News Projects Roads & Paving
Eleven species in danger along proposed Highway 413 route

This story is a collaboration between the Toronto Star and The Narwhal.

The Ontario government’s own research has found 11 species whose survival is in danger living along the proposed route of Highway 413 — including two central to a federal environmental review that may delay the controversial project.

According to documents obtained by The Narwhal and the Toronto Star through an access-to-information request, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation has quietly confirmed the presence of the western chorus frog, the rapids clubtail and nine other species at risk along Highway 413’s proposed route running from Vaughan through Milton in southern Ontario.

The finding raises questions about how long the proposed 60-kilometre highway might be mired in the federal review, and if Ottawa might now be compelled to formally step in and take over the project altogether.

(The Narwhal)