Northern Ontario transportation task force final report

Message from the co-chairs

We would like to congratulate the Honourable Prabmeet Sarkaria on his recent appointment as Minister of Transportation and are pleased to provide him with this Final Report of the Northern Ontario Transportation Task Force.

From February 2022 to February 2023 the Task Force members, including Indigenous Chiefs, mayors and other transportation leaders from across the North, worked together to deliver on our core mandate of supporting the ongoing implementation of and any updates to Connecting the North: A draft transportation plan for Northern Ontario. Together, we have developed timely and actionable recommendations that can produce tangible results for Northern Ontario’s transportation network and communities.

We would like to take this time to thank each of the Task Force members for their efforts and dedication to the Task Force. The unique knowledge and experience of each member was instrumental to the success of the Task Force. We also wish to acknowledge the support and dedication the Task Force received from ministry staff. The detailed, timely information and support provided allowed the Task Force to complete our tasks. We look forward to the implementation of this report.

Sincerely,

2023

This document contains the recommendations of the Northern Ontario Transportation Task Force (“Task Force”). The recommendations are intended to be representative of the diverse range of views on the Task Force members and are not necessarily based on consensus. The views, opinions and recommendations expressed in this document are solely those of the Task Force and are not made on behalf of the Government of Ontario or any First Nation, Indigenous community or Indigenous government. They do not reflect official policy, position or views of the Government of Ontario, any of the First Nations, Indigenous communities or Indigenous governments.

Affirmation of Indigenous Rights

The Task Force acknowledges that the lands, waters and resources of what is now Northern Ontario are the traditional territories and treaty lands of Indigenous communities that have Aboriginal and/or treaty rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. This report and its recommendations are to be read so as to uphold existing Aboriginal and treaty rights recognized and affirmed under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and to not abrogate or derogate from them in any way.
The Task Force also acknowledges that it was not delegated any consultation responsibilities by the provincial Crown regarding the Connecting the North transportation plan. As such, the involvement of the First Nation leadership in, and discussions of, the Task Force do not constitute consultation for the purposes of fulfilling the Crown’s legal duty to consult and accommodate for decisions or actions that have the potential to adversely impact Aboriginal or treaty rights.

Introduction

Context

In December 2020, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO or the ministry) released Connecting the North: a draft transportation plan for Northern Ontario (Connecting the North). The draft plan includes 67 actions the ministry will take to improve Northern Ontario’s transportation system. The plan is a living document that is intended to be reviewed and updated to ensure that it continues to meet the transportation needs throughout the region.

Action 10 in the draft plan commits to:

Establish a task force led by MTO with mayors, Indigenous communities and leadership to improve rail, bus and local transit services across Northern Ontario. The task force will focus on the transportation needs and opportunities in Northern Ontario with a strong emphasis on ensuring people can travel more efficiently and connect to critical services

The Northern Ontario Transportation Task Force (the Task Force) was announced on January 21, 2022 by The Honourable Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. The Task Force is intended to serve as a forum for local leaders to discuss transportation needs, challenges and opportunities facing Northern Ontario and provide recommendations to the Minister on the Northern Ontario transportation network. These recommendations may include additions to be made to an updated Northern transportation plan, and advice on implementation of the actions outlined in Connecting the North.

The Task Force’s objective is to ensure that the Ministry of Transportation’s plans and initiatives are informed by local priorities. Membership was selected to reflect the diverse voices within communities across Northern Ontario, and includes representation from Northern mayors, First Nations Chiefs and other transportation leaders in the North. As an advisory group, members are participating on a voluntary basis, and act on behalf of themselves. The views set out in this report do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of affiliated organizations/communities.

