Ontarians want roads
By Adam Freill
Construction Infrastructure RoadsContrary to federal minister’s statements, new RCCAO and ORBA poll shows strong support for highway developments in Ontario.
Highway 401 in Ontario. (Photo: Jamaalism / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images)
A clear majority of Ontarians support the construction and expansion of new road infrastructure, including transformational projects like Highway 413, the Bradford Bypass, and the Ring of Fire, according to a new public opinion survey released by the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) and the Ontario Road Builders Association (ORBA).
The results of the poll reveal that Ontarians strongly support building critical road infrastructure across the province, despite the statement from the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, that government should “stop investing in new road infrastructure.”
The findings, say the industry associations, underscore the importance of building new critical transportation infrastructure projects to address traffic congestion, accommodate population growth, expand trade routes and enable new economic opportunities for natural resource development in Northern Ontario.
Two-thirds of those polled disagreed with Guilbeault’s statement regarding the federal government investment in road infrastructure, and a similar figure indicated their belief that the government needs to build and expand roads and highways.
“Ontarians have made it clear that they want all levels of government to invest in new and existing road infrastructure to alleviate congestion and open up more economic opportunities,” said Nadia Todorova, executive director of RCCAO. “It is time for the federal government to accept the will of the people and support transformational infrastructure. Projects like Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass, and their supporting transit pairings, will better enable the movement of people and goods throughout one of North America’s fastest growing regions.”
“Canadians depend on roads and highways to get to work, drive their children to hockey practice and ensure their loved ones receive adequate health care. Today’s results show everyday people understand the critical need for these generational transportation infrastructure projects,” added Walid Abou-Hamde, CEO of ORBA. “The road building industry also employs more than 56,000 men and women in Ontario, that is tens of thousands of good paying jobs supporting workers and their families across the province.”
