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Ontario Greens leader and MPP for Guelph, Mike Schreiner, released the following statement in response to the Ford government’s continued refusal to reveal details about cost estimates related to the construction of Highway 413:

Doug Ford is once again putting wealthy speculators before ordinary Ontarians as cheques are poised to start flowing to the owners of thousands of acres of prime farmland sitting on the proposed route of Highway 413.

Ford’s silence on the cost of Highway 413 is deafening.

For as long as this ill-conceived project has existed, the Ford government has repeatedly refused to share even a shred of information about its cost – except when compelled to by FOI requests.

Now, they’re once again claiming that cost estimates – including how much they’re spending on land purchases – are a state secret.

If the Greenbelt scandal has taught us anything, it’s to not trust Ford government deals that line the pockets of wealthy landowners.

Ontario Greens call on the government to abandon Highway 413 and adopt policies that permanently protect Ontario’s prime farmland from costly sprawl.

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source: media release, Green Party of Ontario