Bradford Bypass Project

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Attachment From Various Parties to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada - Comments on the Designation Request for the GTA West and Bradford Bypass Projects (2)

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Various Parties
  • Reference number: 81
  • Submitted: 2021-05-05
  • Please see the attached submission. The following form letter was submitted by 1736 individuals. 
  • Attachment included
  • [Note: The following form letter was submitted by 1736 individuals (identified in a table on the next page) to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada] GTA West and Bradford Bypass Projects Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Ontario Regional Office 600 – 55 York Street Toronto, ON M5J 1R7 Tel.: 416-952-1576 Email: iaac.ontarioregion-regiondontario.aeic@canada.ca Subject: Stop Steamrolling the 413 and Bradford Bypass Ontario has undertaken a flawed environmental assessment of the 413 proposal. The Ford government has restarted the project that saw its original flawed environmental assessment terminated in 2015; and proposes exempting the project (and all highways less than 75 km long) from individual provincial Environmental Assessments. Together with recent rollbacks to the Endangered Species Act, Ontario is clearly not going to adequately assess the impact of these highways. Highways make it difficult for animals to navigate, cutting them off from dens and separating them from their food sources. Connected landscapes can ensure the chances of survival for species. In the Greater Golden Horseshoe, only 3% is protected and we have the highest number of species at risk, more connectivity is needed not less. The 413 would bisect the sensitive headwaters of four watersheds, including the Sixteen Mile Creek, the Credit River, Etobicoke Creek, and the Humber River. The Bradford Bypass would pinch off the Holland River and cross the provincially significant wetland of the Holland Marsh. This would severely impact water quality for Lake Simcoe and downstream to Georgian Bay. Over 85 stream crossings have been identified for the 413 proposal alone. These unnecessary highways would split open ...

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Attachment From Various Parties to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada - Comments on the Designation Request for the GTA West and Bradford Bypass Projects

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Various Parties
  • Reference number: 80
  • Submitted: 2021-04-29
  • Please see the attached submission. The following form letter was submitted by 1232 individuals. 
  • Attachment included
  • [Note: The following form letter was submitted by 1232 individuals (identified in a table on the next page) to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada] GTA West and Bradford Bypass Project Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Ontario Regional Office 600 – 55 York Street Toronto, ON M5J 1R7 Tel.: 416-952-1576 Email: iaac.ontarioregion-regiondontario.aeic@canada.ca Subject: Please consider Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass for a federal environmental assessment I am writing to support the requests to designate both the GTA West Highway (Highway 413) and the Bradford Bypass projects for a federal environmental assessment pursuant to the Minister's power under s.9(1) of the Impact Assessment Act. These 400-series highways will cause irreversible environmental damage within federal jurisdiction, including harm to fish habitat, multiple federal species at risk, and dozens of significant wetlands, forests, and important ecosystems. They will pave over thousands of hectares of Ontario's Greenbelt and bulldoze people's homes. Without a proper environmental assessment from the federal government, we may never fully know the extent of these impacts until it's too late. The Ontario government has proposed significantly weakening the provincial environmental assessment process for both projects. The proposal for the GTA West Highway would allow "early works" such as bridges over watercourses to proceed before the EA is even complete. The Bradford Bypass project would be allowed to proceed with construction through the Holland Marsh based on an outdated 23-year-old EA. The original EA approval was conditional on performing additional studies on archaeological resources, ...

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Attachment Environment and Climate Change Canada - Preliminary Analysis of Conservation Risk of Federally Listed SAR for GTA West and Bradford Bypass Projects