The Task Force members are:

• Danny Whalen (Co-Chair): President, Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) and Councillor, City of Temiskaming Shores
• Wendy Landry (Co-Chair): President, Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) and Mayor, Municipality of Shuniah
• Derek Fox: Grand Chief, Nishnawbe Aski Nation^{footnote 1[1]}
• Francis Kavanaugh: Grand Chief Ogichidaa, Grand Council Treaty #3
• Melvin Hardy: Regional Deputy Grand Council Chief, Northern Superior Region, Anishinabek Nation
• Kevin Eshkawkogan: CEO of Indigenous Tourism Ontario
• Alan Spacek: Chair of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission
• Brian Bigger: Former Mayor of Greater Sudbury
• Charles Cirtwill: President and CEO, Northern Policy Institute
• Daniel Reynard: Former Mayor of Kenora^{footnote 2[2]}
• Dave Plourde: Mayor of Kapuskasing
• Doug Lawrance: Mayor of Sioux Lookout
• Johanne Baril: Mayor of the Municipality of Val Rita-Harty and President of NorthEastern Ontario Municipal Association
• Ron Bumstead: Owner, Bumstead Trucking

Task force approach

To help deliver on the Task Force’s mandate of supporting the ongoing implementation of and any updates to Connecting the North: A draft transportation plan for Northern Ontario, the Task Force held a total of eight topic specific meetings between February 2022 and February 2023. Priority transportation issues to be addressed in Northern Ontario were identified in the first Task Force meeting and these priorities formed the basis of each of the meeting topics outlined below.

Task Force Meeting Topics:

1. Introduction (February 2022)
2. Highway Safety and Winter Maintenance (March 2022)
3. Intercommunity Bus and Rail Passenger Transportation (July 2022)
4. Freight Transportation and Commercial Truck Driver Training (August 2022)
5. Broadband and Cellular (November 2022)
6. Far North (December 2022)
7. Emerging Technologies (January 2023)
8. Active Transportation and Economic Development (February 2023)

Each priority issue explored by the Task Force was intended to advance the overarching objectives and desired outcomes of the Task Force. For example, improving the safety of Northern Ontario’s Road network remains a key objective of this Task Force. Recognizing that road safety is multifaceted, the meeting topics touched on different aspect of safety, including winter maintenance and capital planning, commercial truck driver training, as well as the need for improved broadband/cellular connectivity and network redundancy in Northern Ontario.

Desired outcomes also include supporting economic development and improving transportation accessibility and equity in Northern Ontario, including though improving intercommunity transportation and connectivity to remote and Far North communities. Like road safety, these overarching objectives are touched on in several meeting topics.

For each meeting, Ontario ministries and local partners provided foundational presentations and responded to questions, which were intended to support a broader understanding of the topic and help the Task Force in identifying potential needs and opportunities. Following the foundation presentation(s), Task Force members engaged in open discussion where Task Force members were given the opportunity to suggest priority recommendations.

In addition to eight two-hour meetings, the Task Force engaged in additional discussions and activities, including frequent meetings between Task Force co-chairs and MTO staff, a formal member feedback survey on highway safety, as well as informal discussions and information sharing among members to gather additional feedback, plan activities and share perspectives on priorities for consideration. This work was important to the success of the Task Force and in producing this Final Report.

Purpose of final report

The recommendations provided in this report are intended to inform the ongoing implementation of and updates to Connecting the North. The recommendations touch on several topics of crucial importance, including road safety, commercial vehicle training and the connection between transportation and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. These issues cannot be ignored and have a real and direct impact on the residents of Northern Ontario.

To help draw connections to MTO’s existing Northern Ontario Transportation Plan, the recommendations are listed by the specific transportation topic and organized under the goals from Connecting the North, which are:

1. Getting people moving and connecting communities
2. Enabling economic opportunities
3. Keeping people safe and providing reliable transportation options
4. Preparing for the future
5. Maintaining a sustainable transportation system
6. Reliable travel options for remote and Far North communities

By leveraging its members breadth of experience and perspectives, the recommendations provided will help ensure that transportation initiatives in the North reflect local circumstances and build on the strengths and opportunities of the region. While the conclusion of this Task Force is a step in the right direction, it must be noted that implementation of the recommendations proposed by the Task Force will require short-term and long-term actions by the MTO and other relevant bodies, and in some instances, follow-up and further engagement. As a group, we look forward to the implementation of this report.

Final recommendations

The recommendations outlined below represent the Task Force’s final recommendations to the Minister of Transportation and incorporate interim recommendations submitted in October 2022.

