RAMP it up! Hwy 407 campaign

What was the RAMP it up campaign?

The City of Oshawa launched the RAMP it up! campaign on January 24, 2011 in response to the Province's unexpected announcement that it would stop Hwy 407 at Simcoe Street in Oshawa using a two-phased approach. The campaign petitioned the Province to proceed with the Hwy 407 East Extension to Hwy 35/115 by 2013 -- as planned and promised. Overwhelmingly municipalities and stakeholder groups from across southern Ontario showed their support and 5,000 names in petition were delivered to Queen’s Park on February 24, 2011.

On March 10, 2011 -- in response to community pressure -- the Province announced that the first phase of the Hwy 407 East Extension construction will now be extended to Harmony Road by 2015 with the second part of the extension to Hwy 35/115 in Clarington by 2020. There will be an interim interchange at Taunton Road for the East Durham Link by 2017.

The City of Oshawa thanks its residents, businesses and community groups, as well as taxpayers across southern Ontario for their overwhelming support. In addition, thank you to the following supporters:

MPs/MPPs in support:
•    MP Colin Carrie
•    MP Dean Del Mastro
•    MP Jim Flaherty
•    MP Bev Oda
•    MP Bob Rae
•    MPP Robert Bailey
•    MPP Cheri DiNovo
•    MPP Christine Elliott
•    MPP Ernie Hardeman
•    MPP Tim Hudak
•    MPP Frank Klees
•    MPP Norm Miller
•    MPP John O’Toole
•    MPP Jerry Ouellette
•    MPP Michael Prue
•    MPP Joyce Savoline

Municipal Councils in support:
•    Clarington
•    Kawartha Lakes
•    Markham
•    Peterborough
•    Port Hope  (letter of support dated Feb. 9, 2011)
•    St. Catharines
•    Scugog
•    Uxbridge
•    Vaughan (letter of support dated March 16, 2011)

Stakeholder groups in support:
•    CAW Retired Workers Chapter Local 222 (letter of support dated Feb. 28, 2011)
•    Durham Real Estate Board
•    IBEW Local 894
•    Ontario Chamber of Commerce
•    Toronto Real Estate Board (letter of support dated Mar. 8, 2011)

RAMP it up! Campaign toolkit:

• Petition Letter for businesses (updated February 10, 2011)
• Petition Form
• Online version of the petition postcard
• Email Blast message to be forwarded to your email network
• Social Media messaging for Twitter, Facebook, Blogging, Websites, etc.

Background documents:

• Media Release: Oshawa's Mayor ramping it up (issued Mar. 7, 2011)
• Media Release Show us the numbers, Minister Wynne (issued Mar. 1, 2011)
• Corresponding list of responses in support, along with any non-responses (last updated Feb. 25, 2011)
• MPP Christine Elliott's Private Member’s Resolution Feb. 24, 2011 results
• Media Release: Durham Region Politicians express support for Elliott's 407 resolution (issued Feb. 24, 2011)
• Media Release: What now Minister Wynne? Ministry exploring options for the Hwy 407 East Extension (issued Feb 14, 2011)
• Mayor Henry letter to Minister Wynne (dated Feb. 14, 2011)
• Media Release: Oshawa's Hwy 407 campaign is revving up (issued Feb. 3, 2011)
• Minister Wynne letter to Mayor Henry (dated Feb. 2, 2011)
• Ontario MP/MPP letter (emailed Jan. 31, 2011)
• Council Special Meeting Presentation (posted Jan. 12, 2011)
• FLOW Agreement (posted Jan. 12, 2011)
• FLOW Brochure (posted Feb. 17, 2011)
• Open Letter - sent to Premier (sent Dec. 8, 2010)
• Media Release (issued Nov. 24, 2010)
• Briefing Notes from November 23 meeting with Minister Wynne (issued Nov. 24, 2010)

Hwy 407 East Extension - In the News:

Oshawa MP Colin Carrie, speaking in the House of Commons, demanding the Province of Ontario live up to it's obligations under the FLOW agreement - House of Commons (Feb 9, 2011)

