FONOM Outlines 2026 Priorities: Highway Safety and Health Care

The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) has set clear priorities for 2026, focusing on highway safety and access to health care. During a recent meeting, FONOM officials emphasized the urgent need for improvements in both areas, signaling a commitment to enhancing the quality of life in northeastern Ontario.

Highway Safety Takes Center Stage

FONOM’s call for better highway conditions comes amid ongoing concerns about road safety. Kapuskasing Mayor Dave Plourde highlighted the challenges, stating, “To say it’s going to be a walk in the park is a lie. But it’s a mandate for me.” He asserted that improvements to highways should be recognized as a national necessity.

The need for enhancements is particularly pressing given the frequent closures on Highways 11 and 17. According to the Ministry of Transportation, Highway 11 between North Bay and Cochrane was closed for 32 days from January to September 2025. These disruptions were primarily due to crashes, weather conditions, and other incidents such as sinkholes and vehicle fires. John Vanthof, the NDP Member of Provincial Parliament for Timiskaming-Cochrane, noted that 62 percent of these closures were related to accidents.

FONOM officials advocate for the twinning of Highways 11 and 17, a measure they believe will significantly enhance safety and reliability. Plourde underscored the economic implications, stating, “Products from the west can’t come east and products from the east can’t come west when highways are closed.”

The organization has previously attempted to pass a Northern Highway Safety Bill, which proposed staffing inspection sites and scales for a minimum of 12 hours a day, increasing Ontario Provincial Police enforcement, and returning winter road maintenance oversight to the Ministry of Transportation. Vanthof expressed concern about future demands on the highways, particularly with prospective developments in the Ring of Fire, stating that “thousands more commercial vehicles” could exacerbate existing issues.

Addressing Health Care Needs

In addition to road safety, FONOM’s second priority involves improving health care access in the region. Mayor Plourde emphasized the need to attract more nurses, aiming to reduce hospital wait times and improve overall health outcomes. “Our life expectancy is lower in this part of the province,” said Vanthof, stressing that insufficient access to primary care often leads individuals to seek emergency services for undiagnosed conditions.

FONOM officials are hopeful that initiatives like the province’s Learn and Stay grant program, which provides financial support to students in exchange for staying in underserved communities post-graduation, will help address staffing shortages. The province recently allocated close to $57 million to expand nursing enrollment, but local leaders are calling for further enhancements.

Plourde suggested a potential collaboration between colleges and universities to bolster nursing education in the region, stating, “That would allow us to grow.”

As FONOM lays out its agenda for 2026, the focus remains on pivotal issues that impact the lives of residents in northeastern Ontario. With committed advocacy and strategic initiatives, the organization aims to make significant strides in both highway safety and health care accessibility in the coming year.