News

PC MPP’s Call Out McGuinty Government for Backtracking on Highway 407 East Contract

November 30, 2010

QUEEN’S PARK – PC MPP’s Christine Elliott (Whitby-Oshawa), Jerry Ouellette (Oshawa) and John O’Toole (Durham), called out the McGuinty Government during a Queen’s Park Press conference today for reneging on their contractual obligation to extend the 407 Highway to Highway 35/115 by 2013.

Despite a signed Federal – Provincial agreement from 2007 promising that the McGuinty Government would extend Highway 407 eastward from Brock Road to Highway 35/115, the Province has recently announced that the highway will now only be extended to Simcoe Street, in Columbus, part of the City of Oshawa.

The Durham Region MPP’s, along with concerned community members Rosemary McConkey and Mark Canning, held a press conference to describe the transportation, economic, and social repercussions of McGuinty’s latest backtrack.

Quotes

“Halting Highway 407 at Oshawa ignores the extensive Environmental Assessment process and the promises made by the McGuinty Government to build the highway all the way to Highway 35/115.  The McGuinty government is also ignoring the valid concerns over traffic and safety raised by citizens, elected officials and the business community.”
– John O’Toole, MPP Durham

“It would be more financially responsible to extend the ending of the 407 to an area where it will have a minimal financial impact, as opposed to Simcoe Street in Oshawa, which will cost millions of dollars to shore up the end of line gridlock.”
– Jerry Ouellette, MPP Oshawa

“The McGuinty government signed an Agreement with the federal government, in 2007, requiring the completion of Hwy. 407 to Hwy. 35/115, in its entirety, by 2013.  They are now choosing other priorities, and are reneging on this Agreement.  The ramifications of this backtracking are disastrous for Durham Region – economically, environmentally and socially.  The residents of Durham Region are demanding that the McGuinty Government honour its commitment to our communities.”
– Christine Elliott, MPP Whitby-Oshawa

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Contact: Amanda Meek I  Amanda.meek@pc.ola.org I 416-325-1331