MPP West calls out Ford Government for breaking its promise on Highway 69

QUEEN’S PARK – During question period, NDP MPP Jamie West (Sudbury) called out the Ford government for prioritizing luxury spas over the four-laning of Highway 69, breaking their promise once again to deliver safe roads to northern communities.

“The Conservative Fall Economic Statement won’t deliver on Highway 69 – again,” said West. “For 6 years, the Conservative government has promised to finish 4-laning Hwy 69. For 6 years, they failed. Not a single kilometer has been completed. Not a single shovel in the ground.”

“When it comes to insider vanity projects, like luxury spas and 401 tunnels, the Conservative Government moves mountains. But, when it comes to people dying on Northern Highways, the Conservative Government continues to make excuses to delay the process. With Ford and his government, the people of Ontario are not getting what they paid for.”

Background:

• Highway 69 joins the northern end of Highway 400 at Parry Sound and extends north to Highway 17 in the City of Greater Sudbury. Highway 69 is prone to traffic congestion during the summer tourist season.
• Local residents and visitors rely on Highway 69 to commute to their homes and places of employment, cottages, provincial parks and other recreational facilities.
• The project of expanding the roughly 400-kilometre stretch of roadway from Sudbury to Toronto into four lanes began decades ago, yet 68 kilometers are still waiting to be built after multiple postponed deadlines.
• Expansion of the highway is a matter of community safety. OPP Parry Sound reported that from Oct. 29, 2023, to Oct. 29, 2024, there were 123 collisions in the section of Highway 69 that hasn’t been four-laned, including one fatality.