Leaders in Fond du Lac say the provincial government must recommit to funding the expansion of that community’s airport.
“The Province committed to do all that they could and give all the assistance Fond du Lac needed to get this runway built. They gave us hope when they initiated the design phase which is almost complete. Now it’s election time and we’ve been brushed aside and forgotten,” said Chief Louis Mercredi.
“When we lost our band member and first lobbied for the Fond du Lac runaway project, everyone wanted to help. The Province gave us their word and now, they’ve abandoned us. We are not their priority.”
In December 2017, an airline crashed shortly after takeoff, with one person dying from injuries. A proposal for runway expansion has been submitted to the federal government and the province previously stated if Ottawa gives the green light on the project, it will contribute 50 per cent of the cost.
The latest estimate for the runway expansion is $25 million. “In May of 2018, the Province committed to the expansion and renovation of the Fond du Lac airport and the Federal Government followed through with their portion of the repairs. Why are the people living and working in the most remote areas of our Province, no longer a priority for Saskatchewan?” asks FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron.
“Regarding the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) funding through the Rural and Northern Communities Infrastructure stream, no completed application was received for this project. Without a completed application, the project was not able to be further considered for ICIP funding,” stated Lori Car, Minister of Government Relations. “In June 2019, officials from the Ministry of Government Relations requested a full application be submitted for the Fond du Lac Airport project, which did not occur. The Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation, along with other eligible recipients, will be invited to participate in the full ICIP application intake anticipated in late 2019.”
With files from Katrina Cameron.
(PHOTO: Fond du Lac Airport runway. Photo courtesy of Cas Mrozowski.)