Thank you to the member from Thunder Bay–Atikokan for the great question.

Under Premier Ford’s leadership, our government is taking concrete steps to make roads in northern Ontario safer.

Just a few weeks ago, I was pleased to announce that our government took another step forward to deliver the first ever “2+1” highway pilot in North America. This model is used in jurisdictions around the world, and it has been shown to improve road safety and enhance traffic flow. By issuing the request for proposals for the new pilot on Highway 11 north of North Bay, our government is demonstrating real progress to get shovels in the ground on this critical project making roads in the north that much safer.

A “2+1” highway pilot is part of our government’s plan to build Ontario, and we’re getting it done.

Speaker, we have received resounding support on the “2+1” highway from local stakeholders, including Mark Wilson from Going the Extra Mile for Safety, as well as members of our government’s Northern Transportation Task Force. The “2+1” highway pilot will support northern development and boost economic growth in the region, after decades of neglect by the previous Liberal governments. And this builds on other initiatives championed by our government to support and grow the north.

Just recently, we created a new highway level of service that requires Highways 11 and 17 in northern Ontario to be cleared within 12 hours after a winter storm, four hours faster than the previous standard.

Speaker, this is not a one-and-done deal for northern drivers. We will continue to look for even more ways to support safer and more prosperous communities in the north.

Thank you again to the member from Brampton North for the question.

Speaker, drivers are paying the price every day for Liberal inaction. Successive Liberal governments refused to build, and the NDP supported this inaction year after year. All of us in this House can relate to the frustrations of sitting in idling traffic on our major highways, and that’s when you just want to get home or to work faster.

I want to reassure everyone in this House that under our PC government, led by this Premier, things are different. The days of endless studies and debates are over.

I am so proud that our government is answering the calls of countless Ontarians and is moving ahead with infrastructure projects like Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass.

Thank you to the member from Brampton North for the question.

Highway gridlock is a problem that continues to plague communities across Ontario. Why is that? It’s because successive Liberal governments simply chose not to invest and chose not to build, despite knowing the growth that was coming to this province.

Speaker, we know that the opposition is driven by an ideological opposition to new highways, and that is simply offside with where Ontarians are. People rely on cars to get to work, home and more, and if we don’t start building now, already-intense gridlock will only get worse for Ontario drivers.

The 401 is already the most congested highway in North America.

Within the next decade alone, all major highways in the region, including Highway 407, are expected to be at or to exceed capacity during rush hour.

Under the leadership of this Premier, our PC government is doing what the Liberals refused to get done years ago, and that’s build Highway 413.

Gridlock is not just going to disappear, and neither is commercial traffic.

Building Highway 413 is just the kind of bold action we need to avoid the next generation of drivers being stuck in traffic. It’s a key piece of our government’s transportation plan that will make the difference between calling home to say that you’re stuck in traffic or tucking your kids into bed at night.

I am pleased with the support that we’ve received to date on this project, including from LIUNA’s international vice-president, Joseph Mancinelli, who said that our government “continues to demonstrate progressive leadership in investing in critical infrastructure, like Highway 413, that will aim to address future growth and demands of our municipalities,” and Todd Letts, CEO of Brampton’s board of trade, who commended our government for prioritizing projects like Highway 413.

Speaker, as we saw in this past election, support for Highway 413 is strong. Our government will get it done.