Northern Ontario MPPs demand government move beyond promises and start building safer highways now

QUEEN’S PARK – POLITICS – Northern Ontario NDP MPPs are once again pressing the Ford government to deliver on long-standing promises to upgrade Highways 11 and 17, calling the current state of the roads not only unacceptable—but deadly.

The renewed call comes after the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) issued its own plea earlier this week, urging both the federal and provincial governments to recognize the need for a nation-building investment in Northern Ontario’s highway network.

“Highways 11 and 17 are the lifelines of Northern Ontario; yet they remain some of the deadliest roads in the country,” said Guy Bourgouin, MPP for Mushkegowuk–James Bay. “The government’s inaction is not just unacceptable, it’s reckless. Northern lives are not expendable.”

Northern Highway Safety Called “Nation-Building Priority”

“This is about saving lives,” added Lise Vaugeois, MPP for Thunder Bay–Superior North. “Safe roads connect our communities, support trade, and save lives. That’s what nation-building actually looks like.”

Vaugeois pointed out that despite the Ford government referencing $600 million in Northern highway spending, most of that goes toward basic maintenance—not the transformative upgrades promised through a 2+1 highway model or full twinning of hazardous corridors.

The 2+1 model, widely used in Europe, provides alternating centre passing lanes every 2–5 kilometres—reducing the risk of head-on collisions without the cost of full four-lane expansion.

Vanthof: Northern Drivers Four Times More Likely to Die in Crashes

John Vanthof, MPP for Timiskaming–Cochrane, highlighted sobering statistics that paint a grim picture for Northern motorists.

“A vehicle crash in Timiskaming is four times more likely to be fatal than anywhere else in Ontario,” said Vanthof. “It’s beyond time to take this seriously. Northerners deserve the same investment in safety and infrastructure as the rest of Canada.”

Despite a provincial commitment to expand the 2+1 model from Temiskaming Shores to Cochrane, Vanthof says no work has started, and the pilot segment between North Bay and Temagami remains on paper only.

Background: NDP’s Northern Highway Strategy

Introduced in January 2025, the NDP’s Northern Highway Strategy includes:

• Accelerated construction of 2+1 highway corridors across Northern Ontario

• Annual safety audits for Highways 11 and 17

• Dedicated funding beyond regular maintenance budgets

• A transparent timeline for highway upgrades and regulatory oversight

• Meaningful Indigenous and municipal engagement

Highways 11 and 17: More Than Just Regional Roads

As key corridors for trade, tourism, supply chains, and emergency response, Highways 11 and 17 form a crucial part of Canada’s East-West connectivity—yet they remain largely two-lane routes in the North, where snow, wildlife, and limited passing lanes contribute to high fatality rates.

“We fully support FONOM’s call to designate Highways 11 and 17 as nation-building corridors,” Vaugeois said. “Ontario should be leading that charge—not stalling it.”

Related Coverage on NetNewsLedger.com

• 🛣️ FONOM Calls for Nation-Building Investment in Highways 11 and 17

• ⚠️ Thunder Bay Braces for DGR Traffic as Ignace Gears Up for Transportation Review

• 🚨 UPDATE: Highway 17 Reopened After Fatal Collision Near Dryden

• 🛞 Highways 11 and 17: Why a 2+1 Road Model Could Save Lives in Northwestern Ontario

• 📊 OPP Traffic Report: Crash Rates Remain High Across Northern Highway Corridor