John Tory interviews Oshawa Mayor John Henry on the Hwy407 campaign - The Live Drive with John Tory on NEWSTALK 1010 (Feb.1, 2011 - beginning at the 21 minute mark)

MP Colin Carrie discusses the province's obligation to extend Hwy407 to Hwy 35/115 - Studio 12 News (Jan. 21, 2011)

MPP John O'Toole discusses the importance of the Hwy 407 extension through to Hwy 35/115 - Studio 12 News (Jan. 20, 2011)

MPP Jerry Ouellette talks about the province's broken promise to extend Hwy 407 to 35/115 - Studio 12 News (Jan. 19, 2011)

Oshawa Mayor Henry on how stopping Hwy 407 in Oshawa will mean higher costs for taxpayers - Studio 12 News (Jan. 18, 2011)

MP Jim Flaherty on his disappointment that the province is not honouring the Hwy 407 agreement it signed - Studio 12 News (Jan. 10, 2011 - beginning at the 9 minute mark)

• Resolution to speed up extension of Hwy. 407 to Hwy. 35/115 voted down in Ontario legislature - Peterborough Examiner featuring video of the proceedings (Feb. 25, 2011)
• Whitby-Oshawa MPP's Hwy. 407 motion shot down by government - durhamregion.com (Feb. 25, 2011)
• Legislature parks bid to extend Hwy. 407 - Toronto Sun (Feb. 24, 2011)
• Oshawa mayor says Province bowing to pressure on Hwy. 407 issue - durhamregion.com (Feb. 15, 2011)
• Province reconsidering Hwy. 407 plan: Oshawa mayor - Toronto Sun (Feb. 14, 2011)
• Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak pledges stable construction funding in speech to Ontario Road Builders' Association - Daily Commercial News (Feb. 8, 2011)
• Hwy. 407 campaign revving up - Oshawa Express (Feb. 8, 2011)
• Chair - I'm tired of waiting for 407 - Oshawa Express (Feb. 8, 2011)
• Durham road warriors fight for a longer 407 - Toronto Star (Jan. 27, 2011)
• Port Hope urged to support 407 extension - Northumberland Today (Jan. 27, 2011)
• St. Catharines supports 407 extension - Niagara This Week (Jan. 26, 2011)
• Oshawa chamber urged to join Hwy. 407 fight - durhamregion.com (Jan. 26, 2011)
• Oshawa mayor, McGuinty chat about Hwy. 407 - durhamregion.com (Jan. 26, 2011)
• Oshawa business leaders encouraged to keep up the fight for the 407 - Durham Radio News (Jan. 26, 2011)
• St. Catharines supports Highway 407 extension - St. Catharines Standard (Jan. 25, 2011)
• No crystal ball on future of Highway 407 – Oshawa Express (Jan. 19, 2011)
• Curtailed Hwy. 407 extension a 'grave concern' for Scugog
• Stay united in Hwy. 407 fight, Oshawa urged - durhamregion.com (Jan. 13, 2011)
• Durham residents fuming over plan to build ‘half a highway’ - Toronto Star (Jan. 12, 2011)
• Hwy. 407 John Henry's biggest priority for 2011 - durhamregion.com (Jan. 5, 2011)
• Mayor's New Year's resolutions for Clarington - durhamregion.com (Jan. 4, 2011)
• Road to where? - Peterborough Examiner (Dec. 28, 2010)
• Hwy. 407 — a road cut short - Toronto Sun (Dec. 27, 2010)
• Public meeting on Hwy. 407 Jan. 12 in Oshawa - durhamregion.com (Dec. 21, 2010)
• Hwy. 407 ending in Oshawa could cost Durham taxpayers $25 million - durhamregion.com (Dec 15., 2010)
• It was never the plan – Oshawa Express (Dec. 7/10)
• Crippling impacts" for 407 phase-in – Oshawa Express (Nov. 30, 2010)
• Province must meet its Hwy. 407 obligations - durhamregion.com (Nov. 25, 2010)
• Durham politicians try for a Hwy. 407 win-Wynne - durhamregion.com (Nov. 24, 2010)
• Residents fuming over phasing plan – Oshawa Express (Nov. 16, 2010)

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