THUNDER BAY'S ROADS DESERVE BETTER.

There's one issue I hear about almost every day during this campaign.  The condition of our roads. After another rough year of potholes, deteriorating pavement and temporary repairs, it's understandable why people are frustrated. Some politicians and others dismiss roads as a populist election issue. I couldn't disagree more. When thousands of residents are experiencing the same problem every day, perhaps it's time we started treating it as a priority.  I know for a fact councillors have heard from the residents about how bad the roads are.  

A politician once told me that "people don't move to Thunder Bay because of the condition of our roads."  My response to him was simple and pretty direct. The people who already live here, pay taxes here and drive those roads every day certainly care about their condition. And they should because they pay for them. And we're ignoring them.  

I've been looking at how we spend our infrastructure dollars, particularly the investments made in active transportation over the past five years. Millions have been committed to trails, pathways, pedestrian connections and cycling infrastructure. Projects announced in 2024 alone included approximately $11.6 million in combined government funding for trails, footbridges, sidewalks and related connections.  Let me be clear again - some of that is partially funded by both the provincial and federal governments.  

I support the principles behind Thunder Bay's Active Transportation Plan. Walking, cycling and accessible pathways contribute to a healthier community. But we also need to recognize how our transportation network is actually used. Roads carry the majority of our daily vehicle traffic, including transit buses, emergency vehicles, commercial deliveries and residents travelling to work. Not to mention the thousands that come here yearly from outside communities and tourists.  Many cycling routes experience significantly less use during our winter months, while our roads remain essential year-round.

My concern isn't that we're investing in active transportation. That's a smart investment.  It's whether we're giving enough priority to maintaining the infrastructure that the greatest number of residents depend on every day.

Thunder Bay's own Asset Management Plan identifies an annual infrastructure funding shortfall of approximately $30.6 million across City assets. That should concern everyone and it has concerned me for years. We cannot continue expanding infrastructure with shiny new things, without properly funding the maintenance and eventual replacement of what we already own.

The City already evaluates pavement conditions and uses a management system to plan repairs. I want that information brought forward in a more transparent, comprehensive review, identifying our worst roads, traffic volumes, recurring problems, rehabilitation costs and a clear list of priorities. I also want a better understanding of why certain roads deteriorate so quickly and what preventative measures could save money.  We have the expertise to determine that on our own staff, we do not need consultants to help us find the answers.  

I support responsible use of reserves, directing appropriate growth revenues toward infrastructure renewal and establishing measurable annual targets to reduce the funding gap.

I'm not promising to fix every pothole or rebuild every road because I can't.   We've covered that in previous articles. But I am committed to asking tough questions about where our money goes, what we're getting for it and whether we're making the right investments especially with our roads.

The recent Water Street rehabilitation is a positive example of investing in a lasting solution rather than relying on repeated temporary repairs. I'd like to see more of that thinking because why didn't we do the stretch before and after that patch on Water Street?  Because there wasn't enough money.  

Building a better Thunder Bay must include taking better care of the Thunder Bay we've already built.   While roads crumble, we need to not lose site on the fact that shiny new things make it difficult to budget for the things we already own and should be taking care of.  

I've always used this analogy.   I would love to have a beautifully landscaped lawn with a pond, perfect grass, and all new fencing.....  but the responsible thing to do is fix my roof instead, before it starts to leak and causes all sorts of trouble.    In this example, our city's roof is leaking...we should fix that first.  

Voting begins Monday October 19, On line.  

Election day is October 26. 

Make your vote count.   

Vote John Ongaro, Northwood.