Ontario Accelerating the Expansion of Highway 69

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CRANBERRY - Today, Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria and Minister George Pirie announced that the Ontario government intends to introduce legislation to accelerate the widening of Highway 69 between Parry Sound and Sudbury. If passed, the Building Highway 69 Faster Act will enable the province to complete the widening project up to five years ahead of schedule by streamlining the environmental assessment process. The proposed changes, which are similar to the measures introduced to speed up construction of Highway 413, are part of the government's plan to improve highway safety in northern Ontario and support economic growth in the region. The province is also calling on the federal government to support the expansion of this vital economic corridor, which is critical to facilitating interprovincial trade and protecting Canadian sovereignty.

"People in northern Ontario have waited long enough for a safer, more reliable Highway 69, and our government is taking action to get it built faster," said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. "By cutting unnecessary red tape, we are accelerating construction by up to five years, improving road safety for drivers and strengthening a vital economic corridor and connection between northern Ontario and the rest of the province."

If passed, the proposed legislation would establish a project-specific environmental assessment framework that builds on the environmental work already completed to support the Highway 69 expansion project. This would allow eligible work to proceed sooner, while maintaining environmental oversight and fulfilling the province's duty to consult with Indigenous communities.

Ontario is also calling on the federal government to support the expansion of this vital economic corridor, which supports Canadian economic sovereignty and interprovincial trade, by expediting outstanding environmental and regulatory approvals, advancing critical rail relocation work with Canadian National Railway (CN) and ensuring timely approvals for watercourse crossings. Federal support will help prevent unnecessary delays and keep the project on track for shovels in the ground starting as early as next year.

"A safe, reliable Highway 69 is essential to Sudbury and northern Ontario's economy," said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. "Accelerating the expansion will improve road safety, strengthen our supply chains and provide Sudbury and northern communities with the modern transportation infrastructure they need to grow, attract investment and remain competitive."

To date, Ontario has completed 84 kilometres of widening on Highway 69. The proposed legislation will help accelerate the remaining 68 kilometres of widening, supporting shovels in the ground as early as next year.

Quick Facts

Quotes

"Ontario cannot afford unnecessary delays that slow down the infrastructure our economy depends on. By cutting red tape and streamlining approvals, we are accelerating the widening of Highway 69, strengthening a critical trade and transportation corridor that connects northern Ontario industries, workers and communities to markets across the province. At a time of global economic uncertainty, our government is taking decisive action to get transportation infrastructure built faster, fortify our supply chains and strengthen Ontario's competitive advantage."

- Andrea Khanjin
Minister of Red Tape Reduction

"For families, workers and businesses in our communities, Highway 69 is more than a transportation route - it's an essential connection that people rely on every day. Our government is taking action to cut red tape and accelerate this long-awaited expansion, improving road safety and supporting jobs across the region. I will continue working closely with the Minister of Transportation, local First Nations Chiefs and municipal leaders to ensure our communities' voices are heard, and this important project continues to move forward."

- Graydon Smith
MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka

"NOMA and FONOM welcome the Ontario government's commitment to accelerating the expansion of Highway 69 and improving the safety and reliability of northern Ontario's highway network."

- Rick Dumas
President, Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA)

"Modern, fully twinned highways are essential to protecting motorists, supporting economic growth and ensuring the safe and efficient movement of people and goods across our region. We thank Premier Ford and Minister Sarkaria for their continued commitment to northern Ontario's transportation infrastructure and look forward to ongoing dialogue with the province on accelerating highway expansion, particularly the twinning of Highways 11 and 17 across northern Ontario. Together, we must continue working toward a safer, more reliable, and fully twinned Trans-Canada Highway."

- Dave Plourde
President, Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM)

"For businesses across northern Ontario, Highway 69 is far more than a transportation route. It is a lifeline that connects communities, supports economic growth and keeps people and goods moving throughout the region. It is also a long-overdue investment in road safety for everyone who relies on this vital corridor. We welcome the Ontario government's commitment to advancing this long-awaited project and delivering the infrastructure northern Ontario needs to grow and compete."

- Marie Litalien
President and CEO, Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce

"RCCAO welcomes the province's proposed legislative measures to accelerate the Highway 69 expansion by streamlining environmental assessment requirements and reducing unnecessary regulatory delays. The construction industry has long emphasized the importance of improving approval processes to get critical infrastructure built faster, while maintaining appropriate environmental oversight. Accelerating this long-awaited expansion by up to five years would be a significant step toward improving road safety, strengthening northern Ontario's economy and ensuring the efficient movement of people and goods."

- Nadia Todorova
Executive Director, Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario

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