TORONTO — Thirty-one remote First Nation communities and the Town of Moosonee in Ontario are on the receiving end of $6 million in funding from the Ontario government to build and maintain 3,170 kilometres of temporary snow and ice roads.
The investment, which is for the 2020-21 winter season, is part of a three-year funding commitment that will make it easier for remote communities to bring in essential goods and services such as food, medical and construction supplies.
Temporary winter roads serve over 21,000 Ontarians and provide more affordable transportation options for northern job creators and employers, including the mining industry, which is a key contributor to the northern economy, states a release, adding weather permitting, the winter road network is open from about mid-January until the spring thaw.
“Winter roads are a lifeline for remote communities, as they provide vital connections to all-season roads,” said Greg Rickford, minister of energy, northern development and mines and minister of Indigenous affairs, in a statement. “By providing multi-year funding, our government is reducing the administrative burden, supporting economic development and enabling our northern communities to plan more effectively for upcoming winter roads seasons.”
Bad for the environment!