Councillor proposes compensation for aviation businesses impacted by airport closure

The project is expected to cost nearly $13 million and is paid for through grants from the federal government.

Super T Aviation and Integra Air have spoken out saying the shutdown of the entire runway and cross runway will adversely impact their businesses.

Les Little, co-owner of Super T Aviation, said they aren’t sure the flight school and air charter company could recover from the losses of being shut down for a month during their prime season.

“It’s a small operation and it just cannot afford to go for a full month with no income,” he explained.

Super T and Integra were in favour of an option that would have closed down only a portion of the runway, keeping the other open and then switching.

The City said doing that would have extended the construction period anywhere from five to ten weeks, because federal safety guidelines say no equipment can be near the runway during take off or landing.

“The big issue there is just the mobilization and de-mobilization, basically moving equipment on and off,” explained development and infrastructure commissioner Stan Schwartzenberger. “So, it takes quite a bit of time when you add all those intervals up.”

Some have questioned whether this closure was approved by city council, but because it’s an operational matter on a project that has already received approval it did not have to go back to councillors.

Schwartzenberger said the city realizes there is an impact but believes this will be the least disruptive.

“Ideally we would just have the rehabilitation done with no closure at all, but that’s not possible,” said the commissioner. “So, what we tried to do was find something that would make the least impact on everybody as a whole.”

He adds the 24 day closure was approved by the airport’s biggest revenue generator, Air Canada, and the new company expected to be carrying out fixed wing medivac services.

Councillor Phil Turnbull calls the whole project a no-win situation for all the businesses involved, but says the paving project needs to be done in order for the runway to meet federal standards.

“We simply have to get the runway resurfaced,” said Turnbull.

Realizing the runway closures will force the closure of these local businesses for nearly a month, he’s proposing the city provide some kind of financial relief while construction happens.

While projects like the Second Street and South Railway infrastructure upgrade projects have impacted other businesses in the past, Turnbull said this one is different because it causes them to shut down entirely.

Turnbull suggested the city could look at forgiving the taxes and utilities while they are forced to close down.

“Businesses that have been good taxpayers, that have helped to grow our economy deserve consideration when something like this happens,” he said. “[It’s] not their fault, not the city’s fault, [it’s] something that just has to be done, so, let’s work together and find a compromise.”

Turnbull also said he would like to recommend the city create a business contingency fund for situations just like this in the future.

Integra Air said while it would like to see the city change it’s decision on closing the runway entirely for construction, it would welcome any assistance that helps it get through the shut down.

by Leah Murray

Councillor proposes compensation for aviation businesses impacted by airport closure

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