Prime Minister Mark Carney says northern highways need to be a priority for the province too.
He was questioned about highway safety, twinning and expansion of northern roads at an announcement in Thunder Bay on Thursday.
“I know it’s a priority for your representatives in the Federal government because they bring it up with me,” he says. “I will be raising this with the premier. We have a lot to work on together. But it needs to be a priority for the Province of Ontario, it will be a priority for the Federal government, and we will work to rectify.”
The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities says it welcomes Carney’s commitment to working with the province to make the safety and expansion of Northern Ontario’s highways a priority.
“We are pleased to hear the Prime Minister recognize what Northern municipalities have been saying for years: that Highways 11 and 17 are not simply provincial roads. They are vital east-west connections that serve Northern Ontario, the rest of Ontario and Canada,” says Dave Plourde, FONOM President. “If four-laning is a priority for the federal government, we need to see it become an equally clear priority for the Province of Ontario. Where four-laning is not immediately practical, we need a comprehensive plan to improve safety and mobility.”
FONOM says it believes discussions between the PM and Premier will provide an important opportunity for both governments to establish a coordinated plan for Northern Ontario’s transportation infrastructure.
The federation continues to advocate for increased investment in Highways 11 and 17, including four-laning, highway safety improvements, passing lanes and other measures that will improve the movement of people and goods across Northern Ontario.
Carney was in Thunder Bay on Thursday announcing $4.7 billion for VIA Rail to acquire and maintain 313 new passenger rail cars.
**With files from Richard Coffin
