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
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.