I have a petition entitled “Improve Winter Road Maintenance on Northern Highways.
“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.”
I fully support this petition and will sign and give it to Peter to bring to the Clerks’ table.