Highways are the gateway drug for sprawl and the Bypass is a perfect example. Developers own over 3000 acres of land around this highway waiting for the greenlight to destroy more farmland and wetlands.
We are fighting the construction of a highway that would run through some of the most important wetland left in central Ontario, endanger the health of Lake Simcoe, increase sprawl development, and fragment the Greenbelt. Ontario needs healthy, sustainable communities, not new highways – especially during a climate crisis.
Read our debunking of the many myths, like "highways reduce emissions," or "highways reduce congestion," that proponents are using to try to justify the project.
See our Bradford Bypass issues page, which includes a timeline of the project, key concerns, as well as the documents on tolls we from the government through an FOI request.
Simcoe County is currently in the midst of its Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) process. Developers want to build sprawl. With the converging crises of climate change, habitat loss, inequality and lack of housing affordability, infrastructure debt, skyrocketing food prices, among others, we need to make sure this doesn’t happen.
Despite commitments to improve the health of Lake Simcoe this government is poised to make decisions that would set us back decades and risk losing the lake’s billion dollar ecosystem services.
Crisis is also an opportunity. We can build back better. But, unless we stand together, politicians will support the broken status quo.
Protecting our natural heritage while building communities responsibly is smart and ensures a healthy and sustainable future for Ontario.
By building spaces that prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion, we and setting the foundations for a future that is more sustainable. Sprawl, including vertical sprawl, is not the right way to do this.
Research by Gravel Watch Ontario, Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition and Environmental Defence suggests aggregates needed for the Bradford Bypass and 413 highways will come from the 905 and the Greenbelt.
Very soon, the federal government will be deciding whether the Holland Marsh Highway (aka Bradford Bypass) poses enough risk to the health of our environment and communities to designate it for a federal impact assessment. The 25-year-old studies the province is using are woefully out of date and must be updated before work proceeds. The Holland Marsh Highway poses significant risk to the environment, Lake Simcoe, and our communities.
I didn’t know what I was in for, but I knew that helping youth get engaged through a grassroots organization was something I couldn’t pass up. This is exactly what I was looking for – a chance to do something in my community.
How local organizations can help reduce barriers to youth engagement in community organizations, local government, and climate action.
The 15-minute community (sometimes also called 15-minute ‘city’ or ‘neighbourhood’) is a vision for development that is human and community oriented. 15-minute communities are communities where the basic things we need, like groceries, workplaces, doctor’s offices, community services and childcare, are all available within a 15 minute walk or roll from home.
We believe a healthy environment is critical to Simcoe County’s future.
Farmland, water and natural heritage are key components of a healthy environment and thriving economy, and need better protection.
We are calling for the expansion of the Greenbelt to Simcoe County, so that current and future generations can benefit from clean water, local food and green spaces.
Governments have failed to act to protect our communities and the futures of our children and grandchildren, and they continue to treat our environment as if it’s incidental to life, rather than a foundation for it.
We need strong community organizations to fight for our future, now more than ever.
Please consider donating to support our work. It’s people like you who make us possible.
We send out a once-monthly newsletter full of information on what’s happening in Simcoe County and beyond, including information on how you can take action to protect the health of your community.
