A Northern Ontario MPP's private member's bill to improve safety on area highways is being debated today (Feb. 23).
Last year, Mushkegowuk-James Bay MPP Guy Bourgouin reintroduced Bill 59, Making Northern Ontario Highways Safer Act. It's going to a second reading and debate tonight around 5 p.m., according to the NDP.
The bill aims to make winter driving safer on Highway 11 and 17 by legislating that roads be cleared within eight hours of a snowfall. It would require classifying the northern highways the same as the 400-series highways, where there are strict snow removal requirements.
“This winter, drivers and their families are risking their lives on our highways. Doug Ford has ignored the safety of Northerners for too long. This government must take action now. My bill will have our main highways 11 and 17 cleared within eight hours and prevent tragedies. Northerners have waited long enough,” said Bourgouin in a news release.
Recently, a Kapuskasing woman launched a letter-writing campaign to Ontario Premier Doug Ford calling on the government to make changes on highways 11 and 17.
For the campaign called Letter for Chad, people can send a pre-written letter to the Premier or modify it to share their own experiences travelling the highways.
You can watch the debate on Bourgouin's private member's bill live online here.
