I’m excited to answer that question because it’s a great one from a member who does great work in his riding.

I’m glad to inform that member that, in fact, two weeks ago, our government announced $30 million in Connecting Links funding to support municipal road and bridge repairs in 21 municipalities across the province. That means that we’re dedicating just over $317,000 to help revamp Main Street in Bath village, in that great member’s riding, so folks can get around and connect to Highway 33 with ease.

Our Connecting Links Program provides funding for up to 90% of eligible project costs to enhance municipal roads and bridges that run through communities and connect to provincial highways. With this funding, we’ll make sure it makes it easier to connect people to jobs, support movement of goods and services, and to generate economic growth—and to take the House leader down to celebrate the Leafs cup win when that happens later this year.

Speaker, just like Leafs fans after last night’s win, Ontarians are buzzing because, unlike the NDP and the Liberals, this government is getting transportation done.

From the twinning of the QEW Garden City Skyway bridge to expanding the 401 from Pickering eastwards, and of course the widening of Highways 11, 17 and 3, our government is building transportation throughout the province. A lot is getting built over the next decade, with so much happening both now and in the coming years. In fact, in the next fiscal year alone, we are investing $3.2 billion to expand and repair provincial highways and bridges. Then, over the next four years, the Ontario highways program will focus on more than 600 expansion and rehabilitation projects.

Through all of this work, we are not only building this province for the people of today, for those moving here in the future—that includes Habs fans, like the member who asked that question.

I appreciate the question from the member opposite this morning. No government has taken the transportation infrastructure investments more seriously than this government. In fact, we’re talking about $80 billion in improving roads, improving transit for the people of this province, because we realize that after 20 years of neglect from the NDP and Liberals, we’re playing catch-up. We have a growing population. In fact, record growth is on the way to this province, 30% growth over the next decade alone. That means that we need to prepare for that future.

There is a process, however, and I am glad to highlight for the member this morning that that process involves important environmental assessment, consultation with Indigenous communities, and in the case of bridges, where necessary, if expropriation is necessary, all of the due diligence that is required for that, as well as consultations with local business and municipalities. It is a process. It is a process that is being followed. But unlike the last government, we’re doing it, and we’re doing it quickly.

So you want me to point a finger? Well, let me point a finger at 2022-23’s number, $1.7 billion to expand and repair southern Ontario’s highways and bridges, which will not only fix the issues that the member is speaking about but create over 11,000 jobs in southern Ontario alone.

Interjections.

I appreciate the question from the member opposite this morning. There is no question that road safety is a priority for this government. And that, of course, includes the great people of northern Ontario, who, frankly, face many different driving conditions than we may here in the south.

That’s why, Speaker, we have introduced a series of measures to keep our roads safe. Training is one of them, but also a firm commitment to clear snow as quickly as possible. In fact, we just introduced on Highways 11 and 17, after a detailed technical review, a change in the standard of clearing snow from 16 hours after a heavy winter snowstorm to 12 hours, Speaker. This is going to make sure that our roads remain safe. We’re widening Highway 69, which was a priority of this government since 2018.

We’re always listening. There is always more work that could be done, Speaker, but this government is committed to keeping our roads safe. That includes the great people of the north. This government is going to get the job done.

Any tragedy on the roads is of deep concern to this government. Our hearts go out to the families and friends that are affected by those incidents on Highway 69.

Speaker, when it comes to this important highway—widening—that project is a priority for our government. We said that from the beginning in 2018, despite the lack of movement on that by the previous Liberals.

I want to remind the member opposite that 70 kilometres are already complete on Highway 69, and MTO is working diligently to get the approvals needed to complete the remaining 68 kilometres of the corridor.

In December, Minister Mulroney announced the opening of a 14-kilometre extended stretch between Highway 69 in the French River area. Speaker, work continues to complete a 14-kilometre four-laning project south of Alban, and this is expected to be done by the end of the year. We’re continuing to work diligently to build the rest of the highway and negotiating with the First Nations, an important piece of getting this process done, and the environmental assessments that are necessary. But we’re going to finish the job.

But also curious from the members opposite is the tone when it comes to building highways. On the one hand, they say no to Highway 413. But when it comes to Highway 69, Highway 7 in Waterloo and Highway 7 in Guelph, they’re all for the widening of highways, they’re all for the building of new highways. It’s almost like they acknowledge that we need to expand the transportation network across a growing province, a world-class province like the one we have here in Ontario.

We’re not only going to build that Highway 69, we’re going to make sure we build Highway 413 and prepare the future generations of Ontarians to come.