The provincial NDP’s Northern Caucus and leader Marit Stiles have launched a documentary on their recent northern highways tour.
Officials say it showcases the urgent need for safer northern highways.
“Going on this two-week journey was an experience I hope will open a lot of eyes through this documentary,” says John Vanthof, MPP for Timiskaming-Cochrane. “We don’t need to watch shows about dangerous roads. We live it. This should finally reveal why Highways 11 and 17 need real investment and modernization.”
He also questioned the transportation minister at Queen’s Park, saying everyone knows 11 and 17 are “at a crisis level”, and need improvements.
“You’ve had the Northern Highway Safety Task Force,” says Vanthof. “The MTO keeps stats on every kilometre of the highway, every accident. It’s not that you don’t know, it’s that you’re deciding to ignore the crisis.”
Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria says the government is continuing to make investments in building more transportation infrastructure in the north.
Last week in North Bay, Premier Doug Ford said no other government has invested the amount of money they have in northern highways.
“About $600 million,” he says. “We’re going full steam on making sure we expand highways no government has ever expanded before. The 11/17 2+1, that’s never been done before.”
Ford also highlighted four-laning work on a ‘treacherous’ Highway 69 to Sudbury.
No timelines for the 2+1 pilot north of the city were provided.
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation, Ric Bresee also says they’re doing better than their 90% target when it comes to winter maintenance standards.
“We’re actually achieving 98%, meeting those timelines and getting through that the roads are cleared as quickly as possible,” he says.
Bresee reiterates they’ve invested more than any other government in maintaining and improving northern roads, and will continue to do so.
**With files from Bob McIntyre
