Climate activists come together to advocate against Highway 413, calling for action to protect the Greenbelt.
Queen’s Backing Action on Climate Crisis (QBACC) hosted its Stop the Chop Gala on Nov. 23 at the Biosciences Complex. The event saw over 30 attendees, including politicians such as Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Ted Hsu. This year, the Stop the Chop Gala s Environmental Defence’s campaign to protect Ontario’s environment and Greenbelt by stopping the development of Highway 413.
Established in 2005, the Greenbelt was designed to safeguard environmentally sensitive areas from the pressures of urban sprawl and development. Spanning approximately 800,000 hectares, it represents a permanently protected expanse of green space and agricultural land in Ontario.
An informational pamphlet distributed to attendees outlined the details of Highway 413. The proposed 52-kilometre route will feature a four to-six-lane controlled-access highway, connecting the existing interchange between Highways 401 and 407 and extending to Highways 410 and 427. The highway also plans to feature 15 interchanges.
According to Premier Doug Ford, the construction on the highway will begin in 2025. According to the pamphlet, a report from Environmental Defence stated the proposed route would pave over 400 acres of the Greenbelt and cross more than 85 rivers and streams.
“I think right now in Ontario, we have one major mega project that is symbolic of everything that’s wrong with transportation planning, housing planning and environmental protection and that’s Highway 413. Stopping these highways is fundamentally important to choosing a different future for the people of Ontario,” Executive Director of Environmental Defence, Tim Gray said in an interview with The Journal.
Dreyden George, QBACC co-president and ArtSci ’26 student expressed concerns over the provincial government’s plan to eliminate the need for environmental assessments for major developments within the Greenbelt, including Highway 413. This comes after Premier Ford’s recent pledge not to touch the Greenbelt, raising significant worries among students.
According to the National Capital Commission, the Greenbelt spans 20,000 hectares of green space, including farms, forests, and wetlands. Established in the 1950s to protect rural land bordering the capital from urban sprawl, it has since become the largest publicly
owned greenbelt in the world.
“We want to try to bring focus to the importance of the Greenbelt, not just only when it’s a crucial issue and when it’s at threat, but also when it’s still thriving and stuff to make sure people continually understand and appreciate its importance,” George said in an interview with The Journal.
Olivia Winslow, QBACC co-president and ArtSci ’26 student echoed George’s concerns, adding the Greenbelt isn’t only vital for biodiversity, but serves as an essential wildlife corridor, especially in the heavily developed Golden Horseshoe area—Hamilton, Milton, Burlington, Oakville, Toronto, and the Greater Toronto Area.
“It makes it more essential to have this wildlife corridor to enable species to thrive in that area and to have that forest covered […] without the Greenbelt, we would simply not have that access to nature,” Winslow said in an interview with The Journal.
George and Winslow emphasize the increasing importance of student engagement and community involvement in driving environmental change. They pointed to the success of a recent AMS Assembly vote on Motion 11, the Fossil Fuel Divestment motion, which called for the AMS to endorse QBACC’s petition urging Queen’s to divest its $1.492 billion endowment fund from fossil fuels, 2.2 per cent of which is directly invested in such assets.
READ MORE: First Special General Assembly of the year sees multiple motions debated
“Our motion for divestment was one step, but we need to continue engaging and educating the student body on the importance of protecting our environment,” George said.
Stressing the significance of broadening the conversation beyond the campus bubble, George and Winslow encourage students to connect with the Kingston community, collaborate with local leaders, and participate in initiatives that environmental sustainability.
“I think the best thing to do, rather than isolating ourselves in this little student bubble, this little Queen’s bubble, is to broaden our horizons and be willing to talk to our community and their initiatives,” Winslow said.
Gala attendee Keelin Usher, ArtSci ’26, expressed frustration that in 2024, government leaders still dismissed the importance of environmental protection. She acknowledges the feelings of powerlessness often experienced by young people who face environmental challenges but emphasizes the importance of collective action. Despite obstacles, she maintains a hopeful outlook for the future.
“Don’t give up. It’s scary. It feels like nothing’s going to change, but things will change,” Usher said.
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