Including Highway 413 in November budget update is a climate disaster and waste of money

October 21, 2021

QUEEN’S PARK — Mike Schreiner released the following statement in response to news that funding for Highway 413 will likely be included in the November 4th Fall Economic Statement:

“Including funding for Highway 413 in the November budget update is an irresponsible fiscal decision that will worsen the climate emergency.

Research from Environmental Defence shows that Highway 413 will add up to 700,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, leading to a cumulative total of 17.4 million tonnes of emissions by 2050.

That’s more pollution than the entire City of Toronto emitted in 2018.

We are in a climate emergency and need to do everything possible to immediately crush climate pollution.

Investing billions in more highways and urban sprawl that will supercharge climate pollution and pave over prime farmland is irresponsible and reckless.

It’s time to invest in the future instead: transit and 15 minute communities that will reduce climate pollution and protect greenspaces, while supporting the 870,000 food and farming jobs that contribute $50 billion to Ontario’s economy.

I’m calling on Doug Ford to stop funding supersprawler highways and cancel Highway 413 once and for all.”

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