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Reference number: 85
  • Submitted: 2021-04-22
  • Please see the attached submission. 
  • Attachment included
  • A N A L Y S I S R E P O R T 1 ECCC – CWS – April 22, 2021: Preliminary Analysis of Conservation Risk of Federally Listed SAR for GTA West and Bradford Bypass Projects Document has 3 sections: Summary, Federally Listed SAR Species List by Project, Species of Concern Summaries Purpose: To provide an analysis (based on the best information and data available) on the potential conservation risk for federally listed species at risk in relation to the proposed GTA West and Bradford Bypass Projects that are currently being considered for designation by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (the Agency). Key messages:  The critical habitat of three terrestrial species at risk may be impacted by the proposed GTA West Project. In particular the crossing at the Humber River is likely to impact the critical habitat of the western chorus frog if not properly mitigated.  There is no critical habitat for any species at risk that may be impacted by the proposed Bradford Bypass.  Impacts to species at risk critical habitat can possibly be mitigated but more information is required. If the Agency decides to not recommend designation for the project, it will be important that mechanisms are in place under the provincial EA process to ensure there is an appropriate mitigation strategy for the project to avoid and reduce effects on species at risk, most critically for the Western Chorus Frog and Red-Headed Woodpecker.  A key consideration for the GTA West project is to protect unprotected portions of critical habitat for two species (Western Chorus Frog and Red-Headed Woodpecker). Summary This analysis represents the best advice from ECCC-CWS (given short timeframes and ...

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Attachment Comment from member of the public submitted via email (John Kleiner)

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of John Kleiner
  • Reference number: 69
  • Submitted: 2021-04-19
  • Please see the attached submission.
  • Attachment included
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Attachment Environment and Climate Change Canada - Draft Analysis Report for GTA West and Bradford Bypass Projects

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Reference number: 82
  • Submitted: 2021-04-16
  • Please see the attached submission.
  • Attachment included
  • A N A L Y S I S R E P O R T 1 Draft Analysis Report for GTA West and Bradford Bypass Projects ECCC – CWS – Orig April 15, 2021 (modified v5 April 16, 2021) Summary of Considerations and Risks The proposed projects would occur almost entirely on non-federal lands; there is possibility that a very small area of federally-owned land (approximately 40 to 50 metres away from the right-of-way) may be affected. With respect to terrestrial species at risk1, mechanisms for protection exist under a combination of environmental assessment legislation and endangered species provincial legislation. Outside of any environmental assessment process, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides protection for species provincially listed as threatened and endangered, and their habitats. For migratory bird that are also species at risk, the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA) provide protections for individuals, nests and other residences. Impacts that cannot be avoided (e.g., through timing restrictions) could trigger SARA permitting requirements. There are currently no federal Orders that would bring SARA prohibitions into force with respect to individuals or residences of non-migratory birds (i.e terrestrial species), or with respect to critical habitat for any species at risk in the project area. Of the terrestrial species1 likely to occur in the project area, three species listed threatened under SARA do not currently receive any protection (and are not subject to authorizations) under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA):  Western Chorus Frog, Great Lakes/ St Lawrence – Canadian Shield population (not listed under ESA2),  Red-Headed Woodpecker ...

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Attachment Comment from member of the public submitted via email (Frank G. Shaw)

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Frank G. Shaw
  • Reference number: 79
  • Submitted: 2021-04-07
  • Please see the attached submission.
  • Attachment included
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Attachment Comment from member of the public submitted via email (Kaitlin Beatty)

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Kaitlin Beatty
  • Reference number: 52
  • Submitted: 2021-04-06
  • Please see the attached submission.
  • Attachment included
  • Archived: April 6, 2021 4:53:08 PM From: Wilkinson, Jonathan - M.P. Sent: April 6, 2021 2:10:42 PM To: Ministre / Minister (EC) Subject: Fw: Holland Marsh Highway (Bradford Bypass) EA Sensitivity: Normal From: Kaitlin Beatty Sent: Tuesday, April 6, 2021 11:03 AM To: Wilkinson, Jonathan - M.P. <Jonathan.Wilkinson@parl.gc.ca> Subject: Holland Marsh Highway (Bradford Bypass) EA Hello Minister, my name is Caitlin Beatty, and I live in northern York region. I’m deeply concerned about the proposed Bradford Bypass that the current Ontario government has brought back, even though it was cancelled years ago. I worry because the last environmental assessment on the project was completed in 1997, more than twenty years ago, when environmental standards were nowhere near what they are now. Even then, the EA noted potential serious impacts on groundwater and storm water that should be studied further. And despite this, the current Premier seems intent on ramming this highway project through, ignoring even these recommendations, and without any further and up to date studies of the highway’s environmental impacts. I’m worried about the impact this will have on human, wildlife, and environmental health. So, I’m requesting that the federal government step in, to do what our provincial government belligerently refuses to do, and perform a federal environmental assessment on the Bradford Bypass project to determine its potential impact, and if the project is to go forward, how to minimize its impacts on the environment. Thank you, Caitlin Beatty. Sent from my iPad <Email address removed> mailto:Jonathan.Wilkinson@parl.gc.ca mailto:ec.ministre-minister.ec@canada.ca

