Ontario's recently introduced Bill 212, officially titled the "Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024," has ignited intense debate across the province. Presented by Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria, the bill purports to address traffic congestion and reduce commute times, but it has raised serious concerns among various stakeholders.
The bill, open for public comment on the Environmental Registry Ontario (ERO) until November 20, 2024 (ERO 019-9266 ), proposes two new acts (Building Highways Faster and Highway 413) and amends three existing ones. However, this structure is not immediately apparent, as the proposed Highway 413 Act has its own separate posting (ERO 019-9213). Critics argue that this division is an attempt to obscure the full scope of the proposed changes.
Building Highways Faster Act
The Building Highways Faster Act aims to "accelerate highway construction for designated priority projects to support the movement of goods and people across Ontario." This includes expediting construction on projects such as Highway 413, Bradford Bypass, and the Garden Skyway, as well as any other highways designated as priorities by the province. Notably, the act would allow the province to override most municipal by-laws seen as hindering progress and deny landowners the right to legally appeal expropriation notices.
Highway 413 Act
The proposed Highway 413 Act is more controversial. It seeks to exempt all activities associated with Highway 413 from the provincial Environmental Assessment Act, including allowing "early works" to proceed without any environmental assessment. The act proposes replacing the standard environmental assessment with an accelerated process, the details of which have not yet been disclosed. Importantly, changes to the Highway 413 project deemed "not significant" (a term left undefined in the bill) would not have to comply with the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). Furthermore, the Ministry of Transportation would be able to obtain necessary permits under the Endangered Species Act, Ontario Heritage Act, and Environmental Protection Act before the EIAR is completed. These actions would be exempt from posting on the Environmental Bill of Rights, effectively removing them from public scrutiny.
Additional Provisions
Bill 212 also includes provisions to expedite broadband construction and override municipal decision-making on bike lanes, among other amendments. Critics argue that these additional schedules serve to distract from the bill's primary purpose: removing obstacles to the government's plan to build a new 400-series highway. In conclusion, while Bill 212 is presented as a solution to gridlock, its critics view it as an attempt to bypass environmental protections and local governance in favour of rapid highway development.
To comment on Bill 212, please click here. To have your say on the Building Highways Faster Act, please click here.
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