Fedeli calls for inquest into winter highway deaths

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli
News Release

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NORTH BAY – Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli is demanding a coroner’s inquest into a series of fatal highway collisions in Northern Ontario that claimed 10 lives in a span of just more than a week in late December 2011 and early this month.

Fedeli has requested an urgent meeting with Ministry of Transportation officials to express his concerns over recent winter road maintenance work on provincial highways in the area.

“I’ve relayed to the Ministry my personal disappointment and just how large the volume of complaints is that we’ve been receiving in my office on this issue,” said Fedeli.

“There’s one common theme in all of those comments – that the work to clear area highways of ice and snow hasn’t been good enough, and not as good as it has been in the past or in other areas of the province.”

Transfield Services assumed maintenance responsibilities for the North Bay Area Maintenance Contract (AMC) on April 29, 2010.

That 12-year contract covers all provincial highways in the area from Chalk River to Hagar and Marten River and Sundridge.

The Ministry says it’s currently conducting an investigation into whether Transfield has failed to meet certain terms of its contract in recent weeks.

“It’s clear to me that people still aren’t satisfied with the answers they’ve gotten thus far, and are frustrated with how long this review is taking,” Fedeli said.

“I will ask the Ministry to publicly release findings of its investigation, including details on if any penalties are being levied and what those penalties are,” Fedeli added.

“It’s imperative that everything possible be done to ensure standards for keeping Northern Ontario highways safe, especially in the winter, are upheld.”

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