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TORONTO — The Ontario advocacy group Environmental Defence is calling on the federal government to launch its own environmental assessment of Highway 413 in the wake of the provincial government decision to expedite an EA and begin construction of the central Ontario highway.

The government’s proposed changes make it clear that the provincial process is not an effective substitute for an independent federal impact assessment, stated a release from Environmental Defence.

“The most probable adverse impacts on endangered inland fish species and other matters of federal jurisdiction are inherent in building a highway through this part of Greenbelt, conservation areas and the last unpaved headwaters of the Humber River and Etobicoke Creek,” stated the release. “That means any genuine assessment of how to prevent adverse impacts in federal jurisdiction would need to consider shifting 413 to an entirely different route, or cancelling it in favour of transit investments and subsidized use of the 407.”

Through amendments to the federal Impact Assessment Act, parliament has restored the federal environment minister’s power to designate the 413 for a fresh federal impact assessment, stated Environmental Defence.

“The indirect impacts of bulldozing nearby farmland and natural areas could wipe out endangered fish species long before any application to work directly in streams and river valleys. The fact that some work has already been done could even be used to try and limit the physical scope of a federal impact assessment,” stated the release.