Town of Moosonee, Northern Ontario, Canada
By Phil Anders for theWedge.LIVE
Christmas came a little early for remote communities of Northern Ontario.
Ontario’s government is connecting remote communities and creating opportunities for economic development by investing in the 2019-20 winter roads program.
On December 20, Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Minister of Indigenous Affairs, announced over $5.8 million in funding for 31 First Nations and the Town of Moosonee to build and maintain 3,160 kilometres of temporary winter roads.
“The winter roads network is an economic lifeline for our Far North communities,” said Minister Rickford. “These temporary snow and ice roads provide vital connections to all-season roads that bring in essential services and goods such as food, medical and construction supplies.”
Winter roads also offer more affordable transportation options for the mining industry, a key contributor to the northern economy. Weather permitting, the winter roads network is open from about mid-January until the spring thaw.
Connecting northern communities is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario together. Ontario’s balanced and prudent plan is creating more jobs and opportunities in the north and keeping more money in people’s pockets.
The Town of Moosonee and 31 First Nation communities are building 3,160 kilometres of winter roads through a $5.8 million investment from the Ontario Government.
2020 Winter roads to remote communities in Northern Ontario, Canada
The winter road network provides seasonal connections to all-season roads in remote and Far North communities.
| Community / Funding Recipient | Investment | Project |
| Amimakee Wa Zhing #37 (Northwest Angle #37) | $75,196 | Winter road from Windigo Island to Kenora |
| Bearskin Lake | $162,249 | Winter road running northeast from Muskrat Dam to the community |
| Cat Lake | $269,395 | Winter road running from Pickle Lake to the community |
| Deer Lake | $134,697 | Winter road running west from North Spirit Lake |
| Eabametoong (Fort Hope) | $168,372 | Winter road from the community to Kabina Staging Grounds |
| Fort Severn | $358,173 | Winter road from the community to the Ontario border near Shamattawa, Manitoba |
| Kasabonika Lake | $79,594 | Winter road from the community to Wawakapewin |
| Keewaywin | $185,209 | Winter road from the community to the eastern shore of Weagamow Lake |
| Kimesskanamenow LP* | $572,274 | Winter road from Moosonee to Attawapiskat via Fort Albany and Kashechewan |
| Kingfisher Lake | $282,558 | Winter road from Kingfisher Lake to North Road Junction (Hwy 599) |
| Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) | $186,739 | Winter road from the community to Kingfisher Lake |
| Marten Falls | $314,291 | Winter road from the community to Nakina |
| Moose Cree | $370,346 | Winter road connecting Otter Rapids to Moose Factory and from Moose Factory to Moosonee |
| Town of Moosonee | $22,875 | Two ramps required for the winter road to Moose Factory |
| Muskrat Dam | $162,286 | Winter road from the community to Weagamow Lake |
| Neskantaga | $593,299 | Winter road from Pickle Lake North Road to Neskantaga |
| Nibinamik | $157,657 | Winter road from the community to Common Road |
| North Caribou Lake | $122,755 | Winter road from Windigo Lake to the community and from the community to the west shore of Weagamow Lake |
| North Spirit Lake | $239,269 | Winter road from the community to the all-season Nungessor Road |
| Northwest Angle #33 | $18,917 | Winter road from the community to Northwest Angle #37 |
| Pikangikum | $50,511 | Winter road from the community to the all-season Nungessor Road |
| Poplar Hill | $75,002 | Winter road from the community to Pikangikum |
| Sachigo Lake | $107,145 | Winter road running northeast from Muskrat Dam to the community |
| Sandy Lake | $168,372 | Winter road connecting with the Deer Lake Winter Road System and connecting to Keewaywin Road |
| Temagami | $18,367 | Winter road from Temagami Access Road to Bear Island |
| Wapekeka | $48,980 | Winter road from the community to Big Trout Lake Connection |
| Wawakapewin | $189,838 | Winter road from the community to Highway 599 |
| Webequie | $168,372 | Winter road from the community to the Nibinamik-Webequie junction |
| Weenusk | $306,131 | Winter road from the community to Fort Severn |
| Wunnumin Lake | $91,839 | Winter road from the Assine Lake turn-off to Wunnumin Lake |
* Serves all three communities of Attawapiskat via Fort Albany and Kashechewan
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