SHEGUIANDAH FIRST NATION—When Sheguiandah First Nation Chief Elvis Mishibinijima first took office two years ago, he set his sights firmly on increasing safety within his community.
“I requested the Ministry of Transportation install school bus signs and pedestrian signs with flashing lights along the highway,” he explained to The Expositor. “I also asked for a reduction in the speed limit by 10 kilometres to 60 kilometres and hour.”
In discussions with officials from the MTO, Chief Mishibinijima said he highlighted the fact that two of his community members had died along the highway in Birch Island in the past—and that he felt it was only a matter of time before tragedy struck again.
“During my travels I looked at other communities,” he said, “Bruce Mines’ speed limit is 50 kilometres. I didn’t want to raise the issue of race, but when you look at it, you have to wonder.”
Time and again, Chief Mishibinijima raised the issue with ministry officials and his persistence has now paid off. A letter recently received from the MTO indicates that the speed limit will be dropping to 60 kilometres sometime in the new year.
“The limit will drop all the way to NEMI at Orr’s Sideroad and Trotter’s Sideroad, all the length of my community,” he said. “I kept sending emails to everyone in the department. It took two years, but it is finally happening. It was the minister that was the roadblock, she just kept ignoring me (indicating former MTO Minister Carolyn Mulroney),” he said. But that all changed with the recent cabinet shuffle. With the new minister (the Honorable Prabmeet Sarkaria) Chief Mishibinijima said there had been a sea change in attitude toward his concerns.
Chief Mishibinijima said the frustration in his community had risen to the point that they were considering a blockade to bring attention to the issue. He had also sought the support of the Anishinabek Nation, who through their weight behind the issue.
“They always sent technicians to our meetings, but never any actual decision makers,” said Chief Mishibinijima. “But now, with a new minister, we are finally starting to get some traction on the issue.”
“Thank you for taking the time to meet with me earlier this week. The assistant deputy minister and I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the important safety concerns you and your community have with Highway 6 through Sheguiandah First Nation,” reads a letter dated October 31 from Herb Villneff, director north operations with the Ministry of Transportation. “In response to the safety concerns you brought to our attention at a meeting in January of this year, the ministry has reviewed the operational performance along Highway 6 and has implemented the following improvements: School Bus Stop Ahead sign locations were reviewed in Spring 2023 and signs have been installed, the existing pedestrian warning signs were inspected and replaced if needed and, where warranted, the pedestrian warning signs have been retrofitted with flashing beacons.”
“As you requested, the ministry also completed a speed study along Highway 6 through your community,” continued Mr. Villneff. “When determining the speed limit for a highway, the ministry considers several factors, such as the type of road (freeway, local road, etc.) and its design, driver expectations and adjacent land use/development. As a result of the Highway 6 speed study, the ministry has determined that the existing speed limit of 70 kilometres an hour should be reduced to 60 kilometres an hour. The ministry is currently preparing the necessary Ontario Regulation to make this happen. We anticipate the posted speed limit to be reduced to 60 kilometres an hour by spring 2024.”
The letter goes on to indicate that the ministry would be in touch once a more definite date for the speed reduction is determined.