Getting people moving and connecting communities (Goal 1 of Connecting the North)

Passenger Transportation Planning

• Continue working collaboratively with Ontario Northland Transportation Commission (ONTC) to expedite the implementation of passenger rail service in Northern Ontario.
• Collaborate with the ONTC and other stakeholders in developing a comprehensive and coordinated plan to address gaps in intercommunity transportation services in Northern Ontario. Efforts should involve engagement with Indigenous, municipal and industry partners (e.g., Ontario Works, Indigenous businesses and employment offices) to gather local and community-specific information on passenger transportation needs.
• Address gaps in intercommunity transportation in Northwestern Ontario, including through:
  • Expanding subsidized intercommunity passenger transportation in Northwestern Ontario, and
  • Exploring opportunities to expedite passenger rail implementation through the expansion of short-line railways.
• Collaborate with municipalities and transportation service providers to improve connection between municipal transportation networks and intercommunity transportation networks.
• Work with industry partners to improve coordination of the scheduling of health care appointments and transportation services.
• Explore solutions to maintain long-term affordability and financial sustainability of municipal transportation services without the support of the Community Transportation Grant Program.

Transportation funding

• Work with Indigenous communities and partners to improve funding to First Nation communities for intercommunity transportation and economic development (e.g., ensure funding programs consider driver and maintenance costs).
• Explore opportunities to improve the Community Transportation (CT) Grant Program, including through:
  • Increasing coordination between CT funding and existing bus routes, and
  • Reducing bidding competition between municipalities for funding.
• Increase coordination between existing transportation funding programs offered by both the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Health.
• Collaborate with the Ministry of Health on opportunities to leverage the Northern Health Travel Grant for non-private auto modes.
• Provide funding to municipalities to maintain and manage traffic on municipally owned roads utilized for detours during temporary closures of Highway 11/17 and other provincial highways, by-passes and Connecting Links.

Active transportation

• Continue to expand the network of safe and connected active transportation routes in Northern Ontario, including:
  • Completing the implementation of the Province-wide Cycling Network on provincial facilities.
  • Identifying opportunities to expand active transportation facilities including cycling lanes and paved shoulders in areas not currently part of the Province-wide Cycling Network.
  • Identifying opportunities to expand off-road active transportation corridors, such as along former or abandoned rail corridors.

Enabling economic opportunities (Goal 2 of Connecting the North)

Goods movement

• Explore opportunities to make the transportation of nuclear waste in Northern Ontario safer.
• Explore opportunities to reduce multiple long combination vehicles or commercial vehicles from travelling in a convoy manner to improve road safety and driver comfort for all road users.
• Improve and expand rail freight service in Northern Ontario to reduce the volume of truck traffic on highways.

Tourism

• Work in collaboration with Indigenous communities to install signage across Northern Ontario’s transportation and trail network that acknowledges traditional and local Indigenous territory.
• Explore strategies to improve data collection and availability on tourism and other forms of temporary travel (e.g., sessional employment or healthcare) in Northern Ontario, including:
  • Ensuring time-series data on tourism sub-regionality, seasonality and spending is publicly available.
  • Ensuring data is accurately differentiating between tourist-based visits and
  • Other forms of temporary visitors (e.g., healthcare or seasonal workers).
• Work with partner ministries, transportation agencies and local partners, including Indigenous tourism providers, to promote tourism in Northern Ontario through improved packaging of passenger transportation options as a means of reaching tourist attractions, including those related to cycling and trails.

Keeping people safe and providing reliable transportation options (Goal 3 of Connecting the North)

Road Weather Information Systems

• Increase the number of Road Weather Information System (RWIS) stations, including mini-RWIS stations, to provide highway maintenance staff with the most up to date information to make informed winter maintenance decisions.
• Develop criteria to ensure that selected locations for new Road Weather Information Systems are in areas with the greatest need. Installation of new RWIS should also involve an assessment of the relative impact of these facilities on key performance indicators (e.g., length of road closures, fewer or less severe accidents).

