N. Ontario candidates urge twinning Hwy. 69

ALGOMA, Ont. — When it comes to transportation at least, there’s little disagreement among the three leading candidates in Algoma-Manitoulin as they position themselves for next week’s provincial election.

According to the Sault Star, incumbent Liberal MPP Mike Brown wants a more divided northern highway system, including the twinning of crash-prone Hwy. 69. He called the proposal his “number one priority.”

The major highway, which runs south of Sudbury, is considered one of the more dangerous stretches of road in the province for truckers and travelers alike.

Brown said he also supports revamping Hwy. 17, which is in need of new passing lanes and improved infrastructure.

Conservative candidate Ron Swain said his party would also lobby Ottawa to complete the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. He said double-laning Hwy. 17 would boost economic growth between Northern Ontario and the U.S.

Added New Democratic Party candidate Peter Denley agrees, but wondered if there’s enough money in the budget to twin every highway in the region that needs it. If it’s affordable, his party will do it, he said.

Predictably, Green Party candidate Ron Yurick is against twinning — with a few exceptions. He said there isn’t a need for four-laning in the north, adding that increased traffic and speed would create more pollution.

He said there’s no excuse for trucking most goods and commodities across Northern Ontario when “we have two excellent railways.”

More than a few shippers, however, might beg to differ.

— with files from the Sault Star