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Consultation

Learn about Ontario’s plan to consult with local communities, businesses and Indigenous Communities and find upcoming opportunities to make your voice heard.

The Importance of consultation

Meaningful consultation with the public and Indigenous communities is a critical part of the Environmental Assessment process. The consultation process began in 2007 and feedback has already to be incorporated into the preliminary design, such as changes to the proposed route, interchanges and water crossings.

Ontario is committed to giving people the information and opportunity to have their say about the Highway 413 Project. The Environmental Assessment process includes a comprehensive consultation program that continues to engage many different groups and consider different point of views.

Local Communities

There are several ways for Ontarians to have their say. A Community Advisory Group has been set up to provide comments and suggestions on study findings, discuss potential opportunities, issues and challenges and participate in developing strategies. The group includes representatives from local interest groups, organizations, and people in and around the area, and is open to anyone who wishes to observe.

A Community Value Plan is being developed to incorporate Indigenous communities and public input into the design of the proposed Highway 413 Project. This plan will reflect the social, cultural, historical, and environmental interests of Indigenous and local community members, and may include elements such as the commemoration of heritage/archeological sites, aesthetics, landscaping, trails, connectivity, wildlife crossings, artistic elements at the gateways, and more.

There are Public Information Centres and Community workshops, which provide opportunities for people to learn more about the project and provide their input.

You can also provide your feedback to the project team at any time by submitting a comment.

Indigenous Communities

Ontario is committed to engaging and considering the interests and values of the following Indigenous Communities and Councils:

  • Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
  • Six Nations of the Grand River Territory First Nation
    • Elected Council
    • Haudenosaunee Development Institute/Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council
  • Huron-Wendat Nation
  • Alderville First Nation
  • Curve Lake First Nation
  • Hiawatha First Nation
  • Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation
  • Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation
  • Chippewas of Rama First Nation
  • Beausoleil First Nation
  • Kawartha Nishnawbe First Nation
  • Métis Nation of Ontario
  • Oneida Nation of the Thames

Ontario will engage and consult with Indigenous communities throughout the project lifecycle, from the planning stages through to implementation.  The project team is available to meet with Indigenous communities at any time upon request.

Municipalities and Regulatory Agencies

Ontario is working closely with the municipalities and Regions within the study area of the proposed Highway 413 Project. Regular meetings between the province and municipalities have been taking place throughout the Environmental Assessment process, and Municipal Advisory Groups have been established to discuss local planning and technical issues.

A Regulatory Agency Advisory Group has also been established, which includes provincial ministries, agencies and federal departments. The working group is a forum to discuss local planning, environmental and technical issues.

Environmental Stakeholders

A Greenbelt Transportation Advisory Group has been set up, which includes representation from environmental interest groups, environmental ministries, and other Greenbelt experts. The group provides input on key environmental and agricultural features, discusses potential impacts to sensitive features within the Greenbelt, and provides input on strategies to reduce the environmental impact of the project. This Group helped develop the Guideline for Planning and Design of the GTA West Corridor Through the Greenbelt, which identifies important guidelines for the Highway 413 Project within areas of the Greenbelt.

Draft Focused Analysis Area

The Draft Focused Analysis Area (FAA) prioritizes refinements based on stakeholder input, environmental data, and design advancements as details on potential impacts become more evident. These modifications reflect the latest designs and environmental studies, with areas of higher design certainty or minimal environmental impact excluded. Changes from the 2020 FAA are outlined in white. Feedback is welcomed, and input will be reviewed and addressed as necessary. The draft is undergoing a review period, and a final version is expected in early 2025. The 2020 FAA remains in effect and can be viewed below.

Previous Consultations

Public Information Centre #4 - Preliminary Design and Environmental Assessment Update 

September 2023 

A round of Public Information Centres (PIC) was held on September 28, 2023 (York Region), October 3, 2023 (Halton Region) and October 5, 2023 (Peel Region) to provide an update on the Highway 413 project and the provincial Environmental Assessment (EA) process. The PIC focused on sharing information on the preliminary design, studies underway, and answering questions and obtaining input. The PIC was conducted as an online session hosted through the Zoom platform. 

Download materials from the September and October 2023 PICs:
Full Summary Report
Presentations

Preliminary Design and Environmental Assessment Update - Public Information Centre #4 

Public Information Centre #3 - Focused on the Federal Impact Assessment Process
December 2021

On May 3, 2021, the Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change designated the Highway 413 Project under the Federal Impact Assessment (IA) Act. MTO is preparing an Initial Project Description (IPD), which the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) will use to inform their decision on whether a Federal IA of the project is required.

