Ontario Premier Doug Ford has formally requested the support of Prime Minister Mark Carney for an ambitious infrastructure project: a tunnel under Highway 401. On May 5, 2025, Ford released his proposal for a driver and transitway tunnel expressway. He emphasized how this unique, cutting-edge project could help address some serious transportation issues facing the region. The proposal is one piece of a wider smart cities checklist that Ford envisions will be prioritized federally.
In his letter, which was last updated at 1:02 PM on the same day, Premier Ford identified several projects as critical for Ontario’s future. Quote from Infrastructure Minister Ford Infrastructure Minister exploring the Ring of Fire’s mineral potential. Besides the tunnel project, he focused on the importance of building a new deep-sea port at James Bay, expanding GO nuclear energy generation passenger train service. These projects all represent an investment in promoting economic development and improving access within and between communities across the province.
The proposed tunnel under Highway 401 has received enthusiastic responses. While Ford advocates for its significance in addressing transportation needs, opposition critics have dismissed the tunnel idea as a “fantasy.” They maintain that all those tens of billions of dollars worth of new construction won’t make a dent in Ontario’s urgent gridlock problem. Rather, they think better solutions are the key to overcoming this challenge. Critics argue that this enormous project could distract from more readily achievable solutions to the increasingly severe traffic congestion that’s been growing over the years.
Overwhelmingly opposed by every opposition party, Ford is undeterred and doubling down on what he sees as his big idea. He is convinced that much broader, deeper infrastructure investments are needed in order for Ontario to thrive and prosper in the coming decades. The Premier contends that a multi-pronged approach including a mix of high and low cost projects will better serve residents and businesses in the long run.
Ford’s letter to Prime Minister Carney should be the starting point of a strong, formal, and consistent effort to establish fruitful collaboration between provincial and federal governments. By focusing on these initiatives, he aims to position them through funding and support that will help bring his ambitious plans to fruition.
Earlier infrastructure discussions take aim at pressing developing urban crises across Ontario. These conversations have been important and timely as we all search for the best answers to these hard questions. Under the leadership of the province’s first woman Premier, large-scale plans are rolling ahead to modernize the province’s infrastructure. He promises to make Ontario a global leader in sustainability, focusing heavily on the use of nuclear energy to do so.
