Mayor pitches Parkway to environment minister
Mayor Daryl Bennett met with provincial Environment and Climate Change Minister Chris Ballard on Monday about potentially expanding The Parkway – and on Tuesday, the mayor stated that it’s time to consider “alternative thinking” when it comes to transportation in the city.
Bennett wasn’t available for interview Tuesday, but he confirmed in an email to The Examiner that he met with Ballard the day before.
He wrote that Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Jeff Leal was there too, as were members of Ballard’s staff and a representative from the office of Premier Kathleen Wynne.
Bennett wrote that they had “a very positive discussion.”
“The conversation with the minister and staff has led us to explore some alternative thinking with regard to the transportation corridor for the city,” he wrote.
When asked exactly what he meant by that, Bennett wrote in a follow-up email that he didn’t wish to give any further detail.
“I feel it is appropriate to report to council before I expand on the discussions,” he wrote.
Bennett didn’t mention the meeting with Ballard at Monday night’s planning committee meeting at City Hall. He wrote to The Examiner on Tuesday that he’d be drafting a report to councillors soon about it.
Two city councillors, Coun. Dean Pappas and Coun. Andrew Beamer, both said they didn’t know until after
The Examiner started working on this story on Tuesday that Bennett met with Ballard on Monday.
Ballard wasn’t available for comment Tuesday.
Neither was Leal, although he released a written statement to
The Examiner confirming he was in on the discussion with Bennett and Ballard.
“During this meeting, I asked the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change to work with the City of Peterborough to complete the environmental assessment, which should be conducted in accordance with established regulations,” Leal wrote. “Mayor Bennett can expect to receive a letter from Minister Ballard in the near future.”
Bennett also wrote that he’s requested an appointment with Premier Kathleen Wynne to discuss The Parkway, as council previously asked him to do.
The question of whether or not to build The Parkway has been controversial for 75 years.
In 1942, a road allowance was set aside to eventually build the road as a north-south route across Peterborough. But it was never fully built, and that has left a wide ribbon of greenspace that many people have used for years as a recreational trail.
Those citizens don’t want it paved over – and they’re not happy about putting a bridge over Jackson Park to carry traffic, either, which has been part of the plan.
On the other hand, many citizens have argued traffic congestion gets heavier every year – particularly in the north end, where it’s common for motorists to cut through residential neighbourhoods.
In 2013, council voted to finally extend The Parkway as a means of relieving this congestion. In response, there were 88 appeals from citizens sent to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.
In 2016, the MOECC ordered the city to do a more-detailed environmental assessment before it can extend the road.
But last month, Bennett asked councillors to send him to Queen’s Park to ask Wynne and Ballard to set aside the order for more study and allow the city to start building some portions of the road to the north and to the south – without the bridge over Jackson Park (it was removed from the plan in October). Council agreed and voted to send him.
The mayor said he was moved to action by Wynne.
When she visited Peterborough in the summer, Wynne and Bennett spoke about The Parkway; Bennett said she suggested he arrange to meet with her and with Ballard to talk about it more, at a later date.
Bennett wrote to The Examiner on Tuesday that he’s grateful to Wynne for the suggestion, and to Leal and Ballard for making time to consider the matter.
He wrote that useful comments and suggestions were made during the discussion, but again he didn’t elaborate on any of them. He would only say talks with provincial politicians will surely help traffic congestion in Peterborough.
“Based on these discussions, we’re hopeful for a solution that will allow us to move forward with meeting the transportation needs of the community.”