Sudbury provincial byelection candidates debate highway issues

The front runners in Sudbury's byelection say they want to see more progress made on the four-laning of Highway 69.

But, not all of them are convinced that it will be completed by the 2017 deadline set by the province, as there's still 82 kilometres worth of highway left to build.

One of the sticking points is negotiations with First Nations.

Magnetawan First Nation Chief William Diabo said he still needs to sit down with the province to work out compensation.

“The bottom line deal is to get adequate compensation based on the impact to Magnetawan First Nation, based on our treaty rights, and what the loss of land will do to our people,” he said.

"It's coming up with a fair value or at least something that's fair in the eyes of Magnetewan First Nation."

Diabo said his community has a list of 50 issues that need to be addressed before a deal is reached.

Liberal candidate Glenn Thibeault said it seems the province is trying to meet its 2017 target — but, like Diabo, notes that negotiations with First Nations have to happen first. 

"I think it's important to recognize that the First Nations shouldn't have to feel rushed. They need to be able to sit down and have conversations with the province and that's what the provincial government and the Magnetawan First Nation are doing. I believe that we'll see some very good news coming out of that in the very near future,” Thibeault said.

Those negotiations will focus on only one of seven sections of highway waiting to be completed, Thibeault added. The six other sections are already in the expropriation phase.

Diabo said negotiations with the province are expected to resume again next month.

Independent candidate Andrew Olivier said he's seen the paperwork on the progress of four-laning Highway 69, and said Sudbury deserves honesty about the project's time line.

"Delivering that information will garner you more respect because you're giving the true values," he said. 

The Ministry of Transportation said funds for the remaining stretch have been approved, bringing the total price tag close to $2 billion.

And, work on that remaining two-lane section is happening, despite the perceived stall.

Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Gordan Rennie told CBC News in an email that “motorists travelling through the area will see rock and earth excavation, rock embankment, bridge construction and fencing underway.”

Road maintenance

Sudbury's provincial byelection candidates are also weighing in on highway maintenance issues.

NDP candidate Suzanne Shawbonquit said she takes issue with reports about "cleaning one side of the highway."

"That's not good enough at all," she said. "Not for our families and the people who are on the roads to get from A to B. We're stretched out here geographically in terms of spatial areas. And we can't just hop on a subway."

When it comes to the fines that are handed down to contractors who maintain highways during the winter months in northeastern Ontario, Independent candidate Andrew Olivier said contractors who don't meet cleaning standards should have their contracts reviewed.

"I mean we're dealing with human lives here. These aren't just grooming trails that we do for the snowmobilers."

Progressive Conservative candidate Paula Peroni also expressed concern about the fines. She said the money that's collected from them isn't going to the right place. 

"Those fines are going back into the general coffers that are not going into the roads budget — and I believe that's wrong," she said.

"I want that fine money to be put back into the roads budget. We clearly need it."

In 2013, more than $600,000 in fines were levied against the four companies contracted to keep the roads clear.