MPP calls on Ontario to take over responsibility of Hwy. 174 in Ottawa's east end
Orleans MPP Stephen Blais is calling on the Ontario government to take over responsibility of Regional Road 174 from the city of Ottawa.
Blais introduced the Uploading Highways 174 and 17 Act, 2021, which would return both roads to provincial jurisdiction after having been downloaded to the municipalities by the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris back in the 1990s.
"A generation ago the Conservative government of the day chose to download highways 174 and 17 to the municipalities," said Blais in a statement.
"While it was a convenient way to alleviate fiscal pressures at Queen’s Park they stuck local property tax payers with the bill."
According to Blais, the city of Ottawa has spent "at least $40 million in capital and operating expenses" on the 27 km highway between Highway 417 and Canaan Road.
In 2014, the Progressive Conservatives promised to upload responsibility for the road in Ottawa's east end to the province if the party won the provincial election.
Speaking at the Ontario Legislature on Wednesday, Blais noted former PC leader Tim Hudak promised to upload the highway within 100 days if the Progressive Conservatives won the election in 2014.
"It's has been 1,216 days since this government took office, 1,216 days Mr. Speaker and there has been no action. The premier likes to say yes," said Blais as he was cut off by hecklers at Queen's Park.
"Will (Premier Doug Ford) finally say yes to the residents of Wendover, the residents of Rockland, to the residents of Ottawa, will the premier finally say yes to the residents of Orleans, approve Bill 26 and upload Highways 174 and 17."
In 2013, council passed a motion calling on the province to takeover responsibility for Highway 174.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Bayer recalls hydraSense baby product over 'potential contamination'
Bayer announced Thursday it is recalling two lots of its hydraSense Baby Nasal Care Easydose due to a potential contamination.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.