Ontario Winter Roads Program Connects Remote Communities with 2,944 km of seasonal roads

Ontario News Release - Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

Province Invests In Better Access To Services And Supplies For Ontario’s Far North

TORONTO – December 19, 2007 - Communities in Ontario’s Far North will benefit again this year through investments by the Ontario government under the winter roads construction program, Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle announced today.

“I understand how crucial winter roads are for the economic and social well being of residents of Far North communities,” said Gravelle. “I am pleased that our government’s support of an annual winter roads construction program is once again helping remote communities have more economical, safe and convenient access to services and supplies.”

The McGuinty government has committed nearly $3.5 million to the 2007-2008 winter roads network. With this funding, 23 First Nations communities or winter road organizations and the Town of Moosonee will build seasonal roads measuring a total of nearly 3,000 kilometres, about the driving distance from Sioux Lookout to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

Winter roads are built over frozen ground and waterways to connect communities in the Far North to the province’s permanent highway and rail systems. Weather permitting, the winter roads are in use from late January until late March. The winter roads are built and maintained by First Nations communities or winter road corporations, which are expected to contribute the remainder of the funds required.

This funding is one more example of how, working together with Ontarians, the McGuinty government has supported improvements to economic and community well-being in the Far North. Other examples include:

• Investing $20,000 in a 2007 regional planning forum in Thunder Bay to help address First Nations’ winter road access and transportation issues
• Investing $70,000 in 2007-08 to allow First Nations to explore the development of a Northern Ontario Winter Road Transportation Authority
• Investing $637,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to help the Asheweig Winter Roads Corporation re-align approximately 140 kilometres of its winter road network to traverse higher ground and avoid major water crossings
• Investing a total of $16.5 million through the Winter Roads Program since October 2003 to build seasonal roads in Ontario’s Far North.

Information on winter road conditions is available from each community. A list of road construction projects is attached. A map of the winter road network and community contacts may be found at: http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndm/nordev/wroads/default_e.asp

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Contacts:

Anne-Marie Flanagan
Minister’s Office – Toronto
(416) 327-0655

Terry Bryson
MNDM – Sault Ste. Marie
(705) 945-5926

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Backgrounder
2007-2008 Winter Roads Program

Through the winter roads construction program, 23 First Nations organizations and the Town of Moosonee will use an Ontario government investment of $3,480,680 to build 2,944 kilometres of seasonal roads this winter.

1. Asheweig Winter Road Corporation $455,700 A 378-kilometre winter road network connecting the communities of Big Trout Lake, Wapekeka, Wawakapewin, Wunnumin Lake and Kingfisher Lake First Nations to the Pickle North all-season road.

2. Bearskin Lake First Nation $111,300 A 106-kilometre winter road running northeasterly from Muskrat Dam to the community.

3. Cat Lake First Nation $183,750 A 175-kilometre winter road from Pickle Lake to Cat Lake First Nation.

4. Deer Lake First Nation $110,775 An 88-kilometre winter road west from North Spirit Lake to Deer Lake.

5. Eabametoong (Fort Hope) $100,800 A 96-kilometre winter road from the community to the main winter road to Pickle Lake.

6. Fort Severn First Nation $245,700 A 234-kilometre winter road from the community to the Ontario border near Shamattawa, Manitoba.

7. Kasabonika Lake $100,800 A 96-kilometre winter road from the community to the Wunnumin winter road.

8. Keewaywin First Nation $96,600 A 92-kilometre winter road beginning at Magiss Lake and stretching to the community on the east end of Sandy Lake.

9. Koocheching First Nation $21,600 A 12-kilometre winter road to connect with the Keewaywin road.

10. Matawa First Nations Management $496,125 A 415-kilometre network of winter roads and trails connecting Nibinimik (Summer Beaver), Neskatanga (Lansdowne House) and Marten Falls to the all-season roads system.

11. Moose Cree First Nation $25,200 An eight-kilometre winter ice road to connect to Moosonee.

12. Muskrat Dam First Nation $170,100 A 108-kilometre winter connector road from Muskrat Dam to Round Lake.

13. North Caribou Lake First Nation $57,750 A 42-kilometre winter road from the end of the Pickle North all-season road to Round Lake and across the lake to the community.

14. North Spirit Lake First Nation $182,700 A 115-kilometre winter road from the all-season Nungessor road.

15. North West Angle First Nation
$38,800 A 75-kilometre winter road from Windigo Island to Kenora.

16. Pikangikum First Nation $51,975 A 33-kilometre winter road from the Nungessor all-season road to the community.

17. Poplar Hill First Nation $51,450 A 49-kilometre winter road to connect into Pikangikum.

18. Sachigo Lake First Nation $73,500 A 70-kilometre winter road running northwesterly from Muskrat Dam to the community.

19. Sandy Lake First Nation $115,500 A 110-kilometre winter road connecting with the Deer Lake road at Duckling Lake.

20. Temagami First Nation $12,600 A 12-kilometre winter road from Temagami Access Road to Bear Island.

21. Town of Moosonee $18,300 Two ramps required for the winter road to Moose Factory Island.

22. Webequie First Nation $115,500 A 110-kilometre winter road from Neskantaga to Webequie.

23. Weenusk First Nation $210,000 A 200-kilometre winter road from Peawanuck to Fort Severn.

24. 3981584 Ontario Inc. $434,175 A 320-kilometre winter road from Moosonee to Attawapiskat via Fort Albany and Kashechewan.