Provincial NDP continues to push for improvements to Highways 11 and 17 in northern Ontario.

They now want the work to be declared a project of national significance.

A motion is before MPPs to consider.

Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof says he decided to take this approach because of previous Private Member’s Bills that have fallen in defeat.

“We thought we’d change tact, and bring something forward that hopefully the government could actually support,” says Vanthof.

The northern Ontario MPP says by declaring the expansion and modernization of Highways 11 and 17, the province is taking steps to protect drivers, East-West trade, supply chain reliability, and mining projects.

Transportation Minister Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria and Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth George Pirie have already written to Federal Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon for support to widen the highways.

The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) are welcoming the move.

NOMA President Rick Dumas says it recognizes what area municipalities have long stated – that the highways are critical to Canada’s economic strength, public safety, and national connectivity.

“NOMA has long advocated for sustained investment in this corridor, including twinning where feasible and targeted 2+1 solutions where appropriate,” states Dumas in a release.

In the legislature, Hardeep Singh Grewal, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation, says the government is committed to improving highways in northern Ontario.

“We’ve widened the corridor by more than 50%, and to date, through the Northern Highways program, we’ve invested $650 million to support the expansion of highways 11 and 17,” says Grewal.

NOMA notes that Highways 11 and 17 carry thousands of commercial vehicles each day, with government data estimating approximately 2,000 trucks daily.

The debate on the NDP’s motion opened on Tuesday.