KENORA DISTRICT MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION

SUBJECT: BERENS RIVER BRIDGE AND ROADS PROJECT IMPACTS

SUBMITTED BY: THE TOWNSHIP OF EAR FALLS

YEAR: 2025

BACKGROUND:
The Berens River Bridge and Roads Project will improve road access to seven First Nations north of Red Lake, Ontario (Pikangikum First Nation, Deer Lake First Nation, Keewaywin First Nation, McDowell Lake First Nation, North Spirit First Nation, Poplar Hill First Nation, and Sandy Lake First Nation). 
The Project includes road improvements up to the Berens River, a bridge across the Berens River, an all-season road to Pikangikum First Nation, and winter road realignments which connect the other six First Nations to the new all-season road near the bridge. The Project has been developed in line with the substantial planning work and vision of Pikangikum’s “Keeping the Land” land use strategy and in cooperation Whitefeather Forest Community Resource Management Authority (WFCRMA).
This is an exciting project for the region and will have many positive impacts for the region. This will also have other, potentially unanticipated impacts on local and regional infrastructure that need to be considered by the Government of Ontario to ensure the success of the overall project and the region. 
Impacts will include:
•	additional highway traffic and increased need for maintenance and shorter timelines for highway rehabilitation. 
•	additional need for four-season public washrooms along highway corridors.
•	additional demand for primary and emergency health services at the Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital, Red Lake Medical Centre, and Ear Falls Community Health Centre.
•	additional demand for emergency medical services including policing, land ambulance, air ambulance and emergency response to highway traffic accidents by municipal fire departments. 
RECOMMENDATION:
NOW THEREFORE MAY IT BE RESOLVED THAT the Kenora District Municipal Association lobby the Government of Ontario for proactive and collaborative efforts to address the upcoming impacts that will be associated with the Berens River Bridge and Roads Project to ensure the long-term overall success of the region. 

COMMITTEE ACTION: Moved with concurrence.