Highway 69 project is vital to Sudbury’s economic growth

 SUDBURY—Today in Question Period, New Democrat Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury) called on the Government to prioritize the environmental assessment for the widening of Highway 69. The assessment process began on June 23th 2010, over 18 months ago, and the expansion of Highway 69 has stalled as the developers wait for the results of the assessment. Thibeault contacted the Minister of Transport back in October to ask for an update on the assessment process, but the Minister’s Office has so far failed to provide a response.

“The development of Highway 69 is vital for Northern Ontario as a whole, and Sudbury in particular,” said Thibeault.  “Expanding the highway will allow businesses in Sudbury to extend their reach and it will lower the costs for transporting goods to and from Northern Ontario. It will also decrease the risk of tragic accidents like the ones we saw over the Christmas period.” 

The Provincial Government had announced that it wished to complete the highway widening by 2017, but with the environmental assessment slowing the project, this deadline could be in jeopardy. A Supreme Court ruling in 2010 changed the process for environmental assessments; previously developers could apply of separate assessments for each stage of a project, but now assessment must be conducted for projects as a whole.

“Obviously an environmental assessment is an important part of any large scale construction project, but the Government should realise the importance of the Highway 69 project to Northern Ontario, and ensure that the assessment is given the priority that it deserves,” added Thibeault. “At the moment, the people of Sudbury just hear whispers that we should expect the results ‘soon’, when what is really needed is a firm date for when to expect the assessment to be completed.”

Highway 69 links Sudbury to Highway 400 at Parry Sound. As the highway is widened, Highway 69 will become part of the 400 which continues south to Highway 401 in Toronto.