Highway 413: not a done deal!
Despite a recent federal announcement and Premier Ford’s promise of shovels in the ground soon, it could be 2028 before anything happens, as we learned in a terrific Environmental Defence webinar recently. There are still ways to stop this highway if we demand it. Get one of these new lawn signs – different on each side. Write to haltonhillsclimateaction@gmail.com. Pick up in Halton Hills.
Halton Hills says No to the proposed gas plant expansion
In December 2023 Halton Hills Council voted No to a proposed gas plant expansion here by a vote of 9 to 2 after nearly five hours of presentations and discussion.
“Every lawn sign, every call, every email, every meeting to strategize and every delegation added to the overall pressure to vote No. Some councillors changed their vote after particular conversations. These are conversations that only other people could make. You never really know what will work so you have to try everything. And we did. I am proud of everyone. - Councillor Jane Fogal
More info here: Gas plant fact sheet
Greenbelt victory!
Doug Ford gave it back in October 2023, after intense pressure from groups like ours. Look for us in the first couple of minutes, then see activists from all over Ontario who also pushed for this stunning reversal.
Image: The Narwhal
Our heads are spinning!
Provincial announcements threaten climate action on every side! Doug Ford’s dream for Ontario is pavement, development, highways and sprawl.
Bill 23 - More Homes Built Faster Act November 2022 rides roughshod over municipal planning, shifts growth costs from developers to taxpayers, and muzzles public input and Conservation Authorities. Three groups explain why they’re concerned:
Association of Municipalities of Ontario - Cost of parks, pipes, roads and lights shifted from developers to towns and cities - meaning taxpayers.
Ontario Nature - threat to conservation authorities and wetlands
The Narwhal - Overrides local planning, destroys the Greenbelt
Acres of Halton farmland now thrown open to developers despite huge public outcry last year to stop sprawl.
The province is forcing Halton Hills to allow development on farmland right down to 5 Side Road. Yet the Town already has plans to accommodate all the housing that Bill 23 requires within its former urban boundary: close to GO stations, along Highway 7, south to 10 SR, and in other already-approved new neighbourhoods.
There is more than enough land to build over 2 million homes in the Greater Golden Horseshoe by 2031, without touching the Greenbelt or expanding urban boundaries. Here’s the landmark paper that proves it.
Environmental Defence has lots to say about all of the issues above, and lots of action ideas.
Halton Hills can build all the housing we need, including affordable housing, by adding “missing middle” density homes like this along Highway 7, near the GO stations, and in areas already designated for new development. Think smart, energy-efficient, walkable neighbourhoods that are not dependent on the car. Lots of examples here.
Halton Hills welcomes public input on development proposals and planned improvements to the town. Have your say on any and all of these at Let’s Talk Halton Hills. Tell them to apply a climate lens to everything they do.
You can write to Councillors and the Mayor on any issue here - one click. Remind them we’re trying to get to net-zero by 2031.
Jane Fogal on TVO’s The Agenda explains why it’s crazy to build on the Greenbelt. . . and why it won’t help people who need affordable housing.
The Narwhal has been tracking all of Doug Ford’s attacks on climate since he came to office. Read their Explainer.
This short video from Stop Sprawl Hamilton nails it. The arguments against Halton sprawl are just the same as in this video. 68 citizen delegations convinced Hamilton Council to pass an anti-sprawl motion unanimously! Yet the province overturned that last November, just as they overturned Halton’s revised Official Plan that would have saved 5000 green acres.
MZO’s? What are those?
A Minister’s Zoning Order allows the Minister to directly zone land for particular purposes. The Minister does not have to give notice or consult with the public prior to issuing or revoking a zoning order. The province has issued a flurry of them lately, far more than ever before. Check out this short video.
Who will feed us in 2051? We need Halton farmers! BurlingtonGreen.org #SaveTheFarmsOnt
Click here to see the Halton Region Federation of Agriculture’s letter to Halton Region Council
Brakes on Highway 413!
The federal government will now conduct an Environmental Assessment of the proposal, which could well stop Ontario`s effort to fast-track this controversial and unnecessary highway. One of our members made the front page of the Toronto Star, and several more appeared in this picture later in the story!
“Benefits with friends.”
A front page story in the Toronto Star draws direct links between members of the Doug Ford government and developers who have bought land all along the proposed route of Highway 413. They will benefit, the planet and future generations will not.
413 versus GO train expansion
Which carries more people for roughly the same cost? Our thanks to Transport Action Ontario for this chart, part of an excellent document comparing GO versus 413.