Winter maintenance contracts

• Investigate potential discrepancies in winter maintenance outcomes across private contractors, and between private contractors and MTO staff, with the goal of increasing consistency in winter road maintenance across Northern Ontario. Where contractors are having difficulty meeting standards, potential causes should be evaluated (e.g., gaps in current contractual obligations, failure to meet contractual obligations, scarcity or lack of training of MTO highway inspectors).
• Continue to improve the highway winter maintenance contracting system by:
  • Increasing public oversight of private contractors;
  • Ensuring winter maintenance contracts include an obligation to pull information through the road weather information systems (RWIS);
  • Ensuring winter maintenance contractors are trained to use the RWIS platform effectively;
  • Exploring potential gaps in attracting and retaining highway maintenance staff, including through an assessment of wages and employee benefits;
  • Ensuring winter maintenance contractors are applying liquid anti-icing agent prior to a winter storm, including through an assessment of whether current, requirement to do so within 30 minutes of arrival of storm is sufficient to achieve this, and,
  • Ensuring winter maintenance contractors are trained on when/how to correctly apply winter maintenance materials.
• Explore opportunities to improve Indigenous participation in winter maintenance contracting, including through:
  • Increased information sharing on how winter maintenance contracts are awarded and the stipulations of those contracts; and
  • Assessment of how contract requirements, such as eligibility criteria related to size of companies, may impede the ability of Indigenous-owned businesses from biding on maintenance contracts, along with how contract requirements may be amended to mitigate these impacts.
• Improve highway minimum maintenance standards on Highways 11 and 17, including through highway reclassification or development of new highway classification category for Highway 11/17.
• Improve maintenance along extensions of the Provincial Highway network, such as the Northern Ontario Resource Trail Road beyond Pickle Lake connecting remote communities to the winter road network.

Road signage and information systems

• Improve road signage on Northern Ontario’s transportation network to better manage traffic flow and improve road safety, including along winter roads connecting remote First Nations.
• Increase the use of live signage and near real-time road information systems, including through an assessment of technology and processes used in other jurisdictions to better inform drivers of road and weather conditions and to reduce road closure time due to vehicle collisions.
• Provide funding to municipalities located on single-laned portions along the Highway 11 and 17 corridor to increase the number of road signs at strategic locations within municipal boundaries.
• Develop and launch a “Report Unsafe Driving” campaign to encourage in-time reporting.

Road design and capital planning

• Advance new road widening projects, including expanding the 2+1 Roadway Pilot Project. As part of this work, assess the relative effectiveness of four laning compared to 2+1 road design to be able to conduct a cost-benefit analysis which considers metrics such as cost, construction time, frequency or severity of accidents, and length of road closures.
• Review the First Nations Road Program and Unincorporated Road Program to determine whether a higher minimum standard of construction (e.g., more frequent passing lanes, 2+1 model, etc.) would result in improved accessibility and collision rates.
• Work with municipalities and Indigenous communities to explore opportunities for the installation of turning lanes along provincial highways to safely access communities.
• Install snow fencing in strategic locations, such as along fields abutting Highways 11 and 17.
• Explore opportunities to include paved shoulders on stretches of road where there are known safety issues for all vehicle types.
• Explore installing clover leaf interchanges at intersections that cross the provincial highway network to improve road safety.

Commercial truck driver training standards

• Require commercial vehicle drivers involved in road collisions to return to formal commercial driver training before being able to return to the road.
• Explore issuing higher penalties for commercial trucking companies when an accident or ticket is issued to a driver.
• Improve Ontario’s training requirements for commercial drivers to support more stringent driver training and situational experience, including through:
  • Exploring the need for increased ministry oversight of approved commercial vehicle training providers;
  • Developing specialized training for driving in Northern Ontario to ensure commercial vehicle drivers have experience with region-specific driving challenges;
  • Promoting the use of simulation-based training for commercial truck drivers;
  • Requiring in-vehicle winter driver training in Northern Ontario as a mandatory component of all commercial driver training programs;
  • Requiring night driving training hours; and
  • Developing specific training based on type of freight being transported.
• Ensure online training involves mechanisms to ensure that the commercial vehicle driver being licenced is the one completing the work.
• Explore supporting the establishment of standardized national training requirements so that commercial vehicle drivers travelling across Canada are subject to the same training requirements.
• Develop a Graduated Licensing System in Ontario for commercial drivers which provides tiered licensing (e.g., A1, A2, A) with differing minimum standards, such as:
  • Type of license obtained (e.g., A1 license must be obtained before moving to A2);
  • Hours driven with an accompanying fully licensed Category A driver; and
  • Identified training programs and road tests.
• Include representation from Northern municipalities and Indigenous communities when updating commercial driver training programs to gain local perspectives regarding winter driving conditions.
• Implement In-vehicle Monitoring Systems (IVMS) and dash cameras in commercial motor vehicles to improve the safety standards and training requirements for commercial vehicle operators on provincial highway networks in Ontario.

