TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO:
WHEREAS Highways 11 and 17 play a critical role in the development and prosperity of Northern Ontario;
WHEREAS the former Liberal government introduced private winter maintenance contracts, and the current Conservative government has failed to improve winter road conditions in Northern Ontario;
WHEREAS injuries and fatalities are twice more likely to occur on a Northern highway than on a highway in Southern Ontario, per capita;
WHEREAS current Ministry of Transportation classification for winter highway maintenance negatively impacts the safety of drivers on Northern highways;
THEREFORE WE, the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:
- Classify all 400 series highways, the QEW highway and Highways 11 and 17 as Class 1 highways;
- Require that the pavement in Class 1 highways be bare of snow within eight hours of the end of a snowfall.