Dear Prime Minister Carney & Premier Ford:
The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce, representing nearly 800 businesses and over 20,000 employees, joins the call of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) and the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) for urgent action to modernize the Trans-Canada Highway (Highways 11 and 17) across Northern Ontario as a priority nation-building project.
The Trans-Canada Highway is the backbone of Canada’s economy and connectivity, yet the Northern Ontario section remains largely two lanes—unlike the four-lane corridors in other provinces. This outdated infrastructure contributes to some of the highest collision and fatality rates in the country. Each incident not only claims lives but disrupts the flow of more than 8,400 trucks carrying $200 million in goods every day. With truck traffic expected to double over the next decade, the case for investment is undeniable.
Modernizing this corridor is not just a regional priority—it is a national imperative. Highways 11 and 17 underpin critical projects and economic drivers, including the Ring of Fire, the NWMO nuclear facility in Ignace, and expanded St. Lawrence port activity. Canada’s supply chain resilience, trade security, and future growth depend on this route.
We strongly support a balanced “toolbox” approach to improvements, including selective twinning, four-lane expansion, and 2+1 highway models along the 3,000-kilometre corridor from Québec to Manitoba. This is a generational, nation-building project on par with the original construction of the Trans-Canada Highway—essential for safety, economic competitiveness, and national connectivity.
With support already expressed by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), and the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus (EOWC), communities across Ontario are united in calling for action. We urge the Governments of Canada and Ontario to commit to a fully funded, multi-year modernization plan for the Trans-Canada Highway in Northern Ontario, ensuring it meets the standards of a 21st-century national trade corridor.