Rest stops and pull-overs

• Increase the frequency of the commercial vehicle rest areas in Northern Ontario to match service levels of Southern Ontario, targeting areas with long stretches with no rest areas currently available. As part of this work, assess the relative frequency of rest areas and commercial vehicle pull offs in other jurisdictions, including an assessment of services available, usage rates and accident rates pre and post construction of new facilities.
• Increase the availability of all-season rest areas in Northern Ontario to ensure that commercial drivers transporting goods in winter have a safe place to pull over.
• Investment in new, improved and rehabilitated rest areas in the North should consider:
  • Coordinating the locations of rest areas and pull-overs with areas that have good cell coverage areas and including signage that encourages people to stop if they need to use their cell phone;
  • Studying existing rest areas to see if there is room for expansion for Commercial Motor Vehicle parking rather than building new infrastructure;
  • Consulting with municipalities on the location of new facilities to ensure the alignment of investment; and
  • Ensuring all new and existing rest areas are properly maintained and supplied (e.g., ensuring regular cleaning and sufficient supply of garbage bins, toilet paper, etc.).
• Ensure data on alternative washroom locations, such as provincial park facilities, is available on Ontario 511 so that these facilities can help fill gaps between rest areas.

Monitoring and enforcement

• Provide funding for additional MTO inspectors along provincial highway corridors in Northern Ontario and improved MTO inspector training.
• Improve commercial vehicle monitoring/enforcement through increasing MTO’s random stops and truck inspection stations.
• Explore strategies to reduce unsafe passing of commercial vehicles, including through prohibiting commercial vehicles from crossing double-yellow lines on provincial highways.
• Work with the OPP to collect data and analyze data (e.g., demographic data, vehicle information, etc.) on road collisions to inform ongoing efforts to improve commercial vehicle safety. This data and any subsequent reports should be made available to First Nation communities, municipalities and other interested parties.
• Undertake an assessment intended to identify common causes of collisions on the Northern Ontario highway network.

Human trafficking and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

• Collaborate with ONTC and other industry partners, such as the OPP, to improve official training on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
• Study Highway 72 as a high-volume transportation corridor for Indigenous traffic and potential corridor for human trafficking.
• Work with industry partners on exploring opportunities to minimize human trafficking on provincial highways, such as specialty programs that offer free transportation services to hitchhikers when in need.
• Expand provincial inspection sites and provide year-round operations in Northern Ontario to improve provincial enforcement and presence on roads between municipalities to minimize opportunities for human trafficking.

Preparing for the future (Goal 4 of Connecting the North)

Broadband and cellular access

• Expand broadband service across Northern Ontario’s Road network, including roads connecting rural communities and First Nation communities, to ensure that Northern Ontario is prepared to adopt emerging transportation technologies such as connected and automated vehicles at the same rate as the rest of Ontario.
• Promote the importance of expanding cellular coverage across Northern Ontario’s transportation network, including working to:
  • Ensure that all safe pull-off sites and rest areas are covered by emergency cellular service, with the goal of expanding full cellular network coverage to these sites/facilities.
  • Develop a plan to achieve 100% emergency coverage on all the Kings Highways and major arterial roads within a reasonable timeframe (e.g., 5 years).
• Work with First Nations communities and organizations to develop strategies to address disparities in broadband/cellular access. This should involve exploring the need for improved consultation as well as improved monitoring and oversight of service providers to ensure that the application and billing models are responsive to the needs of First Nations communities.
• Ensure provincial efforts to map broadband/cellular access gaps and areas of underservice involve assessing on the ground service for:
  • Level and reliability of regular phone service (access to an individual’s network); and
  • Emergency calling capability.

