I have over past 40 years fished the Ottawa river every year from Pembroke, Petawawa, and further up river past Deep River, so hence my opinion'

Hiway 17 widening between Ottawa and North Bay onwards (Arnprior to Mattawa is just a part) is priority over any road to the Ring of Fire ???

And they are using the Ring of Fire as an excuse for widening 17:
"The province might also see an urgency in expanding Highway 17 as a critical route to move shipments from the Ring of Fire"
What a joke. Cart before the horse. 17 widened is in no way critical with regard to the Ring.
That is a false argument. Road to the Ring IS Only criticality.

Build the road to the Ring first, then consider any other roads built later, AND only after all that consider widenings according to need. Yes, am applying to remainder of Ontario.

“Roads are built for economic development and without the roads we are going to be in the wilderness for years,” he added. “This is our bloodline. This is the 21st century and you have be able to ship your goods to market.”
So with that in mind road to the Ring should have top priority because Ring for all practical purposes is in the wilderness. Without road no mines and without mines no development or any goods to be shipped. So why build or improve a road ( 17) for reasons that do not yet exist.

Items of this article contradict itself. No author's fault but of whom is reported on - politicians and bureaucrats.