Highway Safety Bill Defeated at Queen's Park for the Fourth Time
A private member's bill aimed at improving safety on Highways 11 and 17 has been rejected once again in the Ontario legislature.
Bill Introduction and Support
Mushkegowuk-James Bay MPP Guy Bourgouin introduced Bill 49 — the Northern Highway 11 and 17 Safety Act, 2025 — in June with the goal of enhancing safety for northern communities.
He was supported by co-sponsors including Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Lise Vaugeois, Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof, Sudbury MPP Jamie West, and Nipigon Mayor Suzanne Kukko.
Bourgouin's Statement
“This bill is not about political stripes. It’s about protecting the safety of northern families and communities… Once again, they have failed the North by turning the safety of Northerners into a political issue.”
Bourgouin expressed deep disappointment with the government's continued refusal to support the bill, stating, “The government has failed the North again.”
Consequences for Northern Communities
The repeated defeat of the bill highlights ongoing challenges in addressing highway safety concerns affecting northern Ontario residents.
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