A round of Public Information Centres (PIC) was held on December 7, 2021 (Peel Region), December 9, 2021 (York Region) and December 14, 2021 (Halton Region) to help shape the content of the IPD and to ensure that community interests are captured appropriately in the IPD prior to submission to IAAC. The PIC focused on sharing the reason for the Federal designation, reviewing the IA process, discussing the technical studies being added to the project in response to the Federal designation, obtaining feedback on the Project Team’s understanding of the socio-economic contexts of communities and the key issues raised by stakeholders and Indigenous communities. The PIC was conducted as an online session hosted through the Zoom platform.

Download materials from the December 2021 PIC:
Full Summary Report
Presentations

Federal Impact Assessment Process - Public Informations Centres

Peel Region
Play Video
Peel Region
York Region
Play Video
York Region
Halton Region
Play Video
Halton Region

Community Engagement Webinar #2
September 2021

To provide an update on the project and to address community questions, the Highway 413 Project Team hosted a Community Engagement Webinar (CEW) in July 2021. A second Community Engagement Webinar was held on September 29, 2021, via the Zoom platform. The same overview of the project as was presented in July was provided, followed by a question & answer period. Expert panelists from a variety of disciplines were in attendance to answer questions.

CEW 2 Presentation Files
Play Video
CEW #2 Summary Report

Community Engagement Webinar #1
July 2021

Community Engagement Webinar (CEW) #1 was held on July 28, 2021, via the Zoom platform. To further meet the public’s needs and address community questions, the Highway 413 Project Team hosted a CEW where the public and stakeholders were provided with the opportunity to understand more about the project and have their questions answered. The Highway 413 Project Team provided a brief overview of the project followed by a question & answer period. Expert panelists from a variety of disciplines were in attendance to answer questions.

CEW Presentation Files
Play Video
CEW #1 Summary Report

Community Value Planning Meeting #3
May 2021

Community Value Plan (CVP) Meeting #3 was held on May 20, 2021, via the Zoom platform. Current CVP Team Members were invited to attend and an open invitation for new members was posted on the project website in early May 2021.

At CVP meeting #2 on November 3, 2020, CVP Team members recommended design elements that reflected the social, cultural, historical and environmental interests of their communities. The Highway 413 Project Team subsequently worked to incorporate these ideas into the preliminary design of the highway and transitway. At CVP Meeting #3 on May 20, 2021, CVP Team members provided comments on the draft CVP including roll plans and design elements that illustrate the application of the CVP Toolkit along the highway and transitway.

Download materials from
Community Value Plan Meeting #3:

Community Value Planning Meeting #2
November 2020

Community Value Plan (CVP) Meeting #2 was held on November 3, 2020, via the Zoom platform. Members of the public were invited to apply to be a member of the CVP Team at Public Information Centre #2 in 2019 and an open invitation was posted on the project website in Fall 2020.

A Community Value Plan (CVP) is being developed to incorporate public input into the design of the new multimodal transportation corridor. Members of our CVP Team will recommend design elements that reflect the social, cultural, historical, and environmental interests of their communities (covering such things as heritage commemoration, aesthetics, landscaping, trails, connectivity, wildlife crossings, artistic elements at the gateways, etc.). The CVP is focused on how best to implement the proposed new highway and transitway in the most context-sensitive manner, given the identified Preferred Route. It is not about where these facilities should be located or whether they should be built.

Download materials from
Community Value Plan Meeting #2:

Confirmation of the Preferred Route and 2020 Focused Analysis Area

The preferred alternatives from the evaluation were used to develop the Preferred Route and associated 2020 Focused Analysis Area which was announced in August 2020.

Preferred Route and Focused Analysis Area

The 2024 Draft Focused Analysis Area (FAA) prioritizes refinements based on stakeholder input, environmental data, and design advancements as details on potential impacts become more evident. These modifications reflect the latest designs and environmental studies, with areas of higher design certainty or minimal environmental impact excluded. Changes from the 2020 FAA are outlined in white. Feedback is welcomed, and input will be reviewed and addressed as necessary. The draft is undergoing a review period, and a final version is expected in early 2025. The 2020 FAA remains in effect and can be viewed below.

Final Evaluation of the Short List of Route Alternatives

Based on new information received after Public Information Centre #2 (PIC #2), the Project Team developed additional route alternatives and undertook supplementary analysis on the routes and crossing of the Humber River in Section 8. Given the interdependencies, changes in Section 7 were also included in the supplementary analysis.

A final evaluation of net effects for each route alternative was undertaken for all nine sections of the proposed highway.

The comparative evaluation table for each section is available below.

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3

Section 4
Section 5
Section 6

Section 7
Section 8
Section 9

Public Information Centre #2
September / October 2019

The second round of Public Information Centres (PIC #2) was held on September 19, September 26 and October 3, 2019, in Woodbridge, Georgetown and Caledon respectively. PIC #2 was an informal drop-in centre with Project Team representatives available to answer questions.

