Controversial GTA West highway project designated for federal environment review

Ontario says it will work with Ottawa on a federal environment impact assessment of a controversial highway project in the western Greater Toronto Area.

That comes as the federal government has designated the Highway 413 project for an assessment because it says there are clear areas of concern surrounding the plan.

Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says there are clear areas of federal concern
with the project put forward by Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government.

He says his decision is based on the findings of several federal departments that the project may cause “adverse direct or incidental effects” on species at risk.

Environmentalists and opposition politicians have criticized the Highway 413 project, saying it would pave over environmentally sensitive areas including portions of the Greenbelt and farmland and threaten endangered species.

Provincial Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney says the project was already the subject to a “robust” environmental assessment.

Although the GTA West project is already subject to a robust provincial Individual Environmental Assessment (EA), we will work with the federal government to address their newly-found concerns regarding the Highway 413 project.

Please see below for my full statement 👇 pic.twitter.com/o54ESyzCLy

— Caroline Mulroney (@C_Mulroney) May 3, 2021