Mona Fortier

Statement on the Eastern Bridge (Kettle Island Bridge)

June 24, 2025

Statement on the Eastern Bridge (Kettle Island Bridge)

Ottawa, June 25th 2025

During the last election campaign, I reiterated the importance of adopting a comprehensive regional approach to address interprovincial transit needs within the National Capital Region.

As the re-elected Member of Parliament for Ottawa–Vanier–Gloucester, I believe that, to this day, we have yet to identify a comprehensive solution—particularly on Ottawa’s side—and I am listening to and hearing the many concerns of the Ottawa–Vanier–Gloucester community, including, among others, the neighbourhoods of Vanier, Manor Park, New Edinburgh, Lindenlea, Carson Grove, Beacon Hill, Sandy Hill, and Lowertown.

The Eastern bridge project via Kettle Island—specifically the corridor between Aviation Parkway and Montée Paiement—as proposed by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), does not meet Ottawa’s needs. It does not guarantee the removal of heavy trucks from the King Edward corridor, which is a crucial issue for safety, air quality, and traffic flow in the downtown core.

Furthermore, PSPC did not consult Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation (MTO) regarding the already overcapacity Highway 417, particularly at the interchange with Highway 174. This new bridge cannot become a “bridge to nowhere”—it must be part of a coherent, integrated, and sustainable regional solution that does not simply shift the problem onto new communities.

With an estimated cost between $3 and $4 billion, this project represents a major investment that does not offer clear or equitable benefits for our region. Furthermore, based on my many conversations with residents and numerous community associations, this project is not a priority.

These voices are instead prioritizing public transit, housing, the fight against homelessness, and sustainable development — priorities that the federal government is supporting through significant investments in affordable housing, the revitalization of the ByWard Market, and public transit in the National Capital Region.

The studies conducted to date by the National Capital Commission (NCC) and PSPC on the Kettle Island option have not demonstrated clear benefits for the City of Ottawa, and risk adding congestion to Highway 417 and worsening traffic for residents east of downtown Ottawa. It is time to shift the discussion toward a comprehensive solution that connects Highway 50 to the 417, addresses the issue of truck traffic in the downtown core, and ensures fair and respectful outcomes for all communities.

I will continue to advocate for this project to be re-evaluated. We must adopt a winning approach for the entire National Capital Region—a modern vision, grounded in up-to-date data, that respects our communities and supports our shared future.

Make your voice heard

The NCC is currently conducting the first phase of public consultations from June 19 to July 10, 2025. As described on the survey website:

"In this first round of public engagement, we invite you to share your thoughts on the project’s early planning and design principles. Your input will also inform the initial project description, which will be submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada as part of the federal Impact Assessment process.

Results will be shared with the integrated project team, including Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and the National Capital Commission (NCC).

Your feedback will play a key role in:

Identifying the project’s most important benefits from a community perspective;
Understanding potential impacts on people, places, and the environment—and exploring ways to mitigate them; and
Shaping the initial planning and design principles that will guide the project’s development in future phases."

To make your voices heard, I invite you to share your opinion and complete this initial survey in this new phase of development.

Click here to complete the survey.