John Vanthof, Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP, is pleading with the Ontario Legislature to improve the safety of northern highways.
Vanthof read a letter from a man whose eight-month pregnant fiancée and their unborn son were killed when a tractor-trailer collided with their vehicle last week on Highway 11 in New Liskeard. A pregnant friend with her also lost her baby and was put into an induced coma.
“To us, this is our Humboldt,” said the NDP MPP. “And I know if this was Question Period, (the government would say) ‘We have the safest roads in North America.’ Well, you know what? Highway 11 in Northern Ontario isn’t the safest road in North America. And neither is 17.”
Vanthof said it’s the government’s job to make sure licenced transport drivers are qualified and that roads are as safe as possible.
“And I know we can’t fix it in one day. But we need to make concrete steps so Alex’s fiancée and baby (and her) friend’s baby didn’t die in vain.”
You can watch the statement here.
***With files from Bob McIntyre