Feds listen to Mississauga, Brampton concerns, will take over EA of Highway 413

The federal government is stepping in to look at the environmental issues concerning the proposed Highway 413 that would cut through part of Brampton.

Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said his agency will conduct an environmental impact study of the proposed 60-km stretch of road that would connect Highway 400 with Highway 407 and cut through the western part of Brampton.

The controversial highway — also known as the GTA West Highway — was originally proposed by the previous Ontario Liberal government and then scrapped but was resurrected by the Doug Ford’s current Conservative regime to counter traffic congestion and future growth.

Wilkinson said the federal government is taking charge following environmental issues raised by the public, local councils and scientists who, he said, identified clear areas of federal concern related to the project.

“After careful consideration of the available science, evidence and other relevant information gathered by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, as well as the Agency’s recommendation to designate the GTA West project, I have decided to designate this project under the federal impact assessment process,” said Wilkinson in a prepared statement.

Both Mississauga and Brampton councils are opposed to the highway project.