Re: Investing in Northern Ontario’s Highway Infrastructure

The OCC’s mission is to convene, align and advance the interests of its members through principled policy work, value-added business services and broad engagement to drive competitiveness and inclusive, sustainable economic growth in the province. [...] With the strong support of OCC members and our Infrastructure Policy Council, we write to reiterate our 2023 budget recommendation that the government continue to move forward aggressively on the expansion of Highway 69, and that the ministry communicate regularly and transparently to stakeholders about progress. [...] Since its initial development in the 1950s and 1960s, Highway 69 has served as a critical piece of infrastructure, providing significant economic benefits for Northern Ontario and the province overall. [...] Parts of the highway see up to 11,300 average daily users, making it one of the busiest roadways in Northern Ontario.1 Plans to expand Highway 69 from two to four lanes were initially announced in 1991. [...] Between 2019 and 2021, Highway 69 saw a total of 38 closures due to accidents, with 16 resulting in a full highway closure.3 A wider, more reliable highway would help improve driver safety, support northern economic prosperity and Indigenous communities, and attract businesses, labour, and residents to Northern Ontario.