_1584100765-scaled.jpg?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
The Humber River is a Canadian Heritage River that draws water from over 700 smaller waterways spreading from Lake St. George in York Region and up into the Niagara Escarpment in the Mono Mills area of Caledon.
As the Humber enters more densely populated areas of the GTA it brings with it an abundance of fish, birds and mammals that travel up and down the river corridor. It cools the city, and the trees along its banks bring much needed shade and tranquility. Despite passing straight through an urban area of nearly 6 million people, salmon still run up the Humber River every fall.
But Highway 413 puts it at risk.
The destructive path of Highway 413
Highway 413 (highlighted in red) will cut straight through pristine areas of Caledon and York Region bringing with it more concrete, more pollution and more sprawl. The small waterways that feed a river are like the roots of a tree. Highway 413 will be a direct assault on the Humber River’s roots.
![413_Watersheds_10_HumberRiver Map highlighting where the proposed highway 413 route will cut through the Humber River watershed.](https://b2399578.smushcdn.com/2399578/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/413_Humber_River_DRAFT_01-scaled.jpg?lossy=1&strip=1&webp=1)
Increased urbanization is the biggest threat to the Humber River
Building on a history of advocacy for the Humber River
For many years, community members and grassroots groups have been working to protect the Humber River.
We want to acknowledge the past and ongoing work of Humber River Pals, Humber River Calling, Etobicoke Climate Action, Parkdale High Park for Climate Action, Green13, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
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