Highway 7 left off list of provincial priorities ruffles feathers at local chamber of commerce

Plans for a new and improved stretch of highway linking Kitchener and Guelph aren't quite moving at the pace one local chamber of commerce had hoped.

Last week, Ontario Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney could only promise incremental advancement on a new divided freeway which is planned to fall just north of the current Highway 7. Mulroney, at the time, said she understands that news may be frustrating but it is at least continued progress.

Continued progress aside, at least one local business group says it's still frustrating because the need is now several decades old.

“We have chamber of commerce board of directors minutes dating back almost 50 years now saying, jeez, we really need a better connection to Guelph,” said Ian McLean, president and CEO of the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

In that time, McLean says pressure on Highway 401 has grown significantly as well as have the local tech and manufacturing sectors.

“And it's important that we can move people and goods to market and between manufacturing facilities in that supply chain, it's incredibly important,” McLean said.

That said, McLean maintains his frustration isn't only with the current government, adding governments of all political stripes have made a commitment to build this new stretch of highway and then failed to follow through.

This, meantime, comes as the province continues to move rapidly on projects like the proposed Highway 13 and the Bradford bypass. McLean suggests the reason some projects may be prioritized over others may have something to do with some areas being more vote-rich than others.

“I would never accuse anyone of bringing politics into a public policy decision, but, if I'm not mistaken, there's an election on June 2,” he said. “There's a lot of ridings in the Toronto area.”