The purpose of PIC #2 was to present:
  • Updates since study resumption
  • Study background and process
  • Draft Technically Preferred Route and the evaluation
  • Draft Preferred interchange locations
  • Draft 2019 Focused Analysis Area
  • Community Value Plan process.
Download materials from Public Information Centre #2
Community Value Plan
Permission to Enter
Summary Report

Community Workshop #2
June 2015

The second round of Community Workshops was held on June 18, 2015 (Woodbridge, Ontario), June 22, 2015 (Georgetown, Ontario) and June 25, 2015 (Caledon, Ontario). The focus of this workshop was to update the community on work completed since Public Information Centre #1 including refinements to route alternatives, interchange locations, and the Focused Analysis Area. The project team sought input from the community on: issues and trade-offs associated with the route alternatives and potential interchange locations, and the route selection evaluation approach.

Download materials from Community Workshop #2:

Community Workshop #2 Summary Report

Public Information Centre #1
November/December 2014

The first round of Public Information Centres was held on November 27, 2014 (Georgetown, Ontario) December 2, 2014 (Woodbridge, Ontario) and December 4, 2014 (Caledon, Ontario). Public Information Centre #1 was an informal drop-in centre with ministry and consultant team representatives available to answer questions.

The purpose of Public Information Centre #1 was to present:

  • Study background and process
  • Existing conditions within the study area
  • Development and screening of the long list of route alternatives
  • Identification of the short list of route alternatives and potential interchange locations
  • The Focused Analysis Area
  • Factors and criteria for evaluating the short list of route alternatives

Download materials from Public Information Centre #1:

Introductory Community Workshops
July/August 2014

The Introductory Community Consultation Workshops were held on the evenings of July 24, 2014 (Woodbridge, Ontario), July 29, 2014 (Mississauga, Ontario), August 13, 2014 (Brampton, Ontario), and August 14, 2014 (Caledon, Ontario). Each workshop event presented identical information and provided the same opportunities to provide input to the Project Team.

The focus of this first round of workshops was to:

  • Provide an overview of the study objectives, process and timelines
  • Provide an opportunity for attendees to apply for participation in the Community Advisory Group and the Greenbelt Transportation Advisory Group
  • Participate in interactive activities, including providing input on key issues and existing features within the study area to be considered in the development of the route and interchange alternatives, as well as providing input on the route location

Download materials from Introductory Community Workshops:

Community Advisory Group

The Community Advisory Group includes representation from interest groups, organizations, and individuals in and around the study area. The Community Advisory Group enables direct communication between the community and the project team, and Community Advisory Group members are asked to provide comments and suggestions on study findings; provide insight and discussion on potential issues, challenges, and opportunities; and participate in developing strategies to address the issues and opportunities. At the first Community Workshop and at Public Information Centre #1, information on the Community Advisory Group was provided and stakeholders interested in joining the Community Advisory Group were encouraged to apply for membership.

Download Community Advisory Group (CAG) Documents:

Greenbelt Transportation Advisory Group

The Greenbelt Transportation Advisory Group includes representation from environmental interest groups, environmental ministries, and other Greenbelt experts. Greenbelt Transportation Advisory Group members are asked to share information regarding key environmental and agricultural features, discuss potential impacts to sensitive features within the Greenbelt, and discuss and generate mitigation strategies to be used. At the first Community Workshop and at Public Information Centre #1, information on the Greenbelt Transportation Advisory Group was provided and stakeholders interested in joining the Greenbelt Transportation Advisory Group were encouraged to apply for membership.

Download Greenbelt Transportation Advisory Group (GTAG) Documents:

Municipal Advisory Group

The Municipal Advisory Group includes representation at a staff level from the Regional Municipalities of Halton, Peel, and York as well as lower tier municipalities. The Municipal Advisory Group is a forum for the discussion of local planning and technical issues.

Download Municipal Advisory Group (MAG) Documents:

Municipal Executive Advisory Group

The Municipal Executive Advisory Group is a new stakeholder advisory group that was formed for Stage 2, and is a forum for the discussion of broad, strategic and inter-regional transportation issues. Members include senior staff from the Regional Municipalities of Halton, Peel and York as well as Metrolinx.

Download Municipal Executive Advisory Group (MEAG) Document:

Regulatory Agency Advisory Group

The Regulatory Agency Advisory Group includes potentially affected provincial ministries, agencies and federal departments. The Regulatory Agency Advisory Group is a forum for the discussion of local planning and technical issues.

Download Regulatory Agency Advisory Group (RAAG) Documents:

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