Ontario Construction News staff writer
A locally-based task force in Northern Ontario will focus on transportation needs and opportunities in the region and examine ways to make it easier for people and goods to travel, while boosting economic growth in the North.
“Our government understands that Northern Ontario has unique transportation needs that can make travelling between local communities more challenging for people, and we continue to take action to alleviate these challenges and make travel safer,” said Caroline Mulroney, minister of transportation.
“The Northern Task Force will ensure transportation plans reflect the diverse voices within the community and inform our government of the most important local needs.”
In 2021-22, the province is committing $641 million to expand and repair northern highways and bridges, estimated to create or sustain approximately 4,487 direct and indirect constructions jobs in Northern Ontario.
Establishing a task force was one of more than 60 actions in Connecting the North: A Draft Transportation Plan for Northern Ontario. The task force includes Northern mayors, Indigenous Chiefs and other business and transportation leaders from across the North.
“Getting the North moving is a top priority for our government,” said Greg Rickford, minister of Northern development. “We are committed to improving transportation and infrastructure to support a stronger economy for the North.”
The task force members are:
- Danny Whalen (Co-Chair): President, Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) and Councillor, City of Temiskaming Shores
- Wendy Landry (Co-Chair): President, Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) and Mayor, Municipality of Shuniah
- Mayor Brian Bigger: Mayor of Greater Sudbury
- Mayor Daniel Reynard: Mayor of Kenora
- Mayor Dave Plourde: Mayor of Kapuskasing
- Mayor Doug Lawrance: Mayor of Sioux Lookout
- Mayor Johanne Baril: Mayor of the Municipality of Val Rita-Harty and President of NorthEastern Ontario Municipal Association
- Grand Chief Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh: Grand Council Treaty #3
- Chief Melvin Hardy: Northern Superior Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief, Anishinabek Nation
- Kevin Eshkawkogan: CEO of Indigenous Tourism Ontario
- Alan Spacek: Chair of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission
- Charles Cirtwill: President and CEO of the Northern Policy Institute
- Ron Bumstead: Owner, Bumstead Trucking
“The Minister has heard the concerns of northerners with regards to transportation needs and the safety of our northern highways. The quality of the people appointed to this Transportation Task Force ensure reasonable and responsible results,” said Danny Whalen, president of FONOM.
Northern Ontario comprises almost 90 per cent of Ontario’s land mass, with a population of 807,000 including about 130,000 Indigenous people.