As the province announces the start of “construction” on Highway 413, critics say the Ford government is stretching truth and glossing over environmental and logistical concerns.
Originally proposed over 25 years ago as a route drilling through parts of Ontario’s protected Greenbelt, Highway 413 has long been controversial. The project was officially floated in 2007 under the Liberals, paused after an expert panel in 2018 said it wouldn’t ease traffic, and revived by Doug Ford’s PCs after his 2018 election. Key findings—such as projections showing the highway might save commuters only 30 seconds per trip—were removed quietly from government sources, along with promises made publicly to developers about Greenbelt land.
On August 27, the government declared construction was beginning. In reality, only “early works” are underway: resurfacing part of Highway 10, initial bridge engineering, and upgrades at the Highway 401/407 interchange—essential preludes rather than true highway construction. Critics say these early works were tailored to avoid triggering federal environmental and habitat protections.
Ford and Transport Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria have made bold claims: the highway will cut travel times by up to 30 minutes, generate over $1 billion in GDP during construction, and create more than 6,000 jobs annually. Experts call these figures exaggerated. An advisory panel once estimated time savings of mere seconds per trip; earlier government reports projected much smaller economic benefits and job numbers than those now cited.
Environmental defenders warn that the project threatens habitats for endangered species—including the Redside Dace and others—and that bypassing full environmental assessments erodes oversight and increases risk of ecological damage.
Despite the government’s claims of progress, many details remain vague: no firm timeline, no confirmed total cost, and the potential for long-term costs tied to underused early structures. Critics accuse the government of building political momentum rather than building infrastructure.
Courtsey The Pointer