Premier Doug Ford confirmed Wednesday that construction on the controversial Highway 413 north of Toronto will begin within days, even as critics demand answers on cost, timeline, and environmental impact.
The 52-kilometre highway is designed to connect Highway 400 in Vaughan with Highway 401 in Mississauga. Two initial contracts have been awarded: Fermar Paving will build an embankment at the Highway 401/407 interchange, while Pave-Al will resurface Highway 10 in Caledon. Ford, joined by Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, would not commit to a completion date or final price tag, though Ford argued the project is essential to easing gridlock and supporting jobs.
“Traffic costs the Ontario economy $56 billion annually,” Ford said, adding that the construction itself would create 6,000 jobs and contribute $1 billion annually to Ontario’s GDP, regardless of economic uncertainty tied to the ongoing Canada-U.S. trade dispute.
But opposition leaders and environmental groups blasted the plan. Protesters at the announcement carried signs reading “Don’t pave the Greenbelt,” warning that the highway will carve through farmland, wetlands, and habitats of endangered species. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner accused Ford of “wasting billions on a highway that won’t solve gridlock,” while NDP Leader Marit Stiles said Ontarians need “immediate relief” such as truck toll removal on Highway 407, not “a project with no timeline, no price tag, and no plan.”
Liberal transportation critic Andrea Hazell also criticized the lack of transparency, saying Ontarians “deserve to know the full implications” before billions are committed.
The Ford government has already passed legislation to speed construction, allowing for accelerated environmental assessments, 24-hour work schedules, and streamlined property acquisitions. Highway 413, along with the Bradford Bypass and Garden City Skyway expansion, has been designated a priority project under those fast-track rules.
Despite growing opposition, Ford remains adamant that the highway is central to his infrastructure agenda, insisting it will “keep drivers moving and keep our economy going.”