Ontario Construction News staff writer
Ontario is developing a transportation plan that will get people moving, connect communities and bring more economic opportunities to the people of Northern Ontario.
Last week, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation, Vijay Thanigasalam was in Northern Ontario.
“Our government is listening to people and businesses in Northern Ontario. We are committed to improving transportation services in the region,” said Parliamentary Assistant Thanigasalam. “Our round-table sessions provided an opportunity to hear about how we can help improve transportation in northern and remote communities. The feedback we received will help inform our plan to connect more people to places, provide options for people to get to critical services and create economic growth in the north.”
Participants provided ideas to improve the transportation network in Northern Ontario, including improving highways, adding more rest areas for drivers and providing people with more options to travel between communities. Feedback and suggestions from the sessions will help the province deliver the upcoming transportation plan for Northern Ontario.
“Our government is delivering on its commitment to connect people to more communities and address the unique transportation needs of every region across the province – including Northern Ontario,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “This is part of our plan to help build a better transportation network and get people and goods moving.”
Ontario is developing regional transportation plans that will help build a better transportation system to keep people and goods moving. The first, Connecting the Southwest: A Draft Transportation Plan for Southwestern Ontario, was released on January 17, 2020.
“Our government understands the unique transportation challenges of the north and we are committed to ensuring Northern Ontarians have access to a safe transportation network that supports northern businesses, communities and families alike,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines.
Roundtable sessions were held in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Kapuskasing, Sudbury and North Bay from January 29 to February 1, 2020.
In 2019, ten municipalities in Northern Ontario were successful recipients of the Community Transportation Grant program for a combined total of over $4.2 million over a five-year period. In 2018-19, 26 municipalities representing 28 communities in Northern Ontario received more than $8.5 million in provincial gas tax funding.