Ontario Raises Winter Road Funding to $13 Million for Remote Northern Communities

The Ontario government announced on August 15 it will increase annual funding for the Winter Roads Program to $13 million. This funding, according to the province, will be used to build and maintain nearly 3,200 kilometres of winter roads that serve remote communities in northern Ontario, including 32 First Nation communities and the Town of Moosonee. The government states these seasonal roads typically operate from late January until the end of March each year.

This announcement is relevant to residents across the Northeast where winter roads provide key transport links for about 24,000 people living in hard-to-reach areas, as stated by the Ontario government. These routes are used for the delivery of food, medical supplies, and construction materials, as well as for travel related to family visits, community events, and medical appointments.

According to the Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth, $8 million of the total $13 million will be used this year for the construction and operation of the winter road network. The province will also direct $5 million toward the Bridges and Culverts Stream, which funds the installation of pre-engineered bridges and culverts, as well as repairs for water-crossing structures along the winter routes.

Government figures note the winter roads network is the longest of its kind in Canada and generally serves communities for a period of six to eleven weeks each year. In addition, the announcement included a commitment of over $16 million through the 2025-26 Connecting Links program to support municipal road and bridge repairs across Northern Ontario.