THUNDER BAY – If at first the NDP don't succeed on road safety in Ontario's North, they'll try, try, try again.
On Monday Mushkegowuk-James Bay MPP Guy Bourgoin was in Thunder Bay seeking support for his already defeated private members bill aimed at boosting Highway 11 and Highway 17 to Series 1 highways, meaning snow must be removed within eight hours. Currently, maintenance crews have up to 16 hours to clear the two highways.
Bourgoin, who brought Bill 125: Making Northern Ontario Highways Safer to Queen's Park in November, where it was defeated by the governing Conservatives.
He said statistics he's gleaned from the Ministry of Transportation show drivers on northern highways are three to four times more likely to be killed than motorists on southern Ontario highways.
On top of that, the impassibility at times during the winter is having major impacts on Northern Ontario commerce.
“When I was growing up, the highways weren't closed as much as they were when they privatized (maintenance). It's definitely it's a huge step. From 16 hours to eight hours would make a huge difference,” Bourgoin said.
“Don't forget. A lot of industries, when the highways are closed, they're affected, especially in forestry and schools and medical appointments.”
Bourgoin's Thunder Bay-Atikokan counterpart, Judith Monteith-Farrell, said as the Opposition party's forestry critic, she's heard the concerns of industry, particularly those in the forestry business.
“It's important that we support those industries and the workers. If a long-haul driver doesn't deliver his load, he doesn't get paid,” Monteith-Farrell said.
In many areas, there are no workarounds if the Trans-Canada is closed just about anywhere in the region.
“There's no bypass,” said Monteith-Farrell, adding in many places there isn't even a shoulder to get by, should a crash block the roadway.
“With our climate getting more precarious, with stronger weather systems coming in, we see that result – closures and fatalities.”
Monteith-Farrell said she's hopeful the province will do the right thing, if and when Bourgoin brings a revamped version of Bill 125 to the legislature. He must wait at least one year before doing so.
“Even if they want to bring this bill forward and make it their idea, we'd be happy to see that improvements are done on that highway,” she said.
