By now, Ontarians have grown accustomed to Premier Doug Ford’s flair for the grandiose. His latest moonshot? A driver and transit tunnel under Highway 401 — the busiest highway in North America. While it’s hard to fault a leader for thinking big, the real question is whether this vision is forward-thinking infrastructure planning or a costly political legacy project in the making.
In a recent letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ford laid out a sweeping list of what he calls “nation-building projects.” The list includes some no-brainers: developing the mineral-rich Ring of Fire region, supporting the electric vehicle supply chain, investing in nuclear energy, and constructing a deep-sea port at James Bay. These initiatives clearly align with national economic interests and climate goals.
But it’s the tunnel — part of what Ford dubs his “GO 2.0” proposal — that has raised eyebrows. He argues the underground expressway would reduce congestion, increase economic competitiveness, and help move goods more efficiently. On paper, that sounds compelling. In reality, it’s a 40-year mega-project with a price tag likely to reach well into the tens of billions, if not more.
Ford’s unwavering commitment to the tunnel, even before a feasibility study is complete, reeks of political theatre rather than prudent governance. The province is currently soliciting proposals to assess the practicality of several options — including an elevated highway or expanded lanes — yet the premier has already declared that the tunnel will happen “no matter what.”
This kind of rhetoric is dangerous. Infrastructure should be driven by evidence, not ego. The 2016 Ottawa tunnel study — which cost $750,000 just to assess — concluded a much smaller tunnel would cost over $2 billion. One can only imagine what an enormous 401 tunnel, possibly one of the longest in the world, would run Ontario.
Critics aren’t holding back. NDP Leader Marit Stiles called it a “fantasy tunnel” at a time when autoworkers are losing jobs. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie warned the project could “bankrupt” the province. And they’re not wrong to question the prioritization of a project that won’t alleviate today’s congestion or help those currently struggling with affordability, housing, and job insecurity.
Then there’s the matter of changing technology. With the transportation sector rapidly evolving — from autonomous vehicles to AI-driven logistics — it’s not clear we’ll need this kind of infrastructure 30 or 40 years from now. As Crombie pointed out, by 2051 we may not even be driving in the way we are today.
It’s not all bad news in Ford’s letter. His appeal for federal support on bail reform, pharmaceutical investment, and internal trade barriers hits the right notes. But if the premier is serious about nation-building, he must be just as committed to fiscal responsibility and real-time needs as he is to digging tunnels.
Leadership is about balance — between vision and viability, between legacy and logic. Ontarians don’t need another billion-dollar monument. They need solutions that work for them today and build a better tomorrow, not one that might arrive in 2051.
