Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is confident Prime Minister Mark Carney will back his ambitious plan for a massive tunnel under Highway 401, even though Ottawa has yet to signal any formal commitment.
Carney recently unveiled the first five projects designated as being of “national interest” and eligible for fast-tracked approvals, including small modular nuclear reactors in Ontario. The prime minister also hinted that upcoming projects would focus on energy, high-speed rail, ports, and unlocking the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region — a key provincial priority.
Ford, speaking at the International Plowing Match in Niagara Region, said he believes the 401 tunnel will make the next round of Ottawa’s list. “Considering it’s the busiest highway in North America, and 50 per cent of the GDP comes through Toronto, and gridlock is costing us $58 billion in lost productivity, I think it’s pretty national,” Ford said.
The premier envisions a 19.5-metre-wide, three-level tunnel stretching from Brampton and Mississauga to Scarborough and Markham, with two levels dedicated to east- and westbound traffic and a third reserved for transit. The province has issued a request for proposals for a feasibility study, which will also explore shorter tunnel options and alternate start and stop points around Highways 410, 427, and 404.
However, not everyone is sold on the idea. Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles dismissed the tunnel as a “vanity project,” arguing that adding it to the province’s priority list only “muddies the waters” and diverts focus from projects that clearly qualify as nation-building.
Ford’s wish list to Carney also includes a James Bay deep-sea port and expanded GO Train service, but the tunnel remains the boldest and most controversial pitch — one critics warn could cost billions and take years to materialize.