THUNDER BAY, ON – The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) has sent a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney urging the federal government to recognize Highway 11, Highway 17, and the Highway 11/17 corridor as critical national infrastructure and to designate the corridor as dual-use transportation infrastructure supporting both civilian mobility and national defence readiness.
The letter outlines the strategic importance of the Trans-Canada Highway system across Northern Ontario, which serves as the only continuous east-west highway connection entirely within Canada between eastern and western provinces.
“Highway 11, Highway 17 and the Highway 11/17 corridor are not just regional transportation routes — they are national infrastructure that connect Canada from coast to coast,” said Rick Dumas, Mayor of Marathon and President of NOMA. “These highways support the movement of people, goods, and essential supply chains, while also playing a critical role in supporting Canada’s economic resilience and national security.”
NOMA’s letter highlights that the corridor runs parallel to nearly 900 kilometres of undefended border with the United States and includes the Nipigon River Bridge — the only all-Canadian highway connection between eastern and western Canada along the Trans-Canada Highway.
Given the national importance of this corridor, NOMA is calling on the federal government to work collaboratively with the Province of Ontario, municipalities, and First Nations to modernize and strengthen the highway system through coordinated planning and sustained investment.
“A dual-use designation would recognize that these highways serve both civilian and national strategic purposes,” added Dumas. “Modernizing this corridor improves safety for northern residents while also strengthening Canada’s ability to move goods, respond to emergencies, and maintain reliable east-west connectivity.”
As part of its proposal, NOMA is also urging governments to begin exploring the development of a secondary east-west highway connection north of Lake Nipigon. Such a route would provide a critical alternative connection around the Nipigon River Bridge and introduce much-needed redundancy and resiliency into Canada’s national transportation network.
“Today there is no alternative Canadian route if the Nipigon connection is disrupted,” said Dumas. “Developing a secondary corridor north of Lake Nipigon would provide important redundancy for the national highway system while supporting future economic development across Northern Ontario.”
NOMA has requested a meeting with the Prime Minister and key federal ministers to discuss the proposal and to explore how the federal government can work collaboratively with provincial, municipal, and First Nations partners to advance the modernization of Canada’s northern transportation infrastructure.
NOMA stands ready to work collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to advance a resilient, modern, and safe national highway system across Northern Ontario. Strengthening the Highway 11, Highway 17 and Highway 11/17 corridor is essential to ensuring Canada remains connected, economically competitive, and secure. By working together, we can build transportation infrastructure that supports northern communities while keeping Canada strong.