Emerging technologies

• Install electric vehicle supply equipment at all existing and newly developed rest areas in Northern Ontario.
• Explore strategies to improve the collection and availability of data on electric vehicles, including:
  • Providing open-source data for electric vehicle charging and registration data by forward sortation area for all types of electric vehicles, including Hybrid Electric Vehicles.
  • Exploring opportunities to incorporate data sharing and reporting requirements into funding agreements and program design.
• Assess the potential of drones and airships to support goods movement in Northern Ontario, including developing an understanding the unique challenges in Northern Ontario such as harsh winters and long distances.
• Work with municipalities and Indigenous communities to explore the potential of public private partnerships in supporting the deployment of emerging transportation technologies in the Northern Ontario.

Maintaining a sustainable transportation system (Goal 5 of Connecting the North)

• Help foster collaboration between local municipalities, Indigenous communities and tourism groups to create a system of safe and connected trails which are responsive to local needs and opportunities.
• Ensure that a strategy is in place to evaluate and respond to increased safety concerns and construction/maintenance costs for Ontario’s winter road system as a result of climate change.
• Continue to promote and explore emerging technologies such as drones and airships as a way to improve the transportation of goods to remote Northern communities, including exploring innovative pilots and strategies used in other jurisdictions.

Reliable travel options for remote and Far North communities (Goal 6 of Connecting the North)

Winter roads and all-season road network

• Increase funding for the construction, operation and maintenance of winter roads. Funding models should be updated to ensure they reflect the actual costs of construction/maintenance and increased costs due to factors such as climate change and inflation.
• Establish a forum with representation from Indigenous communities, provincial and federal leadership and winter road construction/maintenance personnel to discuss the strategic planning and future of winter roads and the all-season road network. Conversations should consider funding, jurisdiction, consultation, safety and enforcement, as well as climate change and other emerging issues.
• Explore additional opportunities to improve the Winter Road system, including:
  • Assessing the need for the development of a winter road standard.
  • Expanding permanent water crossings.
  • Increasing signage.
  • Increasing enforcement.
  • Exploring strategies to ensure commercial vehicle drivers have winter road driving experience.
• Collaboratively pursue the expansion of the all-season road network in partnership with interested First Nation communities and other levels of government, businesses and institutions downstream of proposed all-weather roads who may be impacted by such developments.
• Improve network redundancy in Northern Ontario, including for remote and limited access Indigenous communities, to improve the network’s ability to continuously operate despite temporary closures.

Remote airports

• Encourage the Government of Canada to review existing air transportation funding models to ensure adequate financial support for both airport and air service providers. In addition to increased capital funding, federal funding should contribute to operating costs of remote airports in Northern Ontario.
• Extend runway lengths at Northern Ontario’s remote airports to help increase airport capacity, enable larger planes to access, improve goods movement, reduce cargo costs and increase emergency response capabilities.
• When considering the above two recommendations about funding for and improvements to remote airports, also consider, consult with and allow for impacts on airports, businesses, agencies and municipalities that support air connections to these airports.
• Implement Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) approaches at MTO Remote Northern Airports to improve situational awareness for pilots, reduce missed approaches and increase access and safety (airport reclassification required).
• Improve standards for remote airports in Northern Ontario, including through ensuring that:
  • airports are equipped with official aircraft de-icing services.
  • there is a sufficient supply of suitably sized public waiting areas taking into account parameters of social distancing (when implementation is required) to allow passengers to wait safely and comfortably until aircraft departure;
  • allow medical personnel/medvac providers and patient(s) to wait privately, safely and comfortably in a dedicated area until aircraft departure.
• Explore strategies to improve the attraction and retention of airport staff in Northern Ontario, including through an assessment of wages.
• Assess gaps in Automated Weather Observation Stations (AWOS) across Northern Ontario.

Transportation plan implementation and monitoring

• Transportation plans should include a clear framework for how resources will be targeted and how success will be measured. To support evidence-based decision making and cost-benefit analysis, all plan actions should include baseline data and ongoing monitoring to assess the impact of plan actions on pre-determined key performance indicators (KPIs). As part of the development of a monitoring framework, an assessment should be conducted to determine what proportion of MTO’s current budget is spent on measurement and assessment compared to other jurisdictions.
• Explore the development of a future sub-working group to be led by the Northern Ontario Transportation Task Force co-chairs and Northern Policy Institute, with support from the Ministry of Transportation and other transportation leaders from across the North. Purpose of this sub-group should be to develop and monitor key metrics to assess the implementation and effectiveness of key recommendations and priority transportation initiatives in Northern Ontario.