Mayor hoping feds come through and support airport

Last month, city council passed a motion to subsidize the Jack Garland Airport for the rest of this year and next year with Air Canada deciding not not to fly in and out of the community.

With the city getting $4.2 million from the province last week in relief funding Mayor Al McDonald was asked if any of that money will go towards the airport.

“My guess would be is we would work with Anthony Rota to secure funding for the airport and if there was a shortfall we would take it out of reserves. The funding that Vic has announced is also an option,” McDonald says.

McDonald says they’re working with the feds on the airport file.

“We are working very closely with the Liberal government. I’ve had many conversations with Anthony and his team. They realize how important airports are to municipalities,” he says.

McDonald says it will be councils decision in the end.

He points out the airport isn’t just Air Canada.

He says Chorus Aviation has 320 people at the airport and there are around 700 overall making the airport a key economic driver for North Bay.

(File photo by station staff)