Ontario Construction News staff writer
Representatives from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA), the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM), and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) met with federal and provincial leaders in Ottawa on Tuesday to renew calls for major improvements to Highways 11 and 17, citing growing concerns over public safety, economic development, and national transportation security.
The meetings are part of an ongoing campaign by northern municipal leaders to accelerate long-discussed upgrades to the two highways, which form a critical section of the Trans-Canada Highway network through Northern Ontario.
Delegates met with Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon, Federal Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu, and Ontario Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth George Pirie to advocate for increased investment and faster timelines for highway expansion projects.
The push comes amid a strengthened partnership between NOMA, FONOM, and the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA), which have united in calling on both the federal and provincial governments to prioritize improvements along the corridor.
As the only continuous east-west highway route connecting Eastern and Western Canada, Highways 11 and 17 serve as a vital transportation link for people, goods, and services. The corridor supports billions of dollars in annual trade and provides critical access for communities across Northern Ontario.
“The OTA applauds NOMA and FONOM’s leadership on this matter, and we look forward to working together to make this a reality,” said OTA President Stephen Laskowski.
Laskowski pointed to the 2016 closure of the Nipigon River Bridge, which temporarily severed Canada’s only road connection between eastern and western regions, as evidence of the corridor’s vulnerability.
“Ten years after the Nipigon Bridge got wiped out, severing the Trans-Canada and exposing the corridor’s vulnerability, we’re still waiting for a meaningful federal and provincial response that matches the scale of this risk,” he said.
He added that recent commitments from Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Doug Ford on nation-building infrastructure projects provide new optimism for progress.
“We need a nation-building investment that reflects the corridor’s role as a lifeline for our economy and national security,” Laskowski said.
Despite the highway network’s importance, significant stretches remain two-lane roadways. Municipal and industry leaders argue that increasing commercial traffic volumes, combined with challenging northern driving conditions, continue to create safety risks and supply chain disruptions.
“This alignment between municipal leaders and industry reinforces what Northerners already know — that Highways 11 and 17 are critical to our safety and to Canada’s economy,” said FONOM President Dave Plourde. “With momentum building, now is the time for governments to work together and move practical improvements forward.”
NOMA President Rick Dumas echoed those concerns, emphasizing the highways’ role in connecting Northern Ontario to the rest of the country.
“Highways 11 and 17 are more than just roads; they are lifelines that connect Northern Ontario to the rest of the country,” Dumas said. “Working together ensures that both municipal priorities and industry realities are reflected as governments consider next steps.”
The organizations argue that the corridor’s importance will continue to grow as demand increases for Northern Ontario’s natural resources and critical minerals, sectors expected to play a key role in Canada’s future economic development.
Municipal and industry leaders are advocating for a phased approach to upgrades, including additional four-laning projects, expansion of two-plus-one highway sections, and enhanced safety and enforcement measures.
The coalition is calling on both levels of government to coordinate funding, streamline regulatory approvals, and formally recognize Highways 11 and 17 as infrastructure projects of national significance.
For northern leaders, the message delivered in Ottawa was clear: improving the highways is not simply a regional issue, but a national priority that affects public safety, economic competitiveness, and the resilience of Canada’s transportation network.
