Presidents of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association met with federal Transport Minister Steven Mac Kinnon to emphasize the need for ongoing updates and long-term enhancements to Highways 11 and 17.
A day after making a similar request at Queen’s Park, municipal leaders from Northern Ontario took their call for safer Highways 11 and 17 to Ottawa on June 2.
Representatives from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA), the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM), and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) spoke with federal Transport Minister Steven Mac Kinnon “to discuss the continued modernization and long-term improvement of the Trans-Canada Highway system across Northern Ontario, specifically Highways 11 and 17.”
They were joined in that conversation by Ontario’s Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth George Pirie, along with federal Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu, who is also responsible for Fed Nor.
The northern leaders mentioned in a news release that their discussion centered on “the importance of continued investments in highway twinning, targeted safety improvements, climate resiliency, transportation reliability, and strengthening the movement of people and goods across Northern Ontario and Canada.”
“Today’s meeting was another important step forward in ensuring Northern Ontario’s transportation infrastructure remains part of the national conversation,” said Rick Dumas, president of NOMA, in the press release. “There was strong recognition around the table that Highways 11 and 17 are not simply Northern highways – they are nationally significant trade, supply chain, and community lifelines that connect Canada from coast to coast.”
ROMA had a brief chance to address those priorities with Prime Minister Mark Carney as well.
“Northern municipalities continue to advocate for meaningful investments that improve safety, strengthen economic competitiveness, and ensure our communities remain connected year-round,” said Dave Plourde, president of FONOM. “We appreciated the collaborative and constructive dialogue with Minister Mac Kinnon, Minister Hajdu, and Minister Pirie.”
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