Former Peterborough Kawartha MPP Jeff Leal says he learned of Monday's Highway 407 opening only after a Durham regional councillor asked him why he wasn't on the official invitation list.

"I'm a pretty mild-mannered guy. I don't get mad too often," Leal said, after reaching out to mykawartha.com. "I'm just disappointed. I thought it was a rather classless act."

The province sent out a press release this past Friday announcing that the final stretch of the toll highway - bringing it as far east as Highway 35/115 - would be opening Monday. Previously, it was thought the final section wouldn't be ready until 2020.

On Friday, several dignitaries gathered for a ribbon-cutting to mark the occasion.

There are a number of people who should have been invited or acknowledged but weren't, Leal said.

Steven Del Duca, the former transportation minister in the Kathleen Wynne government, was the point person through much of the 407 expansion, working to get it back on schedule, Leal said.

"Darryl Bennett deserves credit too. After Phase 1 was completed (from Brock Road to Harmony Road) it was Darryl that talked to Minister Del Duca, myself and (Peterborough County Warden) J. Murray Jones and it was decided that we should go at it from both ends." Leal says it allowed them to hasten the construction schedule.

"It's not just me who's upset. I've been getting a lot of calls."

Leal says one person who deserved acknowledgement was former Peterborough realtor John Bowes. Forty years ago, he was the first to propose a toll road linking the QEW, southwest of Toronto, with Highway 35.

"This current government has had nothing to do with putting this in place." Leal said he lobbied for the newest part of the extension to remain under ownership of the province.

"I wasn't looking for a speaking role . just to be in attendance. I'm seeing a total lack of civility in public life and it dismays people like myself who believe it should rise above hyperpartisanship. This is just disappointing."