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Attachment Comment from member of the public submitted via email (Daryl Harkley)

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Daryl Harkley
  • Reference number: 50
  • Submitted: 2021-04-05
  • To Impact Assessment Agency of Canada,   Two proposed new 400-series highways in Ontario, the 413 “GTA West” and the Bradford Bypass represent significant risks of irreversible environmental damage within federal jurisdiction, including harm to fish habitat, federal species at risk, and dozens of significant wetlands, forests and important ecosystems. The Ontario government has proposed significantly weakening the provincial environmental assessment process for both projects. Without a proper environmental assessment from the federal government, we may never fully know the extent of these impacts until it’s too late. Both of these controversial highways have generated public concern over many years. Thousands of Ontarians have already written to the province asking them to reconsider the dangerous and unnecessary GTA West proposal, and the Bradford Bypass proposal has remained contested despite being dormant for over two decades. These highways would increase vehicle traffic at a time when the federal government has pledged to cut carbon emissions from transportation. The current assessment process ignores the climate change impacts of 100,000+ vehicle journeys per day these highways would add to Ontario’s roads. The federal government can and should designate these highway projects for a federal environmental assessment. If the Ontario government won’t protect our environment, the federal government needs to step in now.   Yours truly, Daryl Harkley <Personal information ...

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Attachment Comment from Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition submitted via email

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition
  • Reference number: 84
  • Submitted: 2021-04-01
  • Dear Lake Simcoe MPs, Minister Wilkinson, and the IAAC,    In cooperation with local residents I have just sent the following press release to media. This is about the Bradford Bypass / Holland Marsh highway proposal, the very confusing timelines offered by the province, and the contradictory statements that have been made.    I would like to note that the IAAC's timeline for comments was very short, both for municipalities to be able to respond, and for the public to make comments. We were not aware that the public comment period would be cut so short. We would like you to continue to accept responses, as at the moment there are so many contradictory statements that, for instance, York Region discussed and provided feedback to the IAA based on MTO comments that have yet to be substantiated regarding travel time saved. We feel that the public and municipalities are being misled by the province.    Many of you love Lake Simcoe and ask how you can help. Thank you! In this instance you can either support a Federal Review of the highway project or you can help us by asking the province to get organized and determine which studies they will do, when, provide details on consultation, and for them to not build anything until this is complete and Lake Simcoe is protected. Please be in touch to answer whether public comments are being accepted at this point by the ...

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Attachment Comment from member of the public submitted via email (Teresa Sinkowski)

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Teresa Sinkowski
  • Reference number: 61
  • Submitted: 2021-04-01
  • Please see the attached submission.
  • Attachment included
  • From: Sent: April 1, 2021 8:21:41 PM To: Ministre / Minister (EC) Subject: Holland Marsh Expressway Sensitivity: Normal Archived: April 7, 2021 2:26:16 PM ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc$ Dear Mr. Wilkinson One of Canada's greatest treasures is the precious mosaic of farmlands and natural areas that form the Holland Marsh. The marsh is Canada's vegetable basket and it is under threat by an expressway approved by Premier Doug Ford's government. The Ontario government recently announced plans for a new expressway. Called accurately by opponents, the Holland Marsh Expressway, it would be a 16.2 kilometre link between the 400 and 404 expressways. It would pave over 39 hectares of critical wildlife habitat. Some 9.5 hectares of the provincially significant Holland Marsh Wetland Complex, which drains into Lake Simcoe, would be removed. The expressway would have an intersection and cut across the largest remaining forested wetland in the Holland Marsh. It is a birding hot spot. This swamp woodland is a refuge for numerous raptors that require forested habitats. These include the Red Shouldered Hawk, the Sharp Shinned, and Broad winged Hawks. This woodland is also a home to a number of bird species that require large intact forests. These species include the threatened Wood Thrush, the Scarlet Tanager, the Black and White Warbler, the Veery and Ovenbird. The expressway would cut through the traditional territory of the Georgian Island First Nation. It has never been consulted although the expressway route would disrupt sacred sites. Please conduct an environmental assessment of this project. Thank you for consideration of my request. Concerned Citizen Teresa ...

