Press Release
Province Connecting People and Places in Southwestern Ontario
January 17, 2020
LONDON – Ontario’s government is delivering on its commitment to develop regional transportation plans that will connect people and places across the province. Today, Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation, announced that the government is releasing its first draft plan to build a better transportation system that will connect individuals, families and businesses in southwestern Ontario.
“People in southwestern Ontario deserve access to a safe and reliable transportation network that gets them to where they need to go,” said Mulroney. “Our plan for southwestern Ontario includes real, practical transportation improvements that will connect our cities, towns, villages and hamlets by improving our roads and highways, improving accessibility, and ensuring bus, rail and local transit services are as seamless as possible.”
Ontario’s plan, Connecting the Southwest, contains more than 40 advancements and strategies, including options for improvements to existing rail corridors and private-sector partnerships to optimize passenger and freight rail. It also includes improvements to southwestern Ontario’s highway network and intercommunity bus services.
“People in southwestern Ontario deserve better transportation that gives them safe and reliable access to jobs, their family and friends and the region’s many tourist destinations,” said Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London. “Our government will continue to put forward smart solutions that respect the value of southwestern Ontario to our province, to our economy and to our quality of life.”
The southwestern Ontario transportation plan marks the beginning of comprehensive regional transportation planning for the province, and will be informed by engagement with municipal leaders, Indigenous communities, community leaders, businesses, and transportation experts.
The province is also consulting the public to gather feedback and explore strategies to implement actions in the plan. Ontarians can participate by completing the online survey until March 17, 2020. Connecting the Southwest is a living document that will evolve throughout the consultations and as new and innovative technology advances.
“Once again, the Ford Government has shown strong support for our sector. The draft Southwestern Plan contains many items to improve the efficiency of our industry, the safety of the motoring public and commercial drivers while bringing needed changes to commercial vehicle highway clearance,” said Stephen Laskowski, President of the Ontario Trucking Association. “Our industry, and by extension, the Province of Ontario will be more competitive through the execution of this effort.”
Quick Facts
Additional Resources
Media Contacts
Christina Salituro
Minister’s Office – For Media Inquiries Only
christina.salituro2@ontario.ca
Communications Branch
MTO.media@ontario.ca
416-327-1158
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