Northern MPPs kick off consultations on highway bill with Northern Tour: Our Roads, Our Safety

QUEEN’S PARK – Northern NDP MPPs John Vanthof (Timiskaming – Cochrane), Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk – James Bay) and Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong) will be joined by colleagues Lise Vaugeois (Thunder Bay – Superior North), France Gelinas (Nickel Belt) and Jamie West (Sudbury) to tour across the North of Ontario using highways 11 and 17 to showcase the dangers that Northerners face every time they hit the road.

“We don’t need to watch Ice Road Truckers, we live it.” Said Vanthof, “We are going to make the trek from Queen’s Park to Manitoba and back to show what Highway 11 and 17 is really like and why it needs to be modernized and expanded.”

The MPPs will be hitting places along highways 11 and 17 North Bay, notably Kapuskasing, Timmins, Thunder Bay, Kenora, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, and more.

“Communities across the North are grieving the losses of family and friends to collisions on the northern highways.” Said Mamakwa. “We are worrying about loved ones making it home safe. It’s past time for Ontario to step up for the lives of everyone. I’m joining this tour to shed light on what we experience on a daily basis driving in the North.”

“Northern families deserve highways that are safe, reliable, and properly maintained.” Said Bourgouin. “I’ve introduced multiple bills on road safety because this is a life-and-death issue in the North. This highway tour is about listening to communities, documenting real concerns, and pushing the government to act—before more lives are lost.”