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Attachment Comment from member of the public submitted via email (Ethan Rivest)

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Ethan Rivest
  • Reference number: 48
  • Submitted: 2021-03-28
  • To Impact Assessment Agency of Canada,   Two proposed new 400-series highways in Ontario, the 413 “GTA West” and the Bradford Bypass represent significant risks of irreversible environmental damage within federal jurisdiction, including harm to fish habitat, federal species at risk, and dozens of significant wetlands, forests and important ecosystems. The Ontario government has proposed significantly weakening the provincial environmental assessment process for both projects. Without a proper environmental assessment from the federal government, we may never fully know the extent of these impacts until it’s too late. Both of these controversial highways have generated public concern over many years. Thousands of Ontarians have already written to the province asking them to reconsider the dangerous and unnecessary GTA West proposal, and the Bradford Bypass proposal has remained contested despite being dormant for over two decades. These highways would increase vehicle traffic at a time when the federal government has pledged to cut carbon emissions from transportation. The current assessment process ignores the climate change impacts of 100,000+ vehicle journeys per day these highways would add to Ontario’s roads. The federal government can and should designate these highway projects for a federal environmental assessment. If the Ontario government won’t protect our environment, the federal government needs to step in now.   Yours truly, Ethan Rivest <Personal information removed>

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Attachment From York Region to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada - Letter Regarding the Designation Request for the Bradford Bypass Project

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of York Region
  • Reference number: 86
  • Submitted: 2021-03-19
  • Please see the attached submission.
  • Attachment included
  • ATTACHMENT 1 The Regional Municipality of York | 17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 6Z1 1-877-464-9675 | york.ca March 3, 2021 Ms. Anjala Puvananathan, Director Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Ontario Region 600-55 York Street Toronto ON M5J 1R7 Dear Ms. Puvananathan, Re: Designation Request for the Proposed Bradford Bypass Project under the Impact Assessment Act Thank you for your February 12, 2021 correspondence regarding the designation request submitted on February 3, 2021 by Ecojustice on behalf of Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition and Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition. The Ecojustice submission has requested the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Canada designate the proposed Ontario Bradford Bypass Project under subsection 9(1) of the Impact Assessment Act. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation is proposing a new four-lane highway, connecting Highway 400 and Highway 404. The proposed Bradford Bypass Project (also commonly known as the Highway 400-404 Link) will connect Highway 400 in Bradford West Gwillimbury (Simcoe County) to Highway 404 in East Gwillimbury and crossing King Township (York Region). The Ontario Ministry of Transportation completed an Individual Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Highway 400 – 404 Link concurrent with the EA for the Highway 404 extension in 1993 and was granted approval by the Ministry of Environment for both EA’s on August 28, 2002. In 2004, the Province designed the approved alignment for the Highway 400 – 404 Link as a Controlled Access Highway Corridor under the Public Transportation and Highways Improvement Act, thereby protecting the route from development until the highway is ...
  • Attachment included
  • The Regional Municipality of York | 17250 Yonge Street, Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 6Z1 1-877-464-9675 | york.ca March 19, 2021 Anjala Puvananathan, Director Impact Assessment Agency of Canada Ontario Region 600-55 York Street Toronto ON M5J 1R7 Dear Ms. Puvananathan, Re: Designation Request for the Ministry of Transportation Ontario’s proposed Bradford Bypass Project under the Impact Assessment Act On February 12, 2021, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada requested input from York Region regarding the designation request submitted by Ecojustice on behalf of Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition and Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition for the proposed Ontario Bradford Bypass Project. On March 18, 2021, Regional Council endorsed submission of the attached draft letter by a unanimous vote of Council members in attendance. The attached letter represents York Region’s input on the designation request for the Bradford Bypass Project. Given that the deadline for submission of input is today, a link to the formal meeting minutes will be provided once they are available. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the undersigned at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 75901 or . Sincerely, Brian Titherington Director, Transportation and Infrastructure Planning Transportation Services Copies to: Regional Chair Emmerson Bruce Macgregor, Chief Administrative Officer Paul Jankowski, Commissioner of Transportation Services Cameron Bevers, Project Manager, Ontario Ministry of Transportation <Original signed by> <Email addres removed>

