Speak out against ‘Parkway by stealth’

The city’s proposal to award carte blanche to the mayor to immediately develop the Parkway corridor with zero transparency and accountability is a desperate ploy that council must stand up to on Monday.

The “Parkway by Stealth” campaign continues to use every tactic possible to force the bridge through Jackson Park, even though it postures that non-bridge options will be looked at.

One year ago, the city was ordered by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to conduct an Individual Environmental Assessment saying the city needed to better consider alternatives and do more public consultation. This order was issued because the Parkway Class EA study was significantly flawed in content and process, including for the south and north sections. It also had concerns about the impact of a bridge through Jackson Park.

At least $1.2 million in consulting fees, thousands of staff hours, and five years later, the city has failed to get public support and provincial approvals. Yet again, this proposal does not do what the province requires. Staff and council would do well to recall that the Parkway proposal rejected by the 2003 referendum was for the north and south sections - without a bridge – which is exactly the version of the project that the Mayor is trying to push through now.

Instead, this proposal burdens the city, council, and its citizens with at least another decade of arguing about whether to construct a bridge through Jackson Park and under immediate pressure as a result of the construction of the south and north sections on either side of the park. And, this adds yet more uncertainty and complications for staff and future councils when forecasting transportation planning and budgets. Indeed, the city was given very clear directions NOT to piecemeal the Parkway project in its deliberations. This is unacceptable and it is irresponsible. The Peterborough Greenspace Coalition proposes that good city planning and relevant transportation solutions be advanced immediately in a logical and public process, rather than complying with this rushed and “Hail Mary pass” type of bid for the mayor to unilaterally proceed with the Parkway, the most expensive and controversial road in the city’s history.

We would welcome city staff and council’s engagement with the community on a real, modern-day solution. Cam Douglas Peterborough Greenspace Coalition Elias Ave