Ontario and Ottawa to reach agreement over Highway 413 environmental assessment

The Canadian federal government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has reached a significant agreement with the province of Ontario regarding the construction of Premier Doug Ford's flagship project, Highway 413. This agreement, in the form of a joint consent order pending court approval, proposes to cancel the environmental impact study initially required for the highway's development.

 

The Ministry of Transportation spokesperson stated to CTV News, that "Ontario and Canada have mutually agreed to resolve this litigation," but refrained from further comments due to the matter being before the court. 

 

This move marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate surrounding the environmental assessment of the proposed highway.

 

In May 2021, the federal government deemed Highway 413 as warranting designation under the Impact Assessment Act. This legislation empowers the federal government to assess the potential impacts of projects like Highway 413 on climate change. 

 

However, the Ontario government has actively contested this process. In October 2023, Ontario sought legal intervention to prevent the federal government from applying the Impact Assessment Act to both Highway 413 and Ontario Place, following a Supreme Court opinion that deemed the act unconstitutional due to its encroachment on provincial responsibilities.

 

The agreement has sparked controversy among environmental groups. According to CTV News, Environmental Defence, an advocacy group and intervenor in the case, criticized the agreement as "a gross abandonment of federal responsibility" to protect wildlife and people across Ontario. The group argued that failing to designate the Highway 413 project for a federal Impact Assessment would betray the federal government's commitments to addressing climate change, housing, and environmental issues.

 

Highway 413, a six-lane, 52-kilometre highway, has been a cornerstone of Premier Doug Ford's agenda since his election in 2018. The project's future now hinges on the court's approval of the joint consent order, which could pave the way for its construction without the previously required environmental impact study.