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Attachment Comment from member of the public submitted via email (Bill Foster)

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Bill Foster
  • Reference number: 47
  • Submitted: 2021-03-19
  • My primary concern is that the Provincial Government is relying on a decades old Environmental Assessment Approval to build this highway.   MTO is now only conducting a Class EA study.  This is not a new full EA study, but rather a continuation of the original, decades old, EA approved highway route.  This new study is essentially a detailed design of the route approved in the original EA Approval.    Class environmental assessment studies are only permitted under the Environmental Assessment Act where there is a pre-existing, inactive, but still valid, Environmental Assessment Approval for the project.  Given that the previous Liberal government abandoned this project, in or around 2006, it is likely the original EA approval is now invalid if for no other reason than MTO defaulted on the Conditions of Approval for this project.   However, under our current government, as we have seen with Ministerial Zoning Orders, if anything gets in their way, such as an out-dated EA Approval, they will enact retroactive legislation to “fix” the problem.    Two MTO staff members gave a presentation to the March 18, 2021 York Region Council special meeting.  They provided presentations for both the Hwy 413 project and the Bradford Bypass.  They assured council that they would be following all statutory requirements and provide proper mitigation measures wherever appropriate.  When asked about the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks’ proposals to “streamline” the provisions of the Environmental Assessment Act for both the ...
  • Attachment included
  • C. William D. Foster East Gwillimbury Ontario L9N 0J6 March 7, 2021 Via: Mail and Email Ms. Jill Adams, Director, Ontario Region Impact Assessment Agency of Canada 600-55 York Street Toronto, Ontario M5J 1R7 Email: iaac.ontarioregion-regiondontario.aeic@canada.ca Dear Ms. Adams. Re: Bradford Bypass Project I am writing in support of EcoJustice’s February 3rd letter to The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change requesting that the Bradford Bypass be designated under s.9 of the Impact Assessment Act. I was one of the Directors of Forbid Roads Over Green Spaces, the community organization referenced in the second paragraph of page 4 of EcoJustice’s letter. I was very actively involved in overseeing the conduct of MTO and its consultants McCormack Rankin from the 1993 first draft Bradford Bypass Environmental Assessment Study Proposal until final EA approval was granted by the Minister of Environment in 2002. In 2019, I was shocked to learn that the Ontario Government was attempting to resurrect this obsolete project. I expressed my concerns to Hon. Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation of Ontario in a letter dated September 3, 2019. It was my understanding that the government had abandoned this project. It was intentionally omitted from the Places to Grow Plan because of the planned expanded GO Train service to Barrie. I used the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act to determine if MTO had complied with the terms and conditions of the original approval. I determined that they had not and, as I understand matters, as a consequence, the EA approval became void in 2008. I learned this information ...

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Attachment Comment from member of the public submitted via email (John Cummings)

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of John Cummings
  • Reference number: 42
  • Submitted: 2021-03-12
  • To Impact Assessment Agency of Canada,   I agree with the following arguments against these two highways, put together by Wilderness Committee, an organization I support: Two proposed new 400-series highways in Ontario, the 413 “GTA West” and the Bradford Bypass represent significant risks of irreversible environmental damage within federal jurisdiction, including harm to fish habitat, federal species at risk, and dozens of significant wetlands, forests and important ecosystems. The Ontario government has proposed significantly weakening the provincial environmental assessment process for both projects. Without a proper environmental assessment from the federal government, we may never fully know the extent of these impacts until it’s too late. Both of these controversial highways have generated public concern over many years. Thousands of Ontarians have already written to the province asking them to reconsider the dangerous and unnecessary GTA West proposal, and the Bradford Bypass proposal has remained contested despite being dormant for over two decades. These highways would increase vehicle traffic at a time when the federal government has pledged to cut carbon emissions from transportation. The current assessment process ignores the climate change impacts of 100,000+ vehicle journeys per day these highways would add to Ontario’s roads. The federal government can and should designate these highway projects for a federal environmental assessment. If the Ontario government won’t protect our environment, the federal government needs to step in now.   Yours ...

