Ontario Construction News staff writer
A local Member of Parliament has sponsored a petition asking the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to designate the Bradford Bypass project for a full federal impact assessment through the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.
While the province says it is expediting construction on the 16.2 kilometre, four-lane highway project, protestors say environmental concerns are being ignored.
Leah Taylor Roy a Liberal MP from Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, will present the petition to the House of Commons after it closes on Feb. 6.
In her latest report to constituents, Taylor Roy lists concerns about the proposed highway will have a “profound negative environmental consequences, such as running through the pristine greenbelt and fertile farmlands, raising emission levels, (and) degrading the water quality of Lake Simcoe.”
Seven municipalities have asked for further reviews before construction starts. However, regions including Bradford West Gwillimbury, Georgina and East Gwillimbury, as well as the Holland Marsh Grower’s Association support the highway.
The petition alleges:
- There are 11 species at risk along the route and recent Ontario regulations weaken the protections for some species along the route (O. Reg. 830/21)
- Ontario Regulation 697/21 exempts this project from the Environmental Assessment Act and therefore no further study will be done on the impacts to and mediation measures for species at risk, Lake Simcoe, climate and public health
- The highway’s EA is from 1997 and predates key provincial acts like Lake Simcoe Protection Act, Greenbelt Act, Clean Water Act and doesn’t consider climate change
- The highway will destroy one of Canada’s most significant historical sites, the Lower Landing
- The highway’s EA studies demonstrated elevated levels of benzene and groundwater contamination which impacts drinking water
- The highway’s estimated GHG emissions are 84 million kilograms of carbon per year
On Nov. 9 Premier Doug Ford announced that the provincial government will fully-fund the project, which he says is critically needed to relieve congestion and prepare for growth in the area.
“With both Simcoe County and York Region expected to grow at incredible speed, building the Bradford Bypass is a no-brainer,” said Premier Ford.
The proposed highway will extend from Highway 400 between the 8th Line and the 9th Line in Bradford West Gwillimbury and will connect to Highway 404 between Queensville Sideroad and Holborn Road in East Gwillimbury. Preliminary design work and an environmental assessment are underway and are expected to be completed by December of next year.