A Private Member’s Bill to improve highway safety in northern Ontario has the support of Fort Frances council.
Council supported a resolution that backs the NDP’s call for improved truck driving training, longer hours of inspection stations and the province taking back winter road maintenance.
Councillor Wendy Brunetta says it is important that a voice be given to those along Highway 11.
“The NOMA (Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association) board has been participating on a Northern Highway Safety Task Force. And this is definitely just a small chunk of the Northern highways, but it’s something that draws more attention to our area,” says Brunetta.
Some councillors question the ability to change the government’s mind on winter road maintenance.
“I don’t support the restoration of the highway’s section of that. I think we’re just wasting our time, quite frankly, but the first three I think are valid points,” says McTaggart.
Councillor Bill Morrison disagrees.
“I believe that since the contract, the highway hasn’t been as good in the wintertime. It hasn’t been cleaned as much,” says Morrison.
The proposed bill is also being supported by some communities to the east of Thunder Bay.
It is scheduled for second reading when MPPs return to the legislature in October.
