Everybody was on the identical web page throughout Monday’s Sarnia council assembly, agreeing it is time to spend money on the way forward for Chris Hadfield Airport and never divest the asset.
Council agreed unanimously to direct employees to advance the framework towards funding within the airport, utilizing funds from the airport’s working reserve.
Metropolis Councillor Terry Burrell mentioned the airport is simply too precious to let go.
“Proper now it is costing us cash — for a few years it did not — however I feel it’s an asset value offering similar to we offer different companies for our individuals,” mentioned Burrell.
Metropolis/County Councillor Invoice Dennis agreed.
“We could also be in opposition to the ropes proper now, however our future goes to be shiny and the airport goes to be a necessary a part of our comeback story,” Dennis mentioned.
Metropolis/County Councillor Brian White mentioned it is time to “unlock the doorways and get working.”
“My philosophy is basically easy on this, spend money on our airport and we’ll elevate our neighborhood,” mentioned White. “It might even be a slogan. However, the concept behind it’s… we have tethered our alternative right here for many years and it is time that once we say we’re prepared to speculate on this airport we’re utterly open to every part.”
Metropolis Councillor Anne Marie Gillis mentioned investing is the suitable determination to make, noting there may very well be alternative with the federal authorities’s plan to extend border safety.
“Within the brief time period, we might change into one of many Canadian border safety hubs for southwestern Ontario,” Gillis mentioned. “However, we have to act rapidly, as a result of Windsor can be vying for that place.”
Metropolis/County Councillor Chrissy McRoberts mentioned “we’ve to spend money on our neighborhood.”
“As a substitute of simply paying $400,000 and permitting it to deteriorate, we have to make investments and if we make investments we have to keep holding this. If we promote it off, we’ve no management,” mentioned McRoberts.
Metropolis/County Councillor Dave Boushy understood the neighborhood’s message that divesting the airport shouldn’t be an possibility.
“It is clear to us after all the telephone calls, the letters, the variety of delegations… saying to us, ‘do not contact the airport, steer clear of it, do not promote it,'” mentioned Boushy.
Group members additionally expressed unanimous help to spend money on the airport.
Canadian Homeowners and Pilots Affiliation President Mark Van Berkel described the airport as an vital present and future useful resource in Sarnia-Lambton, noting it’s going to proceed to be required for medevac flights, regardless of the addition of a helipad at Bluewater Well being.
“Folks at all times assume medevac flights are at all times helicopters flying to hospitals, and whereas that’s true, that is not what occurs when the climate will get dangerous,” mentioned Van Berkel. “When the climate will get dangerous, like in a snowstorm, and when there [are] accidents on highways and other people want that medevac, they fly into an airport. A hard and fast wing plane flies into an airport with an instrument touchdown method and that is what the Sarnia airport has and that is why it’s extremely precious to that area.”
Former Metropolis/County Councillor Margaret Chook outlined the attraction of Sarnia’s geographical location.
“To point out that our airport is open for enterprise, be aggressive for big capital tasks and encourage tourism, inhabitants progress, and new enterprise improvement — which creates higher employment alternatives — make it simple to do enterprise in Canada. Say sure to speculate. Construct extra hangars on the airport now,” Chook mentioned.
Sarnia’s Chris Hadfield Airport Terminal Operation Supervisor Mike Roberts –spoke on behalf of the airport operator Scottsdale Aviation.
“With out the robust, long run dedication from town, it is vitally troublesome to plan or search different income producing alternatives. Decide to the way forward for the airport and it will assist change the present dynamic,” Roberts mentioned.
Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee Chair Mark Lumley spoke on behalf of roughly 580 members of the native enterprise neighborhood.
“There’s an awesome majority of people that really feel that the airport contributes to the native financial system,” mentioned Lumley. “It helps company aviation, flight coaching, emergency service and industrial sectors. Investing in infrastructure might entice new income sources, akin to cargo operations, non-public hangars and all the concepts you are going to hear and have heard about nice issues to do with a revitalized airport.”
Sarnia Lambton Industrial Alliance Previous Chairman Rick Perdeaux spoke in favour of investing within the airport.
“The unanimous opinions inside our group are to totally help the Sarnia Chris Hadfield Airport remaining open,” Perdeaux mentioned. “We really feel that it is an vital pillar of the transportation trade that’s so essential it has put us on the map the place we have been and can maintain us on the map sooner or later.”
Airport Administration Council of Ontario (AMCO) Laura McNeice warned in opposition to divesting the airport.
“It’s of the opinion of AMCO that municipalities ought to acknowledge their airports as essential infrastructure,” mentioned McNeice. “It ought to be recognized that ought to you select divestment, it doesn’t imply that an airport will stay an airport. As soon as you have let it go out of your fingers, there isn’t any guaranteeing how the lands shall be used sooner or later.”
Former Metropolis/County Councillor Andy Bruziewicz requested council to spend money on the airport and contemplate increasing it for future generations and connections to a wealth of alternatives that exist there.
