June 24, 2010. Peterborough – In March of 2007, in co-ordination with the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada announced a new federal initiative to reduce traffic gridlock, improve the environment and strengthen the economy in the Greater Toronto Area.

The multi-billion dollar agreement, titled FLOW, included several significant investments into transportation infrastructure in Ontario; including a written commitment to extend Hwy. 407 by 67 kilometres from Brock Road in Pickering to Hwy 35/115 in Clarington.  The target completion date for the project was established as 2013, a target which was maintained by the Government of Ontario until recent weeks.

“The 2007 FLOW agreement represents signed commitments on the part of the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.  The province would have no qualms whatsoever in demanding that we keep our commitments to them and we have in fact done so while creating a new era of fairness for Ontario within confederation.  Recent announcements made by the Government of Ontario represent a clear breach both in the spirit and word of the FLOW agreement as related to the Hwy. 407 extension and my government must step forward and call the provincial government to task”, states M.P. Del Mastro.

Comments from the office of Minister Brad Duguid the Ontario Minister of Infrastructure that there is no date for the completion of Hwy 407 to Hwy 35/115 and that the project would only be completed on an “as needed” basis underscore the need for immediate attention.  These comments are quite different from those of former Minister Greg Sorbara who in the 2007 provincial election described the project as a “Liberal government priority”, a claim that M.P. Del Mastro took issue with at the time.

M.P. Del Mastro further states, “If the Government of Ontario chooses to break election commitments to the voters that is one thing.  Ultimately it is up to the voters to decide if the right decisions were made on their behalf and pass their judgment at the ballot boxes.  Breaking a signed transfer agreement with the Government of Canada is quite different and I am not prepared to stand by and watch funding intended to support the economic development of my region be redirected into other projects.”

M.P. Del Mastro forwarded his views on the matter to the offices of Ministers Jim Flaherty and John Baird as well as to the other affected members namely Minister Bev Oda, M.P. Barry Devolin and M.P. Colin Carrie whom have all expressed their clear and emphatic support for the completion of this project.