KENORA / THUNDER BAY – September 7, 2026 – Prime Minister Mark Carney says he will raise Highway 17 safety with Premier Doug Ford so Ottawa and Queen’s Park can work from the same plan.
Carney made the comment last week after questions about repeated fatal crashes on the Trans-Canada through Northwestern Ontario. The highway is a main corridor for Labour Day travel between Manitoba, Kenora, Dryden and Thunder Bay.
Wildfire activity remains a factor for anyone heading into the bush. Dozens of fires are still listed as active in the Northwest Region, including the large Rinker Complex. Fire behaviour has been relatively low, but aviation restrictions and suppression work continue.
A separate analysis published over the weekend asked whether a Kenora–Dryden–Thunder Bay–Toronto passenger rail service could realistically return after Ottawa’s $4.7-billion Via Rail manufacturing announcement in Thunder Bay.
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