Friday, October 23, 2026
The Ontario Government announced that intends to introduce legislation to accelerate the widening of Highway 69 between Parry Sound and Sudbury.
If passed, the Building Highway 69 Faster Act will enable the province to complete the widening project up to five years ahead of schedule by streamlining the environmental assessment process. The proposed changes, which are similar to the measures introduced to speed up construction of Highway 413. The province is also calling on the federal government to support the expansion of this vital economic corridor, which is critical to facilitating interprovincial trade and protecting Canadian sovereignty.
“People in northern Ontario have waited long enough for a safer, more reliable Highway 69, and our government is taking action to get it built faster,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “By cutting unnecessary red tape, we are accelerating construction by up to five years, improving road safety for drivers and strengthening a vital economic corridor and connection between northern Ontario and the rest of the province.”
If passed, the proposed legislation would establish a project-specific environmental assessment framework that builds on the environmental work already completed to support the Highway 69 expansion project. This would allow eligible work to proceed sooner, while maintaining environmental oversight and fulfilling the province’s duty to consult with Indigenous communities.
Ontario is also calling on the federal government to support the expansion of this vital economic corridor, which supports Canadian economic sovereignty and interprovincial trade, by expediting outstanding environmental and regulatory approvals, advancing critical rail relocation work with Canadian National Railway (CN) and ensuring timely approvals for watercourse crossings. Federal support will help prevent unnecessary delays and keep the project on track for shovels in the ground starting as early as next year.
“A safe, reliable Highway 69 is essential to Sudbury and northern Ontario’s economy,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “Accelerating the expansion will improve road safety, strengthen our supply chains and provide Sudbury and northern communities with the modern transportation infrastructure they need to grow, attract investment and remain competitive.”
To date, Ontario has completed 84 kilometres of widening on Highway 69. The proposed legislation will help accelerate the remaining 68 kilometres of widening, supporting shovels in the ground as early as next year.
Featured image: (Government of Ontario)
