Fort Frances supporting Emo in call for more highway rest stops

A renewed call for more year-round rest stops in northwestern Ontario.

Emo Township Council is calling on the province to establish rest stops with bathroom facilities every 100 kilometres along Highways 11, 17 and 71.

Fort Frances council is showing its support for the request.

Town Frances Councillor Bill Morrison says those facilities are important, especially for those like him who suffer from Crohn’s disease.

“I’ve been writing letters for years to MTO to hopefully do this,” says Morrison.

“It was nice when they opened up that one at the Arctic watershed sign. They put some outhouses there. So at least it was somewhere for people who have problems.”

Municipal leaders have been lobbying governments for several years for improved rest stops with bathroom facilities.

Fort Frances Mayor Andrew Hallikas says it is always a topic of discussion when he attends meetings out of town.

“I go in particular to NOMA (Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association) and the Rainy River District Municipal Association (RRDMA). We always get complaints about this,” says Hallikas.

“I think we have to constantly be reminding the government where we are and the geography of our area.”

Emo’s resolution has the support of the RRDMA and will be further discussed by municipal representatives from across the region when they gather for the upcoming meeting of NOMA.

The province recently announced it would be upgrading rest stops, but provided no other details.