Duane Hicks
Fort Frances Mayor Roy Avis and other regional leaders voiced their opinions on airports and other issues to federal Transport minister Denis Lebel yesterday during the grand-opening of the new Red Lake Airport terminal building.
Mayor Avis said this morning that he and mayors from across the Kenora riding, as well as the City of Thunder Bay, met with Lebel for about an hour.
“It was a regular discussion on the requirements of municipalities, and the needs and wants,” he said.
“A general overview of Northwestern Ontario and the needs of Northwestern Ontario.”
Mayor Avis and other delegates also stressed the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) “is a must for economic development and the future of Northwestern Ontario.”
Speaking specifically for the Fort Frances Airport, the mayor told Lebel “the ACAP grant is a need for our airport in order for us to function properly as an airport in this community, and we hope it continues.”
“Also, we’re very appreciative of his ministry giving us a grant this year for the wildlife fence,” he added.
Ottawa officially announced June 29 that the town had received a financial assistance contribution of $589,900 through ACAP.
The town ended up not needing the entire amount, however, as the cost of the fence came in at just under $382,000.
“It was a great meeting,” Mayor Avis enthused. “It was the first one I sat at, that type of roundtable discussion, in the five years I’ve been mayor, and it was a very good setting.
“A very good meeting,” he reiterated.
The mayor explained this type of meeting isn’t so much about Lebel providing immediate answers, as it is about giving leaders the opportunity to express their opinions and the minister listening to everything they say and taking it into consideration.
“Issues came forward from other municipalities regarding the border crossing issues we have here. Those items even came up,” noted Mayor Avis.
“There was a good cross-section of issues throughout the whole of Northwestern Ontario.”
As for the grand-opening of the new $7.3-million Red Lake Airport, Mayor Avis ranked it as “the nicest airport for a small community I’ve ever been in.”
