Ford Reelection Deemed a ‘Vote in Favour of Highway 413’

Shazia Nazir, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

Premier Doug Ford and his government’s reelection in June 2 elections is being seen as Ontarians’ support for building of various infrastructure projects deemed critical for Ontario by some, including Highway 413. 

The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) welcomed the reelection, saying that this reflected that the people of Ontario wanted these infrastructure projects, to keep people and goods moving across Ontario. 

The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) is a labour-management construction alliance. RCCAO has been an industry advocate for infrastructure investment and has commissioned 60 independent research reports which it says help inform decision makers. 

Last month, RCCAO had shared research which revealed that 54% of Ontarians support the building of Highway 413, and the election results, it said, are a further evidence that the people of Ontario view this project as a ‘necessary piece of infrastructure’ to expand both highway and transit capacity in the fastest growing region of the province.

An independent study commissioned by RCCAO last year, titled Jobs and Economic Impact of GTA West Corridor, said that the highway will not only meet the long-term needs of the province, but also provide up to 8000 jobs annually over a five-year construction period, generate up to $2.3 billion of earnings for workers in Ontario throughout its construction and alleviate congestion in the GTA which it said costs the economy $11 billion. 

In its statement, RCCAO said it’s eager to continue its collaboration with elected officials and all levels of governments to ensure critical infrastructure is built.

Nikita, a resident of Halton said that while she was in favour of infrastructure projects, the needs of local communities should be kept on top priority. 

“We have seen in past that some infrastructure projects favour some people more than others, development should be equitable”, she said.