Ontario is boosting its support for remote northern communities with an $8-million investment to build and operate this winter’s temporary road network, a system that delivers essential goods and links residents to jobs, health care and neighbouring communities during the coldest months of the year.
The funding, announced Tuesday by the Ministry of Northern Economic Development and Growth, will support 32 remote First Nations and the Town of Moosonee in constructing roughly 3,200 kilometres of winter roads for the 2025-26 season. The annual network, typically open for six to 11 weeks from mid-January to late March, provides the only seasonal ground access for many communities otherwise reachable only by air.
“The winter roads network is an economic lifeline for many northern communities,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “Temporary winter roads provide more affordable transportation options for northern job creators and employers, as well as vital connections to all-season roads. Through this investment, we are helping Far North communities maximize their economic potential and improving quality of life for northerners.”
The program distributes funding to individual communities for construction, maintenance and operation of local routes that feed into the larger network. This year’s allocations include $452,099 for Weenusk to build the community’s only ground connection to Fort Severn, and $280,356 for Wawakapewin to link the community to Highway 599, a key corridor for a cluster of remote First Nations.
Sandy Lake will receive $248,654 to develop a winter road connecting the community to both the Deer Lake and Keewaywin routes, expanding access to supplies and inter-community travel. Another $117,336 is earmarked for Amimakee Wa Zhing #37 (Northwest Angle #37) to complete a route from Windigo Island to Kenora — the community’s only road access to the city.
More than 24,000 residents rely on the winter roads each year to bring in food, fuel, medical supplies and construction materials that would otherwise require costly air transport. During the short season, the network also offers a temporary but crucial link to employment, cultural events, and health-care services for residents spread across the Far North.
In addition to supporting residents, the roads play a significant role in northern commerce. Winter routes allow for more affordable transport of equipment and supplies for the region’s mining sector, which depends on seasonal access to exploration sites and nearby communities.
“Our government is investing in the Winter Roads Program to improve and expand critical transportation infrastructure across the North,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation. “These temporary winter roads are vital connections that support economic development and increase access to essential resources for thousands of northerners, ensuring communities remain connected and keeping people and goods moving across the Far North.”
The province’s investment supplements $5 million committed through the Winter Roads Program’s Bridges and Culverts Stream, which supports the installation of pre-engineered crossings and upgrades to existing water-spanning structures. Those components are essential for keeping routes reliable as climate variability shortens winter road seasons and increases maintenance demands.
“Winter roads are crucial lifelines for northern and remote First Nations communities, providing access to essential goods, services and one another during the winter season,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships. “Our government recognizes the need for seasonally accessible infrastructure and remains committed to working with and supporting communities through targeted investments like that of the Winter Roads Program.”
Rural communities facing similar challenges are also expected to benefit from the broader infrastructure push. “Safe travel routes between communities are essential to the quality of life in rural Ontario. The winter roads network plays a central part in creating safe and strong rural communities,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs. “With the Winter Roads Program, our government is ensuring that rural and remote northern communities across the province will be able to build and maintain roads needed to create and protect economic development opportunities and jobs in Ontario.”
The province has ramped up transportation investments in the region in recent years. In August, Ontario increased annual funding for the Winter Roads Program to $13 million to strengthen support for families and businesses that depend on the seasonal network. The government is also investing more than $16 million through the 2025-26 Connecting Links program to upgrade municipal roads that join provincial highways to border crossings.
Ontario’s draft transportation plan for Northern Ontario underscores the significance of winter roads within the province’s broader strategy to improve mobility, economic resilience and service access in remote regions.
