'Stupid, stupid' Terry Fox plan draws Sierra Club into fight

The Sierra Club of Canada says it hopes to stop the extension of Terry Fox Drive through the sensitive wetland habitat of the threatened Blanding's turtle.

John Bennett, executive director of the Sierra Club of Canada, said the club will use its national network to ask concerned citizens to put pressure on politicians to stop the four-kilometre $47.7-million roadway.

"It's just a stupid, stupid plan. This is about greed and avarice and building more houses in a place that's not appropriate," Bennett said. "They don't need to build this road through this wetland."

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Kanata North Councillor Marianne Wilkinson said the mitigation measures are important, and so is the road. She concedes the route might not be perfect, but said any road between north and south Kanata will have to pass through a natural area, causing some environmental disruption.

"There's no way that all development in Ontario is going to be stopped because of endangered species. They're everywhere," she said. "And the Blanding's turtles are going to be safe."