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Attachment Comment from member of the public submitted via email (Ross Snetsinger)

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Ross Snetsinger
  • Reference number: 43
  • Submitted: 2021-03-10
  • To Impact Assessment Agency of Canada,   Who Could be Ontario's Next Premier? Two proposed new 400-series highways in Ontario, the 413 “GTA West” and the Bradford Bypass represent significant risks of irreversible environmental damage within federal jurisdiction, including harm to fish habitat, federal species at risk, and dozens of significant wetlands, forests and important ecosystems. It's crystal clear that it's time for Ford and company to hand over the reins as soon as possible. Ontario needs leadership that is futures oriented and serves all Ontarians, especially environmentally. Ontario needs a Premier who is sensitive to the environment and the needs of future generations. That should mean real transportation solutions, not just highways everywhere and "subways subways subways". Of course he doesn't take transit, I presume he's driven around and just wants transit out of his way. We need leaders who know how a proper democracy that respects all the people actually works, without having to resort to ham-fisted trumpian ministerial zoning orders. We do not want more mega highways, but we do support his talk of electrifying and expanding GO Transit. The Premier either doesn't understand or doesn't care about the serious ramifications of such contradictory transportation strategies. Electrification of GO will not undo the harm of such a mega highway development. In fact, I won't be manipulated by his lies, I don't believe electrification will actually happen once the highway is under development. Ontario is not a dictatorship, or it shouldn't be. ...

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Attachment Comment from member of the public submitted via email (Marnie Phoenix)

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Administrator on behalf of Marnie Phoenix
  • Reference number: 44
  • Submitted: 2021-03-10
  • To Impact Assessment Agency of Canada,   Two proposed new 400-series highways in Ontario, the 413 “GTA West” and the Bradford Bypass represent significant risks of irreversible environmental damage within federal jurisdiction, including harm to fish habitat, federal species at risk, and dozens of significant wetlands, forests and important ecosystems. The Ontario government has proposed significantly weakening the provincial environmental assessment process for both projects. Without a proper environmental assessment from the federal government, we may never fully know the extent of these impacts until it’s too late. Both of these controversial highways have generated public concern over many years. Thousands of Ontarians have already written to the province asking them to reconsider the dangerous and unnecessary GTA West proposal, and the Bradford Bypass proposal has remained contested despite being dormant for over two decades. These highways would increase vehicle traffic at a time when the federal government has pledged to cut carbon emissions from transportation. The current assessment process ignores the climate change impacts of 100,000+ vehicle journeys per day these highways would add to Ontario’s roads. The federal government can and should designate these highway projects for a federal environmental assessment. If the Ontario government won’t protect our environment, the federal government needs to step in now.   Yours truly, Marnie Phoenix <Personal information removed>

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Attachment Bradford bypass is damaging to wildlifem agriculture, water quality and Indigenous history

  • Bradford Bypass Project
  • Author: Andrew Stewart
  • Reference number: 14
  • Submitted: 2021-03-09 - 11:01 PM
  • The Bradford bypass will have an enormously negative impact on water quality, wildlife habitat and evidence of Indigenous history surrounding and including the Holland River, the East Holland River and the Holland Marsh. As such, it must be subject to a full environmental assessment by the federal government. The Ontario government has weakened the rules for EAs in the Province and is not even waiting for the results of an EA under the weakened rules before starting construction on elements, such as bridges, for this highway. The impact of water and atmospheric pollution, habitat fragmentation and noise caused by this highway will be enormously destructive to migratory birds, waterfowl, amphibians, fish and small mammals Much of the proposed route goes through highly productive agricultural land. Agriculture in and adjacent to the Holland Marsh is a vital part of Ontario’s economy and the source of much of our vegetables. The slopes of these rivers and their tributaries include strandlines of glacial lakes. The land on either side of these strandlines, both upslope and downslope from them, contains documented archaeological sites from the earliest period of Ontario’s history. These area have enormous potential to reveal more of these sites dating from the Palaeo-Indian and Early Archaic periods of history (13,000 to about 8,000 years ago). These sites attest to lifeways of Ontario’s earliest Indigenous peoples following the Ice Age, as published in the academic literature and documented in Culture Resource Management reports by Ontario ...

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