My question is for the Minister of Transportation. Winter storms have a significant impact on the people and the economy of the north. We’re just at the start of this winter season, and we’ve already seen the impact a major snowfall can have on our roads. Road safety is an important concern for northern and Indigenous communities, especially during the winter months.

A few weeks ago, I was pleased to have my motion passed in this House, calling for improved standards for clearing snow on Highways 11 and 17. Can the Minister of Transportation please explain what our government is doing to act on that motion to make roads in northern Ontario safer during the winter months?

Speaker, can the Minister of Transportation please tell us what further actions our government is undertaking to help prevent northern highway closures during winter months?

Thank you to the member for Thunder Bay–Atikokan for his great question, and also for introducing his motion, which reminds us that there’s always more we can do to make our roads in the north safer.

It’s no secret that the winter months can be challenging for drivers, especially those in northern Ontario. We heard loud and clear from northern Ontarians and members on both sides of this House about the need to improve northern road safety, and we acted.

Our government is the first to create a new level of service that requires Highways 11 and 17 in the north to be cleared within 12 hours after a winter storm. That is four hours faster than the previous standard. Ontario has a nation-leading standard in place when it comes to winter maintenance and we are ensuring that it stays that way.

In northern Ontario specifically, our government is installing an additional 14 road weather information stations, including eight along Highways 11 and 17, to help our contractors prepare and respond faster to winter weather events.

As part of our five-year plan to improve the rest area network, we have also completed six major rehabilitations of rest stops across the north, including at the Manitoba border. There will always be exceptional circumstances following a winter storm, but our government is taking action to ensure that our northern highways remain open and safe following every winter weather event.