Local MPPs call for action after AG's highways report

An auditor general's report on the state of winter highway maintenance has the MPPs from Nipissing and Timiskaming-Cochrane calling for action.

On Wednesday, Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk released a report suggesting cost-saving measures by the provincial government have decreased service levels from contractors hired to keep highways clear of snow.

According to the report, the province allowed contractors the freedom to decide how they were going to meet standards for safe winter roads in 2009.

Since then, it has taken much longer to clear the roads of snow and the amount of material used to keep ice from forming has decreased.

The report recommends additional government oversight and potential cost-sharing measures to ensure the work is carried out properly.

"This isn't rocket science. People have been telling us this," said John Vanthof, MPP for Timiskaming-Cochrane. "We've been telling the government and I'm sure people have been telling the government as well that there's something wrong out there. I'm sure they're aware of it."

He said there should have been action long before this report.

"It's sad that it takes a report from the auditor general to actually even make them acknowledge there's a problem," Vanthof said.

Vic Fedeli, theMPP forNipissing said the opposition parties need to keep pressure on the government to act.

Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca released a statement saying both the government and its contractors need to be better. He also said he's directed MTO staff to provide a plan for improving winter highway maintenance within 60 days.

Read the report here