Environmental reviews exist for important reasons

In win for Doug Ford, Ottawa drops environmental assessment for Ontario’s Highway 413, March 21

I am concerned and frankly shocked that the federal government is going to allow Highway 413 to go ahead without the proper assessment process.

Environmental assessments exist for an important reason: to determine, scientifically and objectively, what the impacts of a particular development will be and whether it contravenes our stated societal goals with regard to protecting the environment. If the harms are minimal compared to the gains achieved by allowing the development, then it goes ahead.

To allow Highway 413 to go ahead without that scrutiny does a great injustice to everyone. As we have seen with other incursions into the “protected” Greenbelt around the GTA, the public supports open, informed decisions not closed-door deal making.

We understand that governing inevitably involves compromises from time to time. Let’s collectively decide what compromises are acceptable based on real information and the way to get that information is through the assessment process. That is why laws and regulations mandate environmental assessments.

There is a lot of evidence to suggest that the proposed Highway 413, so beloved by our current Premier, will have considerable, negative impacts to wildlife, protected species and productive farmland. We need to know the extent of those harms and only then decide if the supposed gains outweigh the loss.

Ken Whiteley, Toronto

Ottawa and Queen’s Park agreed to ask a judge to determine if Highway 413 can still be designated under the Impact Assessment Act. So, a judge will likely want to hear from all sides before reaching a decision.

I can’t expect the Ford government to support an environmental assessment for the proposed highway, but surely our federal government should argue before this court about the short- and longterm negative environmental and land use impacts this highway will create.

This may be the last chance for to a stop on this misguided highway proposal.

Al Cormier, Mississauga

Dropping Highway 413 environmental assessment is nuts and obscene.

My main plus for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and negative for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is the good work Trudeau has done on various environmental initiatives. Big misstep, Trudeau.

I hope an explanation is forthcoming because this highway is a disaster for some of the best farmland in the country.

Nancy Logan, Pickering