The highway we don’t need

Deal with feds could clear way for Hwy. 413, March 22 Highway 413 will cause permanent environmental damage, increased urban sprawl, loss of the farmland that feeds us, reductions in the Greenbelt and misuse of billions in taxpayer dollars, which could more than pay for ideas to reduce traffic on hwy. 401. Those of us who see all these logical reasons for not building it are devastated by the possibility that the highway will be fast-forwarded. What to do? No hand wringing please. Write or call your MP and Minister of Justice Arif Virani to tell them to act quickly before the Ontario government seizes the opportunity to start this massively damaging highway that will save drivers minimal time. Linda Heron, York

I am disgusted to hear that the Ontario and federal governments have agreed to scrap any federal environmental assessment of Highway 413. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford have both betrayed the confidence and the futures of all our children and grandchildren. They have both sold their souls for a mess of tar and money. They need to remember their children and grandchildren cannot eat money or drink tar. They have lost the support of millions of voters, who see them both as uncaring, selfish rich men who are bringing down our province and our country in flames. I am a furious voter.

Kate Chung, Toronto

How is it possible that there is a tentative agreement to scrap the federal environmental assessment study of Ford’s Highway 413 development? They are not listening to the general public who are fully against this destruction of green space, farmland and rivers for a 10-minute bypass joining two existing highways. The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada must ensure that this is reversed and that they listen to the voters who respect the need of green spaces. Just give the truckers free access to hwy. 407 and this will solve the issue.

Chris Andrews, Vaughan