Orazietti wants feds to help with Hwy 17 upgrades

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

************************* Orazietti re-introduces legislation calling for improvements to Highway 17 in Northern Ontario

Bill 206 proposes federal-provincial Trans Canada cost-sharing agreement to increase public safety and support economic growth

QUEEN'S PARK - Yesterday, David Orazietti, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie, re-introduced legislation calling on the federal government to enter into a cost-sharing agreement with the province to make improvements to Highway 17, or the Trans Canada Highway across Northern Ontario.

“Over 95 percent of funding for improvements to Highway 17 comes directly from the provincial government and it is time we restore the historic equal cost-sharing agreement for a route that has national interest,” said Orazietti. “Northerners deserve a better deal and improvements to Highway 17 are vital for driver safety, economic growth and are in-line with the 2011 Growth Plan for Northern Ontario.

The province has committed $3.45 billion towards highways in Northern Ontario since 2003, including $613 million for improvements to Highway 17.

In comparison the federal government has only contributed $15 million towards Highway 17.

When compared to other provinces, the Trans Canada Highway in Northern Ontario has the lowest percentage of four-laned highway at approximately 14 percent.

Driving on certain portions of Highway 17 can be dangerous without separated traffic, especially in the wintertime when snow and ice can create additional challenges.

An annual average of 31 fatalities and 1,012 injuries occur on Highway 17 as a result of collisions and other incidents.

Bill 206 calls on the federal government to help improve Highway 17 to address these safety concerns.

Highway 17 is a vital economic link in Northern Ontario.

On average, 1,046 trucks travel every day on Highway 17 in Northern Ontario, with volumes peaking at 2,600 per day.

The truck traffic on Highway 17 in Northern Ontario is expected to grow by more than 70 percent by the year 2026 to about 1,800 trucks per day.

Improvements are needed on Highway 17 to address significant growth over the next 15 years.

Congestion, accidents, and injuries on highways cost companies billions of dollars every year in Ontario and, with the vast majority of other provincial portions of the Trans Canada Highway already four-laned, Northern Ontario will be unable to compete for new economic opportunities unless its infrastructure is improved.

The quality of highway infrastructure is also a significant influence on tourism and its improvement will help to draw additional economic benefits to the region.

Bill 206 proposes the federal and provincial governments develop a plan to improve Highway 17 in a variety of ways that address the concerns of Northern Ontario motorists.

“My vision for the North is to see a modernized Trans Canada Highway with improved safety measures, such as additional passing lanes, paved shoulders, rumble strips, rest stops, and ultimately a four-lane divided highway,” said Orazietti.

Orazietti first introduced legislation proposing improvements to Highway 17 in 2006.

In 2007, he launched a website to promote the public campaign for improvements to Highway 17.

Quick facts

In 2007, David Orazietti, MPP introduced Bill 11, “Protecting Children and Youth from Second-Hand Smoke in Automobiles Act, 2007.”

The bill was adopted by the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport and amended the Smoke Free Ontario Act in 2009.

In 2008, he introduced Bill 59, the “Apology Act, 2008,” which enables individuals and organizations, such as hospitals and other public institutions, to apologize for an accident or wrongdoing, without it being used as evidence of liability in a civil legal proceeding under provincial law.

The bill was adopted by the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as the Apology Act in 2009.

In 2010, Orazietti introduced Bill 56, the “Breast Cancer Screening Act, 2010,” which proposed increased access to breast cancer screening.

Bill 56 passed Second Reading and was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy.

In the 2011 Ontario Budget the province announced the largest investment and expansion to the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) in more than 20 years and included reducing the age of entry to the OBSP.

In 2010, Orazietti introduced Bill 133, the “Wireless Phone, Smart Phone, and Data Service Transparency Act, 2010,” which proposes greater protection and transparency for consumers of wireless phone and data services.

Bill 133 passed first and second reading with all-party support and has been referred to the Standing Committee on General Government.

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