Government of Ontario continues to pursue one of the most ecologically damaging routes for the 413 highway.

By Tim Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Defence Canada

January 19th, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO)’s Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) confirms the planned path of destruction for Highway 413 across the headwaters of the Credit and Humber Rivers and Etobicoke Creek. This decision will have significant social, environmental, recreational and archeological impacts.

The EIAR, released on December 1st, details how this six-to-ten lane highway will pave over 300 hectares of forests, meadows and wetlands, including 14.8 hectares of provincially significant wetlands, 36.2 hectares of significant woodlands and five significant valleylands. A further 500 hectares of natural areas surrounding the preferred route will also be lost, not only during construction of the highway, but through operation and maintenance.

The EIAR also confirms that the Government of Ontario is steadfast in pursuing a Highway routing that ignores key scientific advice, including the extensive documented presence of key species at risk. The highway would pave over the Main Humber River valley crossing—the largest remaining critical habitat for the endangered rapids clubtail, western chorus frog and redside dace.

This study demonstrates that the Government of Ontario continues to pursue one of the most ecologically damaging routes despite the government’s own consultants cautioning that this will increase the risk of non-approval for environmental permitting by the federal government. The MTO and the Ontario government insist on pursuing a route that avoids lands owned by influential developers just outside of the ecologically sensitive Nashville Conservation Reserve, despite a chorus of voices calling to avoid this area due to endangered species, key critical natural areas and its high archeological potential.

It is clear the Ontario Government is continuing to prioritize the interests of wealthy developers at the expense of Ontarians and the health of our environment.

Background:

• • Construction of Highway 413 is estimated to cost between $14 and $18 billion.
  • Despite the enormous financial costs and ecological impacts of the proposed highway, the Ontario government continues to suppress public participation rights.
  • Over a year ago, through Bill 212, the Ontario government eliminated public appeal rights for Highway 413 afforded under the Environmental Bill of Rights.
  • This pattern continues with the EIAR review: the MTO only provided Indigenous communities, municipalities and the public with just over a month to review and provide comments on the technical report and schedules that number over 1700 pages.

The upside to all this is a saving of 15 minutes in driving time, according to the provincial government.