Letter to the Minister of Transportation

Paul Stopciati 16 Timber Ridge Court Sudbury, Ontario P3E 6K1 705-507-1002 pstopciati@persona.ca April 28, 2026 The Honourable Sarkaria Minister of Transportation, Government of Ontario 777 Bay Street, 5th Floor Toronto, ON M7A 1Z8 Re: Completing the four-laning of Highway 69 to Highway 400 Dear Minister Sarkaria , I am writing to urge the Government of Ontario to prioritize and accelerate completion of the remaining two-lane section of Highway 69 so that the corridor is fully upgraded to a continuous four-lane, divided route connecting Northern Ontario to Highway 400. As communities across the North continue to grow and rely on this corridor, completing the project is essential for public safety, economic competitiveness, and reliable access to services. First and foremost, this is a safety issue. Highway 69 is a heavily travelled, long-distance route with challenging terrain and winter conditions, and the transition between divided and undivided sections creates risk for families, commercial drivers, and emergency responders. Recent reporting underscores the urgency: four people died in April 2026 along the remaining two-lane stretch of the highway. Local and regional materials note that approximately 68 kilometres remain to be widened, and that timely completion would enhance traffic safety for people and property travelling the highway. Over the past year, there have been 4 deaths on Highway 69; I urge the Ministry to publish and track this figure transparently as part of an accelerated completion plan. Completing the four-laning is also an economic and supply-chain imperative. Highway 69/400 is a key corridor that links Greater Sudbury and Northern Ontario to markets in Southern Ontario and beyond, forming part of Canada’s broader national highway network. A continuous divided highway improves reliability for commercial transportation, reduces delay and congestion at bottlenecks, and supports the movement of critical goods—particularly when incidents, construction, or weather disrupt travel. For residents, the benefits extend beyond business. A safer, more dependable corridor improves access to specialized health care, post-secondary education, and provincial services that often require travel between Northern and Southern Ontario. It also strengthens the tourism economy—supporting seasonal travel to cottages, parks, and local attractions—by making trips more predictable and reducing the likelihood of serious collisions that close the highway for hours at a time. I also recognize that the remaining work traverses the territories of multiple First Nations, and that meaningful engagement, fair agreements, and shared economic opportunities are essential to doing this project the right way. Ontario can demonstrate leadership by advancing the project in partnership—grounded in transparency, respect for rights and land interests, and tangible community benefits through contracting, training, and long-term economic participation. Accordingly, I respectfully ask that the Ministry: Confirm a funded, accelerated schedule for completing the remaining Highway 69 four-laning so the corridor becomes a continuous four-lane, divided route to Highway 400. Publish clear milestones (design, property/land agreements, tendering, construction phasing) and provide regular public progress updates. Continue and strengthen government-to-government engagement with affected First Nations to reach timely, fair agreements and maximize local benefits. Prioritize interim safety measures on the remaining two-lane section (e.g., passing-lane strategy, signage, enforcement, and incident management) while construction proceeds. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Completing Highway 69 to the 400 is one of the most practical steps Ontario can take to improve safety, strengthen the provincial economy, and ensure Northern Ontarians have a reliable, modern connection to the rest of the province. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further and to hear how the Ministry plans to move the remaining work forward. Sincerely, Paul Stopciati Ward 10 Candidate City of Greater Sudbury