Highway 413: Controversial, Costly, and Close to Home
I grew up approximately 50 kilometres northwest of Toronto, in a small suburban “village” known as Bolton. Here, my parents raised my siblings and I on one of the many cul-de-sacs on the south hill, and enrolled all three of us at the local soccer, hockey, and dance clubs. It was quiet, safe, and small enough that you were bound to run into someone at Garden Foods; the local grocery store owned by our former neighbours.
Highway 50 is the main corridor to and from Bolton that passes through the downtown area, which is situated in a valley. It’s quite literally, downtown. Coming from the south hill, you would have to make your way down a steep hill, entering an area referred to as ‘The Valley’, that features two streetlights which are no more than 100 meters apart. Here, there are a couple of sushi joints, a Tim Hortons, and historic buildings that have been retrofitted into storefronts.
One of Bolton’s most notable features is that it’s surrounded by vast plots of land. Some of them are farms, but most of them have been developed into warehouses, truck yards, or factories of some sort. Over time, Bolton has been reinvented into an industrial hub for all things manufacturing, logistics, and business. We even have our very own Amazon warehouse!!!
If you look beyond the warehouse, you’ll notice the vast plot of land that surrounds Amazon. Admittedly, I still struggle with the fact that Bolton has taken on this new identity; one that feels less like home and more like a means to an end. But, I digress.
Highway 413, also known as the GTA West Corridor, was first suggested in 2007. This idea was thought of in anticipation of an expanding population, and a need to support the movement of goods and people outside of the city of Toronto. The Region of Peel (which is where Bolton is located), York Region and Halton Region were projected to experience a substantial population increase over the coming years, thus prompting the need for an efficient transportation route nearby. Two years prior, the Greenbelt Act 2005 was passed to prevent further loss of farmland and natural heritage, curb urban sprawl, and work alongside the government to support population growth.
The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe that was released in May 2017, projected that areas northwest of Toronto were likely to experience 13.5 million in population growth, and subsequently 6.3 million jobs by 2041. According to the Caledon Citizen, which is the community newspaper, Caledon is projected to grow from 75,000 to 300,000 by 2051.
Still on the table as merely a suggestion, the Wynne government attempted to kill the idea in early 2018. Fast forward a few months to the Ford government entering office, and the GTA West Corridor was brought back to life!
Spanning approximately 59 km, Highway 413 is proposed to connect the Highway 401/407 interchange located in Halton Region to Highway 400 in York Region. The 4 to 6 lane highway would have 11 interchanges at municipal roads, as well as electric charging stations, service centres, carpool lots and truck inspection stations. The project’s benefits are that it intends to fight congestion, produce economic benefits, and future-proof the regions’ infrastructure. In fact, the project’s tag line is that, “Highway 413 could save you up to 30 minutes”, each way.
On the flip side, it’s also projected to cost the province’s taxpayers approximately $6-$10 billion. Along the way, farms, forests, wetlands and 400 acres of protected Greenbelt land would be paved over. From a climate policy standpoint, Highway 413 is expected to produce over 17 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
As of May 3, 2021, the Highway 413 Project has been assigned to the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change to undergo a Federal Impact Assessment, which is typically undertaken for large-scale projects that have the potential to create significant environmental impacts and is in the major public interest. Currently, the Province is preparing the necessary documents needed to perform the assessment, which will involve rigorous consultation with the public, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders to ensure a thorough review and decision can be made. However, in the latest Fall Economic Statement, the Province reiterated their commitment to expanding and building highways, specifically Highway 413.
Fortunately for me, a friend of mine grew up 150 meters away from me. They always had a love for the environment, and so naturally, they sought out a job at the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority (TRCA), which is one of the ABC’s (Agencies, Boards, or Commissions) we discussed in class. They were the first person who I engaged in a real discussion about Highway 413. They informed me about the project’s proposed whereabouts, and echoed the TRCA’s plea for a thorough environmental impact assessment to be completed to minimize negative impacts to the natural and socio-economic environment. After that, I had a similar conversation with my parents who were shocked by how close to home this highway would really be.
When leaving our subdivision to access the nearest highway, we frequently take Albion Vaughan Road, which takes us to Highway 50 in a matter of minutes (less than 5). That intersection falls right along where Highway 413 is proposed to be. Here, there is a Toyota car dealership, a shipping yard, and the sole GO Bus station in the area. Nearby, a new subdivision popped up a few years ago, along with new factories and fulfillment centres.
Since the highway is projected to run through a select few lower-tier municipalities (Halton Hills, Brampton, Caledon, and Vaughan), gaining regional unanimity on whether or not to support the project has been challenging.
In a recent Town Council meeting on October 4th, 2021, Caledon Mayor Allan Thompson announced the Town’s decision to support Highway 413. This position directly opposes the Region of Peel, the City of Brampton and the City of Mississauga, as they have all refused to lend their support. Interestingly enough, the meeting where this decision was made was held privately, and did not allow for the public to attend nor voice their concerns.
Specifically excluded was Jennifer Le Forestier, the 2021 Dufferin-Caledon Green Party federal candidate. Le Forestier has long been opposed to Highway 413, and has been adamantly urging the Town of Caledon to reconsider their position. Le Forestier and others (like the author of this article, Dan O’Reilly), have mobilized Caledon residents to protest their local government on numerous occasions.
In a place that is typically docile and politically conservative, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of effort put forth by Bolton residents to oppose Highway 413. As a public policy student who is interested in transportation policy and learning more about the dynamics of municipal government, studying this issue was rewarding. As a born and raised Bolton kid, I think I’ve caught a bad case of NIMBYism!
