By Nigel Maxwell

Airport safety

Northern Sask. airport funding a “long time coming”: FSIN Chief

Feb 14, 2019 | 5:51 PM

A funding announcement for Fond Du Lac aiport is appreciated but long overdue, according to the Chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.

Bobby Cameron was responding to Thursday’s press conference in Saskatoon, during which $12 million in federal funding was announced to assist with upgrades at the northern Saskatchewan airport. The upgrades will include rehabilitating Runway 10-28, Taxiway A, Apron 1, and the airfield lighting system.

“We send congratulations to Fond Du Lac Chief Louis Mercredi and his council and community today as the fight to upgrade this airport has been a long time coming,” Cameron said in a statement. “The community has overcome great tragedy and this funding today will go a long way in ensuring the safety of everyone who utilizes this airport.”

In December, 2017, a small plane bound for Stony Rapids, crashed one kilometre from the Fond du Lac airport. There were 25 people on board the plane and a number of people suffered injuries but thankfully there were no fatalities.

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A TSB investigation later determined the pilot had taken off without de-icing the plane. There was de-icing equipment at the airport, but the airport ladders were not tall enough to reach high surfaces and hand-held spray bottles didn’t have enough capacity to get the job done.

Fond Du Lac Dene Chief Louis Mercredi said he believes the funding will help his people.

“Fond-du-lac is a 95 per cent fly-in, fly-out community so this announcement means a lot to my community and my people back home,” he said.

Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Indigenous Services, was in Saskatoon on behalf of the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport.

“The community of Fond du Lac was profoundly touched by tragic events in 2017. Today, our government is announcing new funding which will help ensure the continued safety and reliability of operations at the Fond du Lac Airport. We are proud to support these important renovations to the airport and the residents of Fond du Lac that rely on it,” he said.

The funding announced on Thursday comes from Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP). To date, the Fond du Lac Airport received more than $15.3 million in ACAP funding for five safety projects, including the rehabilitation of the runway, taxiway, apron and airfield lighting system, new snow-clearing equipment and the installation of safety fencing.

-With files from CKOM News

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panews@jpbg.ca

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