What Mayor Provenzano will be doing during the June 2 provincial election

Sault Mayor Christian Provenzano has been assigned a role in the June 2 provincial election.

City Council voted this week urging the mayor to write to all local candidates, pushing for safety improvements to Highway 17 north of the city. 

"It seemed for some time in December – or maybe it was early January – there were closures constantly on the highway north, either from Batchawana to Wawa, or Sault Ste. Marie and Batchawana," said Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Shoemaker, mover of a resolution on the issue passed unanimously by councillors on Monday.

"This presents a safety risk," Shoemaker said.

"We are, in Sault Ste. Marie, the urban centre where people get their groceries, get their health care, get their provincial and federal services and their essential services."

"We have to be accessible to our surrounding communities in order for people to be able to protect their well-being and continue on safely."

"It is crucial that the highway not be closed for extended periods of time, as it has been this winter," Shoemaker said.  

The following is the full text of the resolution passed by City Council on Monday:

Highway 17 North Improvements

Mover: Councillor M. Shoemaker
Seconder: Councillor P. Christian

Whereas during the winter of 2021-2022, Highway 17 north of Sault Ste. Marie has been closed on at least 11 occasions due to inclement weather or collisions; and

Whereas the close of any highway, especially a two-lane highway in remote areas of Ontario presents life-safety risk to any persons that need essential services that are offered in urban centres; and

Whereas for many years Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding communities have sought highway improvements, especially ongoing calls to four-lane Highway 17; and

Whereas improvements to Highway 17 north are urgently needed to ensure uninterrupted access by residents and seasonal users of hospital and other essential services only offered in Sault Ste. Marie; and

Whereas the provincial government has recently announced a plan to invest $82 billion in transportation improvements over the next year, not all of which should be spent in the GTA as is often the case with provincial transportation dollars; and

Whereas a provincial election is near where all parties will be looking to champion local issues;

Now therefore be it resolved that the City of Sault Ste. Marie call on all provincial political parties to prioritize improvements to Highway 17 north of Sault Ste. Marie in their policy platforms and that the mayor be requested to draft correspondence to the local candidates in the upcoming provincial election